Joel at a glance

Purpose: To warn Judah of God’s impending judgment because of its sins and to urge the people to turn back to God.

The Author: The prophet Joel, son of Pethuel.

When Written: Sometime between 835 - 796 BC

The Setting: “The people of Judah (the southern kingdom) had become prosperous and complacent. Taking God for granted, they had turned to self-centeredness, idolatry, and sin. Joel warned them that this kind of lifestyle would inevitably bring God’s judgment.”

 

                  “We stand in awe at natural and man-made displays of power, strength and might, but these forces pale when compared to the power of our omnipotent God. Creator of galaxies, atoms, and natural laws, the Sovereign Lord rules all there is and ever will be. How silly to live without Him; how foolish to run and hide from him; how ridiculous to disobey Him. But we do. Since Eden we have sought independence from His control, as though we were gods and could plot our destiny. And He has allowed our rebellion. But soon the day of the Lord will come. It is about this day that the prophet Joel speaks, and it is the theme of the book. ON this day God will judge all unrighteousness and disobedience - all accounts will be settled and the crooked made straight.”

 

 

THE BLUEPRINT

 

1)       The day of the locusts (Joel 1:1 thru 2:27)

 

2)       The day of the Lord (Joel 2:28 thru 3:21)

 

                  “The locust plague was only a foretaste of the judgment to come in the day of the Lord. This is a timeless call to repentance with the promise of blessing. Just as the people faced the tragedy of their crops being destroyed, we too will face tragic judgment if we live in sin. But God’s grace is available to us both now and in that coming day.”

 

                  The reoccurring theme with all the prophets thus far has been the fact that sin will be judged by God. There are no exceptions, no leniency, and no one shall escape the judgment of Almighty God. Sadly, there are still far too many people who don’t take the existence of God seriously. It’s our choice to make and it’s certainly worth the time to investigate with an open mind. For those who already know the Lord, stay the course, and do not stray off the chosen path. You are a threat to the enemy and must proceed with eyes wide open, leading with spiritual discernment.

                  Up next are the Mega-Themes found in Joel. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible. (all quotes found in this posting are from said resource.)