An Introduction to Joel: The Day of the Lord
Among the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the book of Joel stands as a powerful and urgent message concerning a pivotal theological concept: the "Day of the Lord." While compact in its three chapters, Joel's prophecy resonates with profound spiritual depth, moving from a severe immediate crisis to a breathtaking vision of future judgment and glorious restoration. The prophet, whose name means "Jehovah is God," delivers a dual message of impending doom for the unrepentant and glorious hope for those who turn to the Almighty. His words serve not only as a historical warning but also as a timeless call to repentance and an enduring promise of divine grace, all framed by the overarching theme of God's sovereign intervention in human history.
The Immediate Crisis: A Foretaste of Judgment
Joel's prophecy begins not with a grand vision, but with a vivid description of an unprecedented national catastrophe: a devastating locust plague. This was no ordinary infestation; it was an event of such magnitude that it stripped the land bare, leaving famine and desolation in its wake. Joel records the lament:
That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
The prophet calls upon all segments of society to mourn and lament: the drunkards deprived of their wine, the farmers whose fields are ruined, the priests whose temple sacrifices cease due to lack of grain and drink offerings (Joel 1:5, Joel 1:8, Joel 1:13). This physical desolation is presented as more than a natural disaster; it is a direct act of divine judgment, a harbinger of a greater, more terrible day. The land itself groans under the weight of this curse, signalling that the covenant relationship between God and His people has been severely strained by their sin. The immediate crisis, therefore, serves as a tangible, terrifying object lesson, a miniature "Day of the Lord" designed to awaken a complacent nation to its spiritual peril.
The Call to Repentance: Rend Your Heart
Faced with such overwhelming calamity, Joel issues an urgent and unequivocal call for national repentance. This is not merely an outward show of sorrow, but a profound, inward transformation. He challenges the people to move beyond superficial rituals:
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
This passage is central to Joel's message, emphasizing God's desire for genuine contrition over mere external displays. The call extends to all: priests, elders, children, even babes at the breast and newlyweds (Joel 2:15-17). The severity of the judgment necessitates a universal and earnest turning to God. Joel reminds them of God's character: He is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness," ever ready to relent from intended judgment when His people humble themselves. This divine attribute provides the foundational hope for a nation teetering on the brink of complete destruction. The prophet underscores that repentance is not a futile exercise, but an appeal to the very nature of a compassionate God.
The Promise of Restoration: A Gracious God
Should the people heed the call to genuine repentance, Joel promises a glorious restoration, both physical and spiritual. The Lord, in His mercy, pledges to heal the land and reverse the effects of the plague:
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
God promises to send rain, restore the harvest, and compensate for the years devoured by the locusts (Joel 2:25). More significantly, He pledges to restore His presence among them: "And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed" (Joel 2:26-27). This restoration of fellowship and prosperity underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant, demonstrating that His judgments are redemptive, designed to bring His people back into right relationship with Him.
The Greater Day of the Lord: Eschatological Focus
Having used the locust plague as a potent object lesson, Joel then pivots to the more profound and universal "Day of the Lord." This is not just a day of earthly judgment but a cataclysmic, eschatological event when God intervenes decisively in human history to judge sin and establish His righteous kingdom. Joel describes this future day with terrifying imagery, often echoing the locust plague but on a cosmic scale:
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
This description of a mighty army, irresistible and destructive, transcends the immediate locust threat. It points to a time of ultimate divine reckoning when God's holiness will be revealed in judgment against all wickedness. The "Day of the Lord" is a recurring theme throughout prophetic literature, signifying God's direct and dramatic intervention, bringing an end to the present age and ushering in His eternal reign. It is a day of terror for the ungodly, but also a day of ultimate vindication and deliverance for God's faithful remnant.
Characteristics of the Day of the Lord
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
These signs underscore the unprecedented nature of God's final intervention, signifying a profound disruption of the natural order as judgment is meted out.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
This verse is foundational, providing a clear path to salvation amidst judgment. It highlights God's grace and mercy, ensuring that while judgment is universal, deliverance is available to all who genuinely seek Him. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament through faith in Jesus Christ, the one through whom we call on the name of the Lord.
Joel's Prophecy of the Spirit: Pentecost Foreshadowed
Perhaps one of Joel's most celebrated and significant prophecies is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Following the promise of physical and spiritual restoration, Joel looks forward to a time when God's Spirit would be poured out universally, not just on a select few prophets or kings:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
This prophecy was dramatically fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2:17-21, when the Apostle Peter explicitly quotes Joel's words to explain the miraculous phenomena occurring before the crowds. The outpouring of the Spirit marks a new era of direct divine communication and empowerment for God's people. This spiritual endowment prepares believers not only for witness and service but also for endurance in the face of the approaching "Day of the Lord." It signifies God's dwelling within His people, enabling them to live righteously and proclaim His truth in a world rushing towards judgment.
The Nations Judged: Valley of Jehoshaphat
Joel concludes his prophecy with a vision of God's final judgment upon the nations. This judgment is specifically directed at those who have oppressed God's people and despoiled His heritage:
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
The "valley of Jehoshaphat" (meaning "Jehovah judges") serves as a symbolic or literal location for this decisive judgment. It is a place of "decision" (Joel 3:14), where the multitudes will face divine reckoning. This final confrontation culminates in God's triumph over His enemies and the establishment of His eternal kingdom, where Judah will dwell forever and Jerusalem will be holy (Joel 3:17, Joel 3:20). This portion of Joel's prophecy reassures God's people that despite their suffering, divine justice will ultimately prevail, and God's sovereign plan for His chosen nation will be fully realized.
Conclusion: Repentance, Judgment, and Hope in Christ
The book of Joel, though brief, delivers a potent and timeless message. It masterfully uses an immediate, devastating locust plague as a prophetic lens through which to view the far greater and more terrible "Day of the Lord." This Day is a recurring theme, signifying God's sovereign intervention in history for both judgment and salvation.
Joel's core message is a resounding call to genuine repentance—a turning of the heart, not just the garments. He reminds us that God is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness," ever ready to forgive those who humble themselves before Him. For the unrepentant, the Day of the Lord is a day of darkness, terror, and inescapable judgment, marked by cosmic disturbances and the overwhelming might of God's righteous wrath. Yet, for those who "call on the name of the LORD," it is a day of deliverance and salvation.
The prophecy of the Spirit's outpouring, fulfilled at Pentecost, highlights God's provision for His people in the New Covenant. It empowers believers to live in truth and prepare for the Lord's coming. Ultimately, the hope offered in Joel finds its full and glorious realization in Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, providing the means by which we can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved from the wrath to come. Joel's ancient words compel us to examine our hearts, embrace true repentance, and place our unwavering trust in the Lord, knowing