We know very little about the prophet Joel. His name means, “Jehovah is God.” The theme of Joel's prophecy is “the day of the LORD” (1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14). It is a technical term referring to judgment and blessing. First comes the judgment (tribulation), and then comes the blessing (millennium).
I. JOEL SPEAKS TO THE OLD MEN (1:1-4). Joel addresses the old men first because of their experience (1:2). Job 32:6,7. Joel 1:4 does not describe four different insects; rather it is probably a description of the locust in four different stages of growth. The locusts were God's “army” (2:25). He used them to bring backslidden Israel to repentance (cf. Amos 4:9; Nahum 3:15, 16; Isa. 33:4). II. JOEL SPEAKS TO THE DRUNKARDS (1:5-7). One of the things that led to Israel's downfall was the sin of drunkenness (cf. Isa. 5:11, 22; 24:7-9; 28:7, 8; Amos 6:1-7).
III. JOEL SPEAKS TO THE HUSBANDMEN (1:8-12). The husbandmen (farmers) would suffer great loss as the locusts devoured everything in sight. The priests would mourn because the offerings were “cut off” (1:9).
IV. JOEL SPEAKS TO THE PRIESTS (1:13, 14; cf. 1:9). “Gird yourselves” (1:13) means “put on sackcloth.” They were to humble themselves and seek God's face (cf. II Chron. 7:14).
Unless America repents and turns back to God, it will be all over for America. II Chron. 7:14.
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James J. Barker is a graduate of Tabernacle Baptist Bible College, Virginia Beach, Virginia. He started Bible Baptist Church, May 1990, in Queens, NY. The LORD commissioned him to minister in the new location of Elmont, NY in 1998. The church has moved from storefront to tent...
