Joel

🏛️ Historical context

Probably written after the exile, when the temple was functioning again. An agricultural plague becomes a sign of God's judgment.

🔙 Background

The locust invasion and drought ruin the harvests and leave the temple without offerings.

🧭 Structure of the book

⭐ Key events and teachings

1. 1Description of the locust plague (ch. 1)
2. 2"Rend your hearts and not your garments" (2:13), read on Ash Wednesday
3. 3God restores abundance (ch. 2)
4. 4"I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh" (2:28), fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2)

🏷️ Main themes

📖 Verses to memorize

• Joel 2:12Now, therefore, saith the Lord. Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and mourning.
• Joel 2:13And rend your hearts, and not your garments and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil.
• Joel 2:25And I will restore to you the years which the locust, and the bruchus, and the mildew, and the palmerworm hath eaten; my great host which I sent upon you.
• Joel 2:28And it shall come to pass after this, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
• Joel 2:32And it shall come to pass, that every one that shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved: for in Mount Sion, and in Jerusalem shall be salvation, as the Lord hath said, and in the residue whom the Lord shall call.

💭 For reflection

• What does "rending my heart" mean in my life?
• How is Joel's prophecy fulfilled at Pentecost?

Faced with a plague of locusts, Joel calls the people to turn back with all their heart through fasting and prayer, and announces that God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh, a prophecy fulfilled at Pentecost.