The Book of Joel
My studies have migrated to the O. T. and a review of the prophets of old. The distinction of which book fits where depends on what and who you read. The English Bibles divide the prophetic books into the “Major” and the “Minor” classes. The former contains five books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel) while the latter is a composite of twelve books beginning with Hosea and concluding with Malachi. (a/k/a The Book of 12).
The Hebrew Bible sees things a little differently. Only the first three of the aforementioned Major Prophets are included in the “Latter Prophets or Prophets.” Ezekiel and Daniel are placed with the Writings per the Hebrew text. The Hebrew text calls the “Minor Prophets” as the Book of twelve.
Just how would you describe a prophet? One definition is: “One who is a spokesman, interpreter or mediator of God’s will.” In fact, Moses might even be classified as a pre-eminent prophet from one commentary. Prophets in the O. T. were subdivided into the God-appointed prophets (“Good”) and the seers which were “Evil.”
If you examine the list of the seventeen books described as either minor or major prophets, we see a wide range of dates (with some dates questionable) when the prophet existed and/or prophesied. The Major Prophets (5) are more concise and range from 740-536 BC. Isaiah and Jeremiah each prophesied to Judah while others were in the exiled period of Babylon. The Book of Lamentations by Jeremiah dates back to at least 587 BC. The Book of twelve have more extreme date ranges especially the prophet Joel who may have written in the eighth century BC or maybe even a half-century later? The Minor Prophets were sent to both the northern and southern tribes as well as in the case of Jonah and Nahum to Nineveh and Obadiah to the Edomites.
Israel lived under various regimes from 900 to 332 BC that included the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Medo-Persians. God’s prophets operated in differing environments. For example, in the pre-exilic times, the prophets looked forward to God’s coming and redemption. The Post-exilic period was different as there was a lack of kings and prophets, and their hope was based on the hope and promise of the Messiah to come.
Then
My focus of this writing will be the Book of Joel. A review of various commentaries leads me to present some varying viewpoints. First, Halley’s Handbook says, “Like that of Zephaniah, (Joel) is a book about coming judgment. . . and like the Book of Revelation, it predicts the harvest of the earth.” The Lutheran Bible Companion says, “To call the people of Judah for fasting and repentance before the day of the LORD.” And they continue, “Rend your hearts and not your garments.”
The Book of Joel while short is really two distinct sections. The first related to the catastrophes and the second the LORD’s response. Joel uses the locust as the means of delivering a warning to God’s people in their life of unrepentant sin. The locust plague that is prophesied was the current judgment from their sin and the eternal judgment. The former likely refers to the ever-approaching Assyrians as they were eating up (locust-like) the northern areas of Israel. The latter reference refers to the final judgment that is referenced in Revelation. Let us take a look at this “locust.”
Locust
The locust has been referred to as an ant or bee, but rather than being harmless can and does do a great deal of harm. Locusts are a collection of short-horned grasshoppers that have a “swarming” phase. While usually solitary, they can become more abundant and change their behaviors and habits. Their “swarm” forming is under very suitable conditions. While normally innocuous, they can pose a major threat to agriculture under suitable conditions. Their trigger is due to a chemical called “serotonin” which is also present in humans. In the locust, it provides a trigger to change dramatically and become more gregarious. They begin to form in swarms and rapidly strip the environment of its foliage. The adult locust can travel long distances consuming the green vegetation in its route.
The swarming behavior is a response to overcrowding per Wikipedia. The hind legs cause an increase in this serotonin level that cascades into a number of changes including increased breeding. A large swarm can consist of billions of locusts up to two hundred million per square mile. Locusts are located in all continents of the world except Antarctica and North America. The “desert locust” is best known and generally located in North Africa, Middle East, and the Indian continent. The cost of handling an infestation was placed at $122 Million (US) and crop damage at $2.5 Billion (www.oecd.org).
Enough about the insect per se. Let us examine its impact in biblical history. The Book of Exodus records the plagues sent by God to the Egyptians to release the Israelites from captivity. The eight plague (8th) is recorded as the plague of locusts (Exodus 10). Moses reported to Pharaoh, “They (locusts) will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields.” And so, Moses stretched out his hands over Egypt so that the locusts will swarm over the land and devour everything growing in the fields, everything left by the hail.” (Ex. 10:12ff).
The prediction of the locust plague is again recounted in Revelation 9 where the demon locusts were released from the Abyss with power like that of a scorpion. This N. T. revelation has some parallels to the Book of Joel re: The Day of Judgment.
The locust plague prophesied by Joel would be more devastating than a human army. After the devastation described in chapter one, Joel goes on to lament that no one will have grain or drink offerings and will be “cut off” from the LORD. Their fields will be in ruins; the vine growers will wail, and the fig tree will be barren. He concludes in verse twelve, “Surely, the joy of mankind is withered away.”
The judgment prophesied is for their unrepentant nature and continuing sins. But Joel says, “Cry out to the LORD.” Yes, he says the Day of the LORD is eminent, and their prayers are for the LORD’s mercy and relenting from the army of locusts that will destroy every living plant and tree. This description of a famine like situation is a reminder of the absence of God!
Joel’s prophesy of destruction continues into the first part of chapter two. “The Day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?” (2:11b). The tune changes now to one of a gospel of grace. Verse 12 begins, “Return with your whole heart . . . Rend your heart and not your garments . . . Return to the LORD your God.” (2:12-13).
The contrite heart God will not despise. (Ps 51:17). Joel reminds the people of Judah that “God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” These terms of compassion show the depth of God’s love for His people. As one pastor said, “His love is teeming over.” Joel describes a people who are penitent as they gather together in a holy fast and they come before the LORD with a contrite spirit.
The LORD is quick to answer their inequities with grain and new wine and oil never again to make them a scorn among their neighboring nations. God’s promise to send them an abundance of spring and fall rain that will generate more grain than the threshing floor can accommodate and more wine and oil than the vats can hold. Then, “You will know that I AM the LORD your God and that there is no other.” (2:27). Yes, the LORD promises to pour out His life-giving Spirit that is quoted by St. Peter on Pentecost.
Judgment
Chapter three is very bold regarding the nations who have abused and plundered God’s people. Their time is coming in the “Valley of Decision.” (also called Valley of Jehoshaphat). This reference could be the 4th king of Judah following his father Asa (I Kings 15:24). If true, he reigned for 25 years (873-848 BC) and was righteous in his reign. His name means “YHWH judges.” Some suggest this valley may not exist per se and was a symbolic place (Eerdman’s Bible Dictionary, p. 560). The LORD promises to judge the nations who conspired against God’s people, yes, even giving them over to the Sabeans (slave traders).
“The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem,” prophesies Joel. But the LORD is a refuge for His own including you and me who have been adopted into the Kingdom by the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Never again will foreigners invade her.” Yes, we will all be safe in His presence when He comes again to rule. Joel states, “A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house . . . but Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste.”
And Now
This book reminded me of the scene set by Joel using an army of locusts in a total destructive fashion in the Day of Judgment. Is the current Covid-19 (Coronavirus) a reminder of the sin in the world and the lack of focusing on God? If you do not believe me, then examine the experts as reported in The State of Church Giving through 2017. This publication is issued by empty tomb, inc. (sic). The book focuses on what additional contributions could do for the sake of children in the world who have not heard about Jesus. But they also report on church membership and giving. The mainline protestant denominations represented 13.2% of the population in 1968 but only 4.6% in 2017.
The congregational giving increased 82% over the 1968-2017 period but the per-capita income increased 157% over the same period of time. The per-member giving when further reviewed by “disposable income” is more shocking. In 1968, the per member contribution to missions (benevolence) was 0.64%. If we fast forward to 2017, we see that the total giving per disposable income (DPI) for missions was 0.34%. The composite, per the same source is $90.6 million less for missions.
In summary, we are ignoring our God. Not only in our absence from church and His Word but in our living. Sin is pervasive and the world has been overcome with every imaginable sin. The Covid-19 virus may be a wake-up call from God showing the world that battles need not be made by swarms of locusts but with invisible viruses that are deadly. In much of the world, we still remain cooped up and are forbidden to gather together in houses of worship. When the restrictions ease, will people return to God’s house?
The Valley of Decision is near says Joel. We know not the time nor the day when the LORD comes in victory, but this time He will come as Judge for those who are His own and those who have ignored the Word and its saving grace. “May the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,” and may you be ever vigilant of the only true God who is the Light of the world.
Peace
Connected in Him, I stand
GHR
June 2020
P.S. The Wall Street Journal reported a recent locust swarm in India with YouTube indicating the worst since 1993. According to the news, the locust swarms moved in from Iran and Pakistan.
