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THEBOOKOFJOEL
Lesson1,IntroductionandChapter1
WelcometoourintroductiontotheBookofJoel.Inthe2
nd
chapterofJoel,we
readthis:
CJB
Joel2:13-14
13
Tearyourheart,notyourgarments;andturntoADONAI
yourGod.Forheismercifulandcompassionate,slowtoanger,richingrace,and
willingtochangehismindaboutdisaster.
14
Whoknows?Hemayturn,change
hismindandleaveablessingbehindhim,[enoughfor]grainofferingsanddrink
offeringstopresenttoADONAIyourGod.
Aswecontinueinourstudiesofthe12booksthatformwhatiscalledTheMinor
Prophets(and“minor”simplymeansthatthelengthofthose12booksarerather
shortwhencomparedtothoseofotherprophetslikeIsaiahorJeremiah),Ihave
groupedtogetherHosea,Amos,JonahandnowJoelforteachingpurposes
becausetheyallpropelustowardsacommonthemeandgoverningdynamicof
GodthatIcall“If,Then”.Thatis,inYehoveh’sdealingsandrelationshipwith
humanityHeoperatesnearlyexclusivelyonaconditionalbasis.WhatdoImean
bythis?
ConditionalmeansthatGodtypicallyrespondstothebehaviorofhumansby
reactingaccordingly.Godcreatedhumanbeingswithsomethingthatwecallfree
will.Whilethereismuchtheologicalandphilosophicaldebateoverexactlywhat
freewillis,andtowhatextentourfreewillactuallyis“free”,nonethelesshumans
havebeengiventheabilitytomakechoices.“If,then”reflectsthatabilityforus
tomakechoices,justasGodhastheabilitytomakechoices.Humanchoices
comeintwobasiccategories:moralsandpreferences.GodhasgivenusHiscode
ofmoralitythatcarefullylaysdownthestructureandboundariesofmorality:
whatisevilandwhatisgood.Thefirstcodewasactuallyputwithinusaspartof
ourDNA,anditgoesbyvariousnameswiththemostrecognizablebeingNatural
Law.Thatis,allhumanshavenaturallybuilt-intousageneralsensethatthere
existssuchathingasmorality(goodvs.evil)andwhatisuniversallyunderstood
asthedefinitionofgoodbehaviorversusevilbehavior.Thesecondcode,theLaw
ofMoses,tookthatintrinsicallyhumanNaturalLawandwroteitoutinmuch
moredetail(changingnoneofitsprinciples).Thissecondcodewasinitiatedwith

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the10Commandments,andthenimmediatelyfollowedbyapproximately600
morelaws(Icallthem“case”laws)eachbasedupononeoranotherofthose10
Commandments.
Choicesbasedonpreference,ontheotherhand,havenothingtodowith
morality.Nomoralstigmaisattachedtopreferences.Godhasneversetdowna
CodeofPreferences.However,bysettingdownacodeofmorality,wehave
divinelydefinedforuswhichofourfree-willchoicesbelonginthemoralcategory,
andwhichbelongaspreferences.Whetherwepreferchocolateovervanilla,big
carstosmallcars,baseballtofootball,citylivingtoruralliving…thisand
infinitelymore…thesearechoiceswecanmakethathavenodivineconsequence
becausetheyarenotaboutmorality.However,moralchoicesDOhavedivine
consequences.Therefore,itcanbesaidasaproverbthatthegoverningdynamic
of“If,then”appliesONLYtoourmoralchoices.I’lltrytomakethiseasierto
understandinapractical,moreapplicableway:obediencetoGod’smoralcode
causesGodtoreactinapositivewaytowardsus(blessings),anddisobedience
causesHimtoreactinanegativewaytowardsus(curses).Hismoralcode
togetherwithHisreactiontowardsourresponsetoitequalsHisjusticesystem.
WhatmakesGod’sjusticesystemsowonderfulanduniqueisthatHeaddstoit
theelementofmercy.Thatis,God’sjusticesystemisnotsimplyamechanical,
rigid,legalisticsystemofdo’sanddon’tswithconsequencesforuswrittenin
stone.Whileourwrongbehaviormightwellwarrantanegativeresponsefrom
Him,Hewill…atHissoledecision…attimesgiveusmercysothatwedon’tsuffer
whatwerightlydeserve.
Whileitisnotalwaysso,whenwerecognizeourbadbehavior(theBiblecallsthis
“sin”)andwerepentofit(weofferGodoursorrowaswellasachangedbehavior
tothegood),thistendstotriggerGod’smercyuponus.Evenso,sometimesHis
mercycomesbeforeanyrepentance,andatothertimesHedoesNOTgiveus
mercyevenWITHourrepentance.Now,whatIjustsaidgreatlybothersmuch
Christiandoctrineonthematterofrepentanceandmercy(aswellas
fundamentallywhatismoralandwhatisnot,andwhodecides).Whilenot
necessarilyuniversal,Christiandoctrinebroadlystatesthatwhenwecometo
trustinYeshua(JesusChrist),allofthisconditionality…all“if,then”…endsand
God’sresponsetowardsourbehaviorbecomesunconditional.Thatis,onlymercy
isshownanditisguaranteednomatterwhat.Whilethatisapleasantfiction…it

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isstillfiction!TheBibleinnowaysayssuchathing,butratherthisisacreated
doctrinethatcameaboutlaterinConstantinianChristianity,sometimeafterits
inceptioninRomeinthe4
th
century.
Itseems,however,thatinmoreancienttimes…the8
th
centuryB.C.andearlier…
amongtheIsraelitesthereevolvedabeliefthatbecauseYehovehwasIsrael’s
GodandbecauseIsraelwasGod’schosenandset-apartpeople,thatthey,too,
hadsomethingneartoanunconditionalpromiseofmercyfortheirbadbehavior.
Thatis,Godwouldalwaysacceptwhateverwasofferedasrepentance,and
thereforebroughtnonegativeconsequences…andeveniftheirrepentancewas
slowtocomeornotparticularlysincere…GodstillwouldwithholdHiswrathupon
them.JustasChristiandoctrinehasitwrongonthissubject,sodidIsraelandit
costthemdearly.Hosea,Amos,Jonah,andnowJoelseemedtobeGod’svehicle
tocommunicatetoIsrael(andtous)inordertocorrectthisdangerous
misperceptionthatgivesusafalsesenseofsecurity.AfterIsraelsplitinto2
separatekingdomsinthemid-10
th
centuryB.C.(theysplitintotheKingdomsof
JudahandEphraim/Israel),Ephraim/IsraelfeltsocertainofthisdoctrineofGod
neverofferinganythingbutHismercythattheyfeltfreeenoughtocreatenew
worshippracticesandritualsandsocietalrulesthatwerefarmorepaganin
naturethanreflectiveoftheirTorah-basedScripturalfaithfromthetimeof
Moses.Christianityhasmirroredthismindset,anditshowsupespeciallyin
solidifyingtheideathatGodwillshowJesus-followersonlymercywiththe
once-saved-always-saveddoctrine.Thiserroneousdoctrineessentially
completelyremovesourbehavior(evenourthoughts)fromhavinganytangible
effectonourrelationshipwithGod…therebyassuringagoodandpeaceful
relationshipwithHimregardlessofanythingevilthatwecouldeverdoorthink.
Again;thisfliesinthefaceofallbiblicalprinciplesasfoundinboththeOldand
NewTestaments.
Godusedthese4minorprophetsthatwehavestudied(orareabouttostudy)to
correctthistheologicalerrorthatcamefrommanmadedoctrines.Listenagainto
Joel2:14:
CJB
Joel2:14
14
Whoknows?Hemayturn,changehismindandleaveablessing
behindhim,[enoughfor]grainofferingsanddrinkofferingstopresentto
ADONAIyourGod.

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AlmostthesamewordswereusedintheBookofJonahinordertomakethe
samepoint:
CJB
Jonah3:9Whoknows?MaybeGodwillchangehismind,relentandturn
fromhisfierceanger;andthenwewon'tperish."
So,didthisdynamicof“if,then”changeafterthetimeofYeshua?Didthe
conditionalchangetotheunconditional?NotaccordingtoPaul:
CJB
Romans9:18Sothen,he(God)hasmercyonwhomhewants,andhe
hardenswhomhewants.
ThebottomlineisthatwhileJoelisnearlyalwaysusedtospeakaboutan
ApocalypticEndTimesscenario(especiallyinthelast50yearsorso),
repentanceandhowGodrespondstousisequallypresentinwhatJoelteaches.
“If,then”has,sinceAdam,beenattheheartofhowGoddealswithmankind.
And…andthisisthepartthatcanhurtourheads…thereisnoiron-cladguarantee
ofmercy.TherearealwaysconditionsandonlyGodknowsforcertainwhen
mercywillbeofferedandwhenitwon’t.Don’tmisunderstandme:maintaininga
sinceretrustinYeshua…demonstratedinourfruit…ourgoodworksanddeeds...
isthepathtoaneternalrelationshipofgoodwithGod.However,itisnotbased
onamomentaryorshort-livedexperiencewithGodorapromisetoGod(suchas
prayingthesinner’sprayer),thatquicklyfadestoblackfortheremainderofour
lives.Weallcontinuetoliveunderthe“If,then”divinegoverningprinciple
because,savedornot,weallcontinuetohavefreewill,andGodalsocontinues
tomakechoicesconcerningusbasedonHisperfectknowledgeandjustice.
TheBookofJoelcontainsfewerthan1000words.IntheGreekSeptuagint,and
thereforeinmostEnglishBibles,Joelconsistsofonly3chapters.However,from
theHebrewMasoretictext(suchasusedbytheCJB),Joelconsistsof4chapters.
Thecontentsarethesame,eitherway,sodon’tworrywhetheryourBibleuses3
or4chapters.I’llbeoperatingfrom4chapters,sowhenIquotechapterand
versenumbersitmightbedifferentinyourBible.

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WeknownothingofthecircumstancesofJoel’slife;onlythatheisthesonof
someonecalledPethuel(ofwhomwealsoknownothing).Formanycenturies
someRabbishavedecidedthatPethuelisanalternatespellingforSh’mu’el
(Samuel),andthereforeJoelwastheProphetSamuel’sson.Thisholdsnowater
atallandisbutafancifulimagining.SomeancientJewishlegendsattachhimto
thetribeofReuben;again,thereisnoevidenceforthis.So,weknowlittlemore
aboutJoelthanthathelived,HeprophesiedconcerningprimarilyJudah,and
thathewasaProphetofGod.OneofthegreatdebatesaboutJoeliswhenhe
livedandprophesied.Thisdebatetendstofallintooneoftwocamps:preorpost
exilic.Thatis,beforetheBabylonianExileofJudah,oraftertheirreturntothe
Landfromtheirexile.Modernscholarshipleanstowardsitbeingwrittenafterthe
returnoftheJudeanexiles,whileolderscholarshipplacesitbefore.Thereason
forthedifferenceisprimarilythatmodernscholarshiptendstogivealotof
weighttosupposedliterarypatternsandvocabularyfoundinthetextthatcan
identitywhenadocumentwaswritten.Thereis,ofcourse,nowaytoproveor
disprovethismethodofdatingancientliterature;itissubjectiveandtheoretical,
andisdecidedonlybyaconsensusoflanguagescholars.Biblescholars,Jewish
andChristian,upuntilearlyinthe20
th
centurygenerallydatedJoeltothesame
timeasHosea,Amos,andJonah…the8
th
and9
th
centuriesB.C.SomedateJoelas
theearliestofthe4,othersasthelatest.Assomeoftheproofofthisbeingthe
generalera,itisofferedthatessentiallyafewidenticalwordsandpassagesare
usedamongthese4books.Theonlyrealdebatehereiswhoinfluencedwhom.
Thatis,didJoelwritefirst,andtheseotherbooksborrowedfromhim?Orwasit
Amosthatwrotefirst,andJoelandothersborrowedfromhim…andsoon.I’llnot
offeranopinionbecausenothingaboutthisissettled.However,Ithinkthereis
littlereasontodeviatefromwhattheearlierscholarsagreeon,inthatJoellived
andprophesiedsometimebetweenthelate9
th
andlate8
th
centuryB.C.Forme,
thisobvious“if,then”themeofJoelisthegive-awaytowhenitwaswritten,
becauseweknowthatduringthistimeperiodGod’sProphetsweretryingtodrag
IsraelawayfromafalsedoctrinethathadarisenthatGodobligatedHimselfto
alwaysshowloveandmercytowardIsrael(regardlessoftheirbehavior),and
equallyalwaysshowedhateandwrathtowardsIsrael’sgentileenemies,simply
becausetheyweregentilesandpoliticalenemiesofIsrael.
Fromapanoramicviewpoint,Joelconsistsoftwohalves;thefirsthalftalksabout
Judah’sdistressandthesufferingitisundergoingbecauseofGod’swrathupon

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them.Thesecondhalfofthebookdescribesdeliverancefromthesewoes,butit
isafuturedeliverance.Andbyitsnature,thisdeliveranceisnon-specificin
timeframe,butalsohasthetoneofsomethingwellintothefuturefromtheday
ofJoel.Therefore,exactlywhenthisbookwaswrittenisn’tallthatimportant.It
especiallyisn’tallthatimportantbecauseoftheEndTimesapocalypseandthen
restorationthatisbeingprophesied(onethatJewsandChristiansgenerally
agreeisstillfuturetous,today).
Somethingwemustpayspecialattentiontoisthatlikewithallthebiblical
prophets…andespeciallywiththisgroupof4MinorProphetswe’vebeenstudying
recently…themessage(theoracles)fromGodrevolvesaroundtheCovenantof
Moses,andparticularlyitscurses.WhenweholdDeuteronomy32side-by-side
withJoel1:1through2:17,weseetheconnectionthatisparallel.Idrawthisout
becauselate20
th
andearly21
st
centuryChristianBiblescholarshipwantsto
distancethemselvesfromthisTorahconnection.TheearliestChurchscholarwho
professedsuchaview(atleasttheearliestIcouldfind)wastheknown
anti-SemiticMartinLuther.HestatedthatGodmovingawayfromtheTorah(in
Joel)wasinpreparationforthecomingofChristwhenawholenewjustice
dynamicwouldcomeabout.HansWalterWolff…anotherGermanBible
scholar…writesthisthatwellsumsupLuther’s,andthemodernChristian
scholar’s,attitudeaboutJoel.
Joelcanhardlybelongtothecirclesthattaketheirstanduponthecanonized
TorahandseeitinliturgicalcompliancewithittheultimatewilloftheGodof
Israel.Instead,onehastheimpressionthathebelongstothose“eschatological
groups”whoarestillexpectingcompletelynewactsofYahweh.
Inotherwords,WolffsaysthatJoelispartofagroupofProphetsthatis
separatingthemselvesfromtheTorahandisexpectingGodtodosomethingnew
anddifferent.Thiswouldbeaprettystartlingstatementcomingfromanyone;
however,itverymuchreflectsatroublingmodernviewpointofBibleacademics.
Whereishedrawingthisconclusionfrom?ItbeginswiththeideaofDarby’s
Dispensationalismdoctrinethathashistorydividedupintoeras,withGod
changingthings…sortoflikeevolution...aswego.Andthischangingincludes
whatHisjusticesystemlookslike.ItplayswellintothefundamentalChurch
doctrinethatGodabolishedtheTorahforsomethingnew.Frankly,weseethis

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doctrineoftheNewTestamentsucceedingandreplacingtheOldTestament
beingspuninahundredinventivewaysastimemoveson.Today,thespinhas
infectedtheChristianfaithsothoroughlythatevensomeoftheGospelsare
beingheldsuspectandthereforediscounted(especiallyMatthew’s)because
whenbeingintellectuallyhonestaboutit,therearethingsintheGospelsthatare
saidbyYeshuathatjustdon’tjibewithsomeembeddedChristiandoctrines.
Therefore,justastheOldTestamentwassometimeagodeemedirrelevantby
theChurch,thereisnowasubtlebutgrowingmovementtoputtheSynoptic
Gospelsintoa“lesser”category,relyingmoreonPaul’sEpistlesforclarity.Again;
thisconceptofJoelmovingawayfromtheideaofGodrespondingtoIsrael’s
behaviorbasedupontheCovenantofMoses,isquitenewbutisalsoclearly
agenda-driven.Rather,asisself-evidentfromHosea,AmosandJonah…andnow
hereinJoel…Israel’sbehaviorbasedupontheirobediencetotheCovenantof
MosesisthecriteriaforhowGodisjudgingthem.InJoel,Israel’s(mainlyJudah’s)
disobedientbehavioriscausingtheCovenantcursestofalluponthem.
Otherwise,ifthisdidn’thappen,GodwouldhardlybeajustGod.IfGoddidn’t
reacttoevil,howcanthatbecalledjustice?Notonlythat,ifGod’swrathupon
IsraelwasnotbasedontheCovenantofMoses,thenonwhatotherknown
standardwasitbased?HavingNOstandardwouldmakeGodarbitraryand
capricious,andjudgingonsomesubjectivestandardIsraeldoesn’tevenknow
about.And,thisnotionis,ofcourse,exactlyhowChristianitybasesitsdoctrines.
God’sjusticeisnowseenasasubjectiveandevolvingstandard,witheach
personhavingvirtuallytheirowncustomizedmoralcodeaccordingtowhatthe
HolySpirittellseachpersonisrightorwrong…forthem.
WhatweneedtowatchforinJoelishisprimarytheme,whichis“TheDayofthe
Lord”.Iwantyoutobeacutelyawarethateventhoughthephrase“TheDayof
theLord”isstandardinChristianEndTimesdoctrinesandinmostEnglishBibles,
infactthatisn’taccurate.ThephraseusedthroughoutJoelisactually“TheDay
ofYehoveh”.JoelgoesintomoredetailthananyotherOTsourceastoexactly
whatTheDayofYehovehis.We’lldelveintothatmoreasitappearsineach
chapterofJoel;however,I’llsaythisaboutthatforthemoment.Thebest
understandingoftheDayofYehovehisinitsconnectiontoHolyWar.Itbegins
withanancientMiddleEasternculturalthoughtthatagreatsovereigncouldwin
anybattleofconquestinasingleday.Whileinrealityasingle-dayvictoryisa
hyperbolicfiction,itismeanttoexpressthesupreme,unmatchablepowerofa

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greatking.So,inJoel(asinotherBibleProphets)theDayofYehovehpictures
Godintheroleofagreatdivinewarriorking,fightingaHolyWarandwinning
overwhelmingly.Biblically,anywarGodinvolvesHimselfinisbydefinitionaHoly
War;andanywarHedoesn’tinvolveHimselfin,isnot.Knowingthis,itis
importanttonoticethatthereareanumberofDayofYehoveh(DayoftheLord)
eventsintheBible.SomeinvolveIsrael,someinvolvethegentilenations,some
areinthepast,andsomeareinthefuture.So,whilethereareofcourse
similaritiesandperhapsalevelofpre-figurationofthegreatEndTimesDayof
Yehovehincomparisontotheseotherandearlierones,let’snottakeittoofar
norshouldwelookattheearliereventsasbutveiledreferencestotheEndTimes
one.
Withthat,openyouBiblestoJoelchapter1.
READJOELCHAPTER1all
AswithHoseaandJonah,Joelopenswiththephrase:“TheWordofYehoveh
came”.WhatItaughtinthosebooksaboutthisopeningis,therefore,also
appropriateforJoel.ItisthatTheWorddoesn’trefertospeech;itisreferringto
anamedentityofGod.TheWordisthenameofaspiritualentity…a
manifestationofGod…justasistheHolySpirit.So,itwasthroughavisitationof
TheWordthatJoelgothisinformation.
TheBookofJoellendsitselftomuchpreachingandapplication.So,whilewewill,
asalways,focusmostlyonaword-by-wordexegesisofJoel,itisunavoidable
thatweshallalsodelveintohowthisallappliestousverypersonallyas
individuals,aspartofacorporatebodyofBelievers,ascitizensofwhatever
nationwebelongto,butalsoaspartofglobalhumanity.
ThefirstpeoplethatJoelistoaddressareIsrael’snationalleaders.Theoracle
beginswiththewordthattheleadersaretoshema.Theyaretolistenandto
obey.Thispowerfulwordshemaisessentiallylikeasummonsinwhichthose
whoaresummonedaretheretoreceiveaninstructiontodosomething.To
simplylistentothewordsofthesummonsandnotobeyitistomakeaconscious
choicetodisobey.Thisisbecausesinceonehearsthedecreetheycannotplead
ignoranceiftheydon’tdowhatiscommanded;theycannotsay“but,Ididn’t

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know”.So,thisisacalltoaction,notmerelytogainknowledge.Thento
everyoneelseoftheland,wearetoldthattheyaretolisten.Whileazan(listen)
technicallydoesn’tcarrytheweightthatshemadoes,asusedherethisisnot
meantthattheeldersaretolistenanddo,buteveryoneelseisjusttolistenand
remainpassive.Rather,thisisusedinapoeticwayaspropheciestypicallydo.
Thatis,azanisheremeanttobeparallelwithshema.Inthiscontext,“theland”
meansJudah,sotheideaisthateveryoneinJudah,withoutexception,istohear
whatGodsaysthroughJoelandtoobeyit.
Nextisaseriesofwordsintendedtosaythateveryoneshouldpayattention
becausetheeventbeingspokenofhasneverhappenedbefore.Whilethismay
beanexaggeration,nonethelessthepointisthattheeventisenormousand
devastatinginIsrael’shistory;eveninthelifetimesofJudah’sancestorssucha
thinghasnothappenedtosuchanintensity.Verse3continueswiththe
hyperbolebysayingthiseventissounparalleledthatthosewholivethroughit
aretotelltheirchildrenaboutit,andthosechildrenaretotelltheirownchildren
aboutit.Thiseventisexplainedindramaticfashionbeginninginverse4.It
describesasuccessionofattacksfromswarmsoflocuststhatdevourevery
greengrowingplantinJudah.Wheninverse3thepeopleofJudahareordered
totellthisstorytoeveryfuturegenerationbecauseofitsgreatmeaningtothe
nationofIsrael,itharkensbacktothingsofthepastintheTorah.So,thereare
numerousplacesintheTorahandinotherOldTestamentteachingswiththe
samekindofthoughtofpassingdowntothegenerationsawitnesstoa
momentouseventcausedbytheGodofIsrael.Whyisitsoimportantto
rememberit?Becausethosewhodisregardthelessonsofhistoryareboundto
repeatthesamemistakes.Thissamethoughtisexpressedmuchearlierinthe
Bible.
CJB
Deuteronomy32:7"Rememberhowtheolddayswere;thinkoftheyears
throughalltheages.Askyourfather-hewilltellyou;yourleaderstoo-theywill
informyou.
CJB
Exodus12:26
26
Whenyourchildrenaskyou,'Whatdoyoumeanbythis
ceremony?'

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CJB
Psalm78:3-7
3
Thethingswhichwehaveheardandknown,andwhichour
fatherstoldus
4
wewillnothidefromtheirdescendants;wewilltellthe
generationtocomethepraisesofADONAIandhisstrength,thewondersthathe
hasperformed.
5
HeraisedupatestimonyinYa'akovandestablishedaTorahin
Isra'el.Hecommandedourancestorstomakethisknowntotheirchildren,
6
so
thatthenextgenerationwouldknowit,thechildrennotyetborn,whowould
themselvesariseandtelltheirownchildren,
7
whocouldthenputtheir
confidenceinGod,notforgettingGod'sdeeds,butobeyinghismitzvot.
WhenaddingbackintheoriginalHebrew,verse4saysthisabouttheinvasionof
thesevoraciousinsects:
CJB
Joel1:4 Whatthegazamleft,thearbehate;whatthearbehleft,theyeleq
ate;whattheyeleqleft,thechasilate.
Wefind4differentwordsdescribingtheseravagingbugs.So,whatdothe4
differentwordsindicate?OverthecenturiesBibleacademicshaveattemptedto
identifythetermsusedheretodescribetheparticularsoftheeatinginsects.
Somesaytheyareabout4differentspecies.Otherssaytheyare4stagesof
locustdevelopmentfrominfanttoadult.Entomologists,however,saythereare
6,not4,stagesoflocustdevelopment.TheTalmuduses20ormorewordsfor
locusts.Thebottomlineisthatnearlyforcertainwhatishappeningisnotan
insectbiologylessonfromJoel,butratheritisamostdramaticwaytosaythat
aseriesof4swarmsoflocustsinvadedJudah,oneafterthenext,leaving
absolutelynothingbehind.
Inreality,locustsarejustgrasshoppers,regardlessofthemanydifferentwords
usedforthem.Whentheireggshatchunderoccasionalidealconditions,the
swarmsarealmostbeyondwhatwecanimagine.Theycanbemilesandmiles
across.Theworstpartofalocustplagueisnotonlythataretheysuddenand
unstoppable,butthattheyaffectpeopleandanimals,andformorethanone
plantingseason.HereinJoelthedescriptionissuchthateventhatportionofa
cropthatmightbeusedforseedthenextyeariseaten-up,sofamineissureto
followformorethanoneyear.Biblically,insomewaysalocustinvasionis
consideredworsethananinvasionbyenemyforcessothereislittleabovea

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locustplaguetodescribeutter,completedevastationandconsequentsuffering
ofpeopleandlivestockandevenofthewildanimals.
But:isthisaliteralgrasshopperinfestation,oristhisametaphorforanattackby
anenemyarmy?Theacademiccommunity…JewishandChristian…ispretty
evenlydividedonit.ThereareafewplacesintheBiblewherealocustinvasion
isclearlyametaphorforaninvasionbyanarmy.Ontheotherhand,asinExodus
10,alocustplaguecanbeliteral.Thatsaid,inthebiblicalaccountscomparing
locuststohumanarmiesitismadeclearthatthiscomparisoniswhatis
happening.Thatis,locustsareNOTsymbolsofsomethingelse…it’sthattheir
characteristicscanbeusedtodramaticallydescribetheeffectsofaninvasionof
enemyforces.ButhereinJoel,thatisnotthecase.Thisisnotusedasa
comparisonorametaphoricaldescription.NeitherinEgyptianorAssyrian
recordsarelocustsusedassymbolsofenemyarmies.So,itismybeliefthatin
Joelthisparticularlocustinvasionisjustthat;aninvasionofgrasshoppers.
Startinginverse5beginsanappealforalamentationconcerningthegravityof
thedevastationthathasfallenuponJudah.Whatisalamentation?Itisa
passionateexpressionofgrieforofsorrow.Whatwereadhereisactuallya
ratherclassicHebrewapproachtotheofferingofprayersoflamentationthat
wereusualandcustomarynotjustintheBible,butthroughouttheMiddleEastof
thatera.Typically,anationalproclamationwasissuedthatwouldsummonthe
peopletoaceremonywhenanationalemergencyofsomesorterupted.Usually,
theemergencyhadtodowithaninvasionbyaforeignentityorwithafood
supplyissue.Thus,thereisarecognizableformofliterarystructurethatwas
commonandstandardforsuchcalls.Usually,thekingwouldbetheonewho
instigateditandthentheElderswouldseetoitthatthewordspreadtothe
peopleatlarge.So,Joelisonlythelatestexampleofthiscalltolamentation;it
isnotatallunique.
Wouldn’titbewonderfulif,inmoderntimes,atthemomentofnationaldistress
orloomingcatastrophethatwehadleadersthatsincerelyinstructedthepeople
tocometogetherandpraytotheGodofAbraham,Isaac,andJacobforHis
mercyandhelp?Sadly,abouttheclosestwegettodayisbutcarefullycrafted,
politicallycorrectwordsthatcallforamomentofsilence,ortopraytoour
personalgod(shouldwebelieveinagod)whomeverthatmightbe.Ican

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promiseyouthatsuchacallisnotonlymeaninglessandineffective,butthatitis
actuallyoffensivetoYehoveh;andbecausethatisthecase,asBelieversinthe
GodofIsraelweoughtnotallowsuchathingtogounchallenged.Knowingwho
weareprayingtoiseverything;prayingtoanyoneotherthanYehovehisbut
idolatry.Andweneedtosaysooutloudandquitworryingifwemightoffend
someone.Thisfearfulsilencehasbeendisplayedforfartoolong,andwhatwe
seehappeningtoourcrumblingsocietyistheresultofnotstandingupforthe
truth.
Essentially,then,verse4announcedthecauseofthetragedy(thelocusts),and
thenverse5beginsalongresponseoflamentationtothattragedy.Itmight
seemoddthatthefirstpeoplecalledtolamentaredrunks!However,Ithinkthe
pointofitisthatinmanywaystheyrepresentthemindlessunawarenessof
Judah’scitizensingeneralaboutwhatitgoingonandwhy.Adrunkhasonlyone
thought:acquiringmoredrink.Theyhaveanattitudeofcompletecarelessness.
Whateverhappensoutsideoftheirtinylittlesphereoflivingalifeofintoxication
inordertoavoidreallife,simplydoesn’tconcernthem.ThiswasJudahingeneral.
Theymaynotallhavebeenintoxicatedwithalcohol,buttheywereintoxicated
withobtainingasmanycomfortsoflifeastheycouldaccompaniedbya
willingnesstowaterdowntheirbiblicalfaithtoobtainpeaceandsecuritywith
theirpaganneighbors,butalsotoavoidinternalconflictsamongtheir
countrymen.Howdoesthatresonatewithyou?Doesthatnotwelldescribethe
Westernworldingeneral,andsomuchofthemodern-dayChurch?Weareso
absorbedintoourdailylivesofgainingmaterialpossessions,andgoingabout
ourbusiness;carpingaboutthelatestdisruptiontoourpersonalplans,gripping
becausewehavetoworktoohardatourjobsorwethatdon’thaveenough
leisuretime,thatweputGodontheshelfforallbutanhourortwoonSaturday
orSunday.LikeJoel’sdrunkards,anentirenewChurchdoctrinehasarisencalled
theProsperityDoctrinethatseekstomakeourintoxication,ifnotaddiction,with
wealthandmaterialpleasuresasthoughitissomethingTheLorddesiresforus.
Infact,themoreaddictedwearetoit,andthemoreweobtainfromit,isactually
GodshowingusHisfavorandpleasureforoursupposedfaith.Sojustasthe
drunkardsinJoelarerepresentativeofJudahintheircasualattitudestowards
God,soistheProsperityDoctrinerepresentativeofthecasualattitudeoftoo
manyBelieverstowardsGodandweneedtothinklongandhardaboutthis,and
seeifthismightapplytousindividually.

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Whatarethedrunkardstowailandweepabout?Theirwinesupplyisabouttodry
up.ThissuddeninvasionoflocustshasdisruptedJudah’s,andespecially
Jerusalem’s,complacentwayoflife.ThelocustsareGod’swake-upcall,and
whatishappeningisoutofthecontrolofthepeopleortheirleadersbecauseitis
God’sjudgmentuponthem.Wemustnotlookatthisandthink:well,locust
infestationshappenedfromtimetotime,solet’snotmaketoomuchofit.The
thingwelearnedinstudyingtheTorahisthatGodwillusuallyusethenatural,as
opposedtothesupernatural,todealwithhumanity.It’sjustthatwhenGod
ordainsitasajudgment,theintensityofitisfargreaterthannormallyhappens
innature.AnditalsodemonstratesGod’scontroloverallnaturethatHe
commandittoactionatHiswillandHistiming.
IcannothelpbutfeelthattheCovidpandemicthattheworldfacedwasthe
locustplagueonlyinmodernterms.Wehavehadpandemicsbefore;butrarely
asintenseandrapidlygloballyfeltasCovid.Thepandemichasexposedthe
weaknessesandvulnerabilityofhumansocietyeverywhere.Littlehaschanged
theworldsouniversally,andpermanently,insuchashorttimeasCovid.What
oughttobeanotherclueforusthatthiswasanythingbutanaturaloccurrence
thathappenedaccidentallyoronitsown,isthattothisdaymedicalscience
cannotagreeonitssource.Freedomsandprosperitythatsomuchoftheworld
wasenjoying…basedonincreasingtechnologyandexpectedentitlementtonot
onlybasiclivingbutalsofunandconvenientthings…wascurtailedvirtually
overnight.Thingswefeltwecouldcountonwithouttheleastthoughtor
concern….eventoiletpaper…suddenlybecamescarceifnotunobtainable.Our
freedomseventogathertogetherforcommunalworshipweretakenfromus.We
tendtowanttoblamechanceorbadluckorincompetent(perhapsauthoritarian)
governmentinterventionforit.But,mightitactuallyhavebeenGod’swake-up
calltousall?JustlikethelocustswereforJudah?Aslumberingpeople,manyof
whomclaimedafaithinHim,butactuallydisplayedlittleofit?Inmanyways
suchathoughtgoesagainstaChristianbeliefthatGodwouldnevercause
calamityoreviltobefallus.Butinfact,theBibleteachestheopposite.And,the
realityisthatourfaithinYeshuadoesn’timmunizeusfromit.Itellyoufrankly
thatIdobelievethatCovidwasandisGod’sjudgmentandthatHedirectedit.I
don’tknowthiswithabsolutecertainty,butIdoknowwhatGod’sWordteaches
us,andIthinkanhonestassessmentoftheworldasitis,andofthosewho

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currentlyclaimallegiancetoHimbutwhoselifeanddesiresdemonstrates
somethingquitedifferent,itcanbenothingelse.Godwantswe,theintoxicated,
toarisefromourcoma-likespiritualsleep.So,letusrespondaccordingly;with
lamentationandprayerandmostlywithareneweddevotiontoGodandtoactive
obediencetoHisCommandments.