Joel is a little three-chapter book, though small, packs a powerful punch, both for the nation’s future as well as the history of mankind. Not much is known of the author other than what is revealed by him in the writing of this book. He was the “son of Pethuel,” “persuaded by God.” His name means “Jehovah is God.” His frequent mention of Zion means that he most likely lived near Jerusalem. The first chapter reveals two natural catastrophes:
•Verses 1:1-12 Locusts
•Verses 1:13-20 Drought
But from these two events, Joel is given a vision of a yet more devastating time that will leave the inhabitants not just of Judah but the world. He will repeat the phrase “Day of the Lord”, five times in these three chapters. Joel starts out by asking in 1:2, “Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?” He then speaks of this event in 1:4: “What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.” Yet as devastating as this plague was, God showed Joel that it was only a symbol of what awaited them as he describes this swarm in verse 1:6 as,“a nation has come up against My land, strong and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion.” Joel goes on to speak of how such an invasion will affect the life of the nation personally, economically, and spiritually. And in 1:12 he sums it up by saying, “Surely joy has withered away from the sons of men.”
What was “bugging” Judah was nothing compared to what awaited them if they didn’t deal with their hearts, which bugged God! Folks, we look out and see a lot of things that are “eating at us” right now, but could it be that these events that are causing “devastation” in our life and our security are a warning sign for us to get our hearts right with the Lord?
Joel tells them what to do in 2:12-13, saying, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.” God speaks through Joel saying, “Drop religion and churchianity; come before me in real brokenness!” Joel sees a future repentance of Israel in 2:21-24, saying, “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done marvelous things!