Joel 2
BSB1 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. 3 Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland— surely nothing will escape them. 4 Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. 5 With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle. 6 Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale. 7 They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course. 8 They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks. 9 They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. 10 Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. 11 The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it? 12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning." 13 So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him— grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God. 15 Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly. 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. 17 Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’" 18 Then the LORD became jealous for His land, and He spared His people. 19 And the LORD answered His people: “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and by them you will be satisfied. I will never again make you a reproach among the nations. 20 The northern army I will drive away from you, banishing it to a barren and desolate land, its front ranks into the Eastern Sea, and its rear guard into the Western Sea. And its stench will rise; its foul odor will ascend. For He has done great things. 21 Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things. 22 Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, for the open pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine yield their best. 23 Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. 24 The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 25 I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts— the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — My great army that I sent against you. 26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you. My people will never again be put to shame. 27 Then you will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame. 28 And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD.
Study Notes — Joel 2
- Chapter Summary
- Context for the Chapter
- Heart Application
- What Does This Chapter Mean?
- Voices from the Church
- Outline for Preaching
- Core Doctrines
- Lessons from Joel 2
- Themes from Joel 2
- Questions for Meditation
- Detailed Chapter Outline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Cross References
- Sermons on Joel 2
- Matthew Henry Commentary
- What Do You Notice?
Chapter Summary
Joel chapter 2 begins with a call to sound the alarm and warn the people of the approaching Day of the Lord, a time of great darkness and destruction (Joel 2:1-2). The prophet describes the army of locusts that will devour the land, leaving nothing but desolation and despair (Joel 2:3-11). However, Joel also offers a message of hope and redemption, urging the people to return to God with fasting, weeping, and mourning (Joel 2:12-17). The chapter concludes with a promise of God's restoration and blessing for those who repent and turn to Him (Joel 2:18-32).
Context for the Chapter
Joel chapter 2 is part of a larger prophetic book that calls the people of Judah to repentance and warns of the coming Day of the Lord. The chapter fits into the larger narrative of the Old Testament, which emphasizes God's covenant with His people and His desire for their obedience and faithfulness. The chapter also looks forward to the ultimate redemption and restoration that comes through Jesus Christ, highlighting the connection between the Old and New Testaments.
Heart Application
As we read Joel chapter 2, we are reminded of the importance of repentance and seeking God's mercy. We are called to examine our own hearts and lives, turning away from sin and towards God. We are also encouraged to trust in God's love and compassion, knowing that He is gracious and slow to anger, abounding in love and relenting from sending disaster.
What Does This Chapter Mean?
Joel chapter 2 is a call to repentance and a warning of the Day of the Lord. The prophet urges the people to turn to God and warns of the devastating consequences of not doing so. The chapter emphasizes the importance of seeking God's mercy and forgiveness, as seen in Joel 2:13, which calls the people to return to the Lord their God.
Voices from the Church
“The Day of the Lord is a day of great darkness, but it is also a day of great opportunity for repentance and redemption.”
— Charles Spurgeon
“The prophet Joel calls us to repentance, not just individual repentance, but also corporate repentance, as we come together to seek God's mercy and forgiveness.”
— John Calvin
Outline for Preaching
- The Call to Repentance (Joel 2:1-11) — The prophet calls the people to sound the alarm and warn of the approaching Day of the Lord, a time of great darkness and destruction.
- The Description of the Locusts (Joel 2:1-11) — The prophet describes the army of locusts that will devour the land, leaving nothing but desolation and despair.
- The Call to Return to God (Joel 2:12-17) — The prophet urges the people to return to God with fasting, weeping, and mourning, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.
- The Promise of Restoration (Joel 2:18-32) — The prophet promises God's restoration and blessing for those who repent and turn to Him, highlighting the beauty and wonder of His redemption.
- The Conclusion (Joel 2:32) — The chapter concludes with a promise of God's restoration and blessing for those who repent and turn to Him.
Core Doctrines
- The Sovereignty of God
- The chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty and power, highlighting His control over all things, including the locusts and the Day of the Lord.
- The Importance of Repentance
- The chapter stresses the importance of repentance, urging the people to turn away from sin and towards God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.
- The Mercy of God
- The chapter highlights God's mercy and love, emphasizing His compassion and slowness to anger.
- The Ultimate Redemption
- The chapter looks forward to the ultimate redemption and restoration that comes through Jesus Christ, highlighting the connection between the Old and New Testaments.
Lessons from Joel 2
- The Importance of Repentance — The chapter teaches us that repentance is essential for avoiding God's judgment and receiving His mercy and forgiveness.
- The Power of God's Mercy — The chapter highlights God's mercy and love, emphasizing His compassion and slowness to anger.
- The Ultimate Redemption — The chapter looks forward to the ultimate redemption and restoration that comes through Jesus Christ, highlighting the connection between the Old and New Testaments.
- The Call to Corporate Repentance — The chapter urges the people to come together in fasting and mourning, seeking God's mercy and forgiveness.
- The Beauty of God's Restoration — The chapter promises God's restoration and blessing for those who repent and turn to Him, highlighting the beauty and wonder of His redemption.
Themes from Joel 2
- The Day of the Lord — The chapter emphasizes the importance of the Day of the Lord, a time of judgment and redemption.
- Repentance and Restoration — The chapter stresses the importance of repentance and restoration, urging the people to turn away from sin and towards God.
- God's Mercy and Love — The chapter highlights God's mercy and love, emphasizing His compassion and slowness to anger.
- The Ultimate Redemption — The chapter looks forward to the ultimate redemption and restoration that comes through Jesus Christ, highlighting the connection between the Old and New Testaments.
- The Importance of Corporate Repentance — The chapter urges the people to come together in fasting and mourning, seeking God's mercy and forgiveness.
Questions for Meditation
- What is the main theme of Joel chapter 2, and how does it relate to the larger narrative of the Old Testament?
- How does the prophet's use of imagery contribute to the overall message of the chapter?
- What does the chapter teach us about God's character, and how does this relate to our understanding of the gospel?
- How does the chapter's emphasis on repentance and restoration apply to our lives today?
- What does the chapter reveal about the connection between the Old and New Testaments, and how does this inform our understanding of the Bible as a whole?
Detailed Chapter Outline
1. The Call to Repentance (Joel 2:1-11)
| 2:1 | The prophet calls the people to sound the alarm and warn of the approaching Day of the Lord, a time of great darkness and destruction. |
| 2:2 | The prophet describes the Day of the Lord as a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. |
| 2:3 | The prophet describes the locusts that will devour the land, leaving nothing but desolation and despair. |
| 2:4 | The prophet describes the locusts as a great and powerful army, with the appearance of horses and the speed of chariots. |
| 2:5 | The prophet describes the sound of the locusts as a loud rumbling noise, like the sound of many chariots. |
| 2:6 | The prophet describes the people's reaction to the locusts, with fear and trembling. |
| 2:7 | The prophet describes the locusts as a well-ordered army, with each locust following the one in front of it. |
| 2:8 | The prophet describes the locusts as not being deterred by obstacles, but rather as continuing to move forward with purpose. |
| 2:9 | The prophet describes the locusts as entering the city, with no one able to stop them. |
| 2:10 | The prophet describes the earth as shaking and the heavens as trembling at the presence of the locusts. |
| 2:11 | The prophet describes the Lord as being at the head of the locusts, leading them in their destruction. |
2. The Call to Return to God (Joel 2:12-17)
| 2:12 | The prophet urges the people to return to God with fasting, weeping, and mourning, seeking His mercy and forgiveness. |
| 2:13 | The prophet emphasizes God's mercy and love, urging the people to return to Him and seek His forgiveness. |
| 2:14 | The prophet emphasizes the possibility of God's relenting from sending disaster, if the people will only return to Him. |
| 2:15 | The prophet calls the people to assemble and come together in fasting and mourning, seeking God's mercy and forgiveness. |
| 2:16 | The prophet urges the people to gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land, that they may seek God's mercy and forgiveness. |
| 2:17 | The prophet urges the priests to weep and mourn, seeking God's mercy and forgiveness for the people. |
3. The Promise of Restoration (Joel 2:18-32)
| 2:18 | The prophet promises God's restoration and blessing for those who repent and turn to Him, highlighting the beauty and wonder of His redemption. |
| 2:19 | The prophet promises that God will send grain, wine, and oil, and that the people will be satisfied and rejoice. |
| 2:20 | The prophet promises that the northerner will be driven away, and that the people will be safe and secure. |
| 2:21 | The prophet urges the people to fear not, for God is with them and will bless and restore them. |
| 2:22 | The prophet promises that the trees will bear fruit, and that the people will rejoice and be glad. |
| 2:23 | The prophet promises that the people will know that God is in their midst, and that He will bless and restore them. |
| 2:24 | The prophet promises that the threshing floors will be filled with grain, and that the vats will overflow with wine and oil. |
| 2:25 | The prophet promises that God will restore the years that the locusts have eaten, and that the people will be blessed and prosperous. |
| 2:26 | The prophet promises that the people will eat and be satisfied, and that they will praise the name of the Lord their God. |
| 2:27 | The prophet promises that the people will know that God is in their midst, and that He will bless and restore them. |
| 2:28 | The prophet promises that God will pour out His Spirit on all people, and that sons and daughters will prophesy. |
| 2:29 | The prophet promises that even on the male and female servants, God will pour out His Spirit in those days. |
| 2:30 | The prophet promises that God will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, and that the people will be amazed and astonished. |
| 2:31 | The prophet promises that the sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible Day of the Lord comes. |
| 2:32 | The prophet promises that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, and that God will bless and restore them. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Day of the Lord, and how does it relate to the larger narrative of the Old Testament?
The Day of the Lord is a time of judgment and redemption, emphasizing God's sovereignty and power. It relates to the larger narrative of the Old Testament as a culmination of God's covenant with His people and His desire for their obedience and faithfulness.
How does the prophet's use of imagery contribute to the overall message of the chapter?
The prophet's use of imagery contributes to the overall message of the chapter by emphasizing the severity of God's judgment and the beauty of His restoration. The imagery of the locusts and the devastation they bring serves as a warning to the people, while the imagery of God's mercy and love serves as a reminder of His compassion and slowness to anger.
What does the chapter teach us about God's character, and how does this relate to our understanding of the gospel?
The chapter teaches us that God is a merciful and loving God, who is slow to anger and abounding in love. This relates to our understanding of the gospel as it highlights God's desire for our obedience and faithfulness, and His willingness to forgive and restore us when we repent and turn to Him.
Top Cross References
| Reference | Connection | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel 2:1 → Isaiah 13:6 | The Day of the Lord is a theme that is also found in Isaiah 13:6, where it is described as a time of judgment and destruction. |
| 2 | Joel 2:13 → Psalm 86:15 | The description of God as gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, is also found in Psalm 86:15, where it is used as a basis for prayer and worship. |
| 3 | Joel 2:28 → Acts 2:17 | The promise of God pouring out His Spirit on all people is also found in Acts 2:17, where it is fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. |
| 4 | Joel 2:32 → Romans 10:13 | The promise that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved is also found in Romans 10:13, where it is used as a basis for evangelism and discipleship. |
| 5 | Joel 2:1 → Amos 5:18 | The Day of the Lord is a theme that is also found in Amos 5:18, where it is described as a time of darkness and gloom. |
| 6 | Joel 2:13 → Micah 7:18 | The description of God as gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, is also found in Micah 7:18, where it is used as a basis for prayer and worship. |
| 7 | Joel 2:28 → Ezekiel 36:27 | The promise of God pouring out His Spirit on all people is also found in Ezekiel 36:27, where it is used as a basis for the restoration of Israel. |
| 8 | Joel 2:32 → Revelation 22:17 | The promise that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved is also found in Revelation 22:17, where it is used as a basis for the final invitation to salvation. |
Sermons on Joel 2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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A Burning Heart by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher references various verses from the Bible, including Jeremiah chapter 4 and Joel chapter 1. He emphasizes the need for repentance and laments the state |
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Gods Love by Corrie Ten Boom | In this sermon, the speaker shares his experience of being introduced in Alaska and compares it to the power of the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes the importance of not standing in the |
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(Belarus) Crisis Praying by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher shares his personal journey of being consumed by television and worldly entertainment. He describes how God convicted him to get rid of his TV and spen |
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(Revival) Part 1 - Phenomena by Martyn-Lloyd Jones | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the purpose and object of the Holy Spirit's work in the world. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit's work is meant to draw attention to God an |
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God Will Resore All Your Wasted Years by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of two verses from the book of Joel in the Bible. These verses describe the destructive power of worms and insects that devou |
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The Burdens of Ravenhill - Part 1 (Compilation) by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of viewing the Bible as an absolute truth. He encourages believers to have a deep conviction in the authority and power of Go |
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Anaheim Talk by Kathryn Kuhlman | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that war in the Middle East is inevitable and that the stage is set for it. He believes that the word of God is more up to date than tomorro |
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Weeping Between Porch and the Altar by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker contrasts the superficiality of modern Christian gatherings with the deep devotion and sacrifice of believers in the past. He highlights the story of a |
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Begin Being Like Him by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the speaker begins by expressing gratitude for the ability to see and enjoy God's blessings. He emphasizes the importance of not taking things for granted, such as |
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The Fire of God by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on a remarkable move of God in a village in Persia called West Ben Haar. The village experienced a great stir and many people professed faith i |
Summary of Matthew Henry Commentary on Joel 2
In Joel chapter 2, we see the Day of the Lord approaching, a time of great darkness and destruction. However, we also see the mercy and love of God, as He calls the people to repentance and promises to restore and bless them. The chapter emphasizes the importance of seeking God's mercy and forgiveness, and the ultimate redemption and restoration that comes through Jesus Christ. As Matthew Henry notes, 'The day of the Lord is a day of darkness, but it is also a day of salvation.' We are reminded that God is a merciful and loving God, who is slow to anger and abounding in love, and that He desires our obedience and faithfulness. As we read this chapter, we are called to examine our own hearts and lives, and to turn away from sin and towards God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness. Read the full unabridged Matthew Henry Commentary →
What Do You Notice?
The Call to Repentance
The chapter begins and ends with a call to repentance, emphasizing the importance of turning to God. This call is not just individual, but also corporate, as the prophet urges the people to come together in fasting and mourning.
The Use of Imagery
The prophet uses vivid imagery to describe the locusts and the devastation they bring, emphasizing the severity of God's judgment. However, he also uses imagery to describe God's mercy and restoration, highlighting the beauty and wonder of His redemption.
The Emphasis on God's Character
Throughout the chapter, the prophet emphasizes God's character, highlighting His mercy, love, and compassion. This emphasis serves as a reminder that God's judgment is not arbitrary, but rather a reflection of His holy and just nature.