Today, we continue our journey through the Bible with today’s study of Joel. May God show us what He wants us to learn.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14.
As we study the Bible alone or in a group setting, there are several questions we can ask ourselves to help us dig deeper. The five questions are:
- What does the scripture say about God?
- Then what does the scripture say about me?
- Does something in this passage challenge me?
- What gives me hope in this passage?
- Is anything unclear to me?
I hope these questions help you as much as they help me.
Book of Joel
- Author: Joel, son of Pethuel
- Audience: The people of Judah (the southern kingdom).
- Date Written: Approximately 835-796 B.C.
- Length: Three Chapters.
- Keywords: The day of the Lord.
- Key Verses: “Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (2:12-13).
- Key People: Joel and the people of Judah.
Summary of Joel:
Joel sees the massive locust plague and severe drought devastating Judah as a sign of the “great and dreadful day of the Lord (2:31). Joel saw these as punishment for the sins of the people and called them to a nation-wide repentance. And within the pages, Joel provides one of the most detailed descriptions of the locust devastation in the region.
Sections of the Book:
The book of Joel contains five significant themes, which are:
- A time of judgement (1:1-2:11).
- The call for repentance and a time of national prayer (2:12-17).
- Promises for the future if they repent (2:18-20).
- The coming of a season of refreshing (2:23-32).
- Decision time for the people (3:1-3:21).
Messages in Joel:
I must admit that this book was not one that I remember much about through the years, but as I reread it, I saw the relevance for us today. One of the key concepts is the need for a national repentance and the blessings that come from it. Joel is called “The Prophet of Religious Revival.” He realized that genuine repentance lay at the foundation of true revival. A heart laid bare to God opened the repentant to the blessings of our Heavenly Father.
Final thoughts:
And like so many other books in the Bible, we see God’s character on display in this book. They are:
- Accessible-2:12.
- Patient–2:13.
- Merciful–2:13.
- Wrathful–2:12-14.
For us today, we can see Joel’s prophecy described God pouring out His Spirit on the people so that one day, “You sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions” (2:28-32). Peter quotes from this passage in Joel as the prophecy previewed.
All Lessons from the Bible
Each book of the Bible contains lessons for us to learn and historical information. We must study God’s Word to see what to do and what not to do in life. Paul reminds us of the importance of the words within the text in 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3:14-17; “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Prayer
Please grant me the understanding and knowledge of You and Your word. As I open my Bible to read the scriptures, it gives me wisdom and discernment. And even as I sit and listen to the pastor, preacher or apostle reveal what Your Holy Book is speaking into my life, help me see and understand. Help me know Jesus Christ and how He lived His life so I can follow in His precious footsteps.
Grace and Peace to you,
Yvonne M. Morgan is a Christian #author, #blogger, and #speaker. #BibleGatewayPartner
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Additional Resources:
Yes, there was a need for repentance then, and a need for repentance now. The more we study God’s Word, the more we can learn. 🙂
So very true Melissa. Thank you for commenting. Blessings
I’ve asked myself many times, especially these last few years with drought, etc., if the times we (America) are experiencing are a remedial judgment of God, meant to correct us and bring us to repentance. We see from Joel that same cycle, don’t we my friend? Always appreciate your insights and wisdom shared, but I pray too that you know your “Book Summaries” have often spurred me to go back and read some of these books and chapters again. I’m amazed at how God’s Word always unfolds a bit more with every reading. God’s blessings sweet friend.
So very true JD. The more I study the Bible, the more I want to dig in and learn more. I too wonder if we are in a period of judgment so I make sure to pray for a revival in this country. Thanks for commenting. Blessings
National repentance is so much needed. We humans tend to make the same mistakes over and over. If we’d only turn to God instead of thinking we can solve our own problems, how much better, kinder, and more loving our world would be. Thank you for this lesson, Yvonne.
It is needed desperately. Praying for revival. Thank you Katherine. Blessings
Yvonne, I always enjoy your summaries. Thank you!
Thank you Annie. And I appreciate your feedback. Blessings
What a powerful book this is, and what a great summary! We truly need repentance in our homes, our nations, our world. Come, Lord Jesus!
So true Jessica. I can’t imagine how much worse it could get. Come, Lord Jesus. Blessings
Thank you for these summaries, Yvonne. You clarify the message contained in each book of the Bible. The verse you mentioned in chapter two, of God pouring out His Spirit upon our sons and daughters, is one of my favorites. How we need the reminder of repentance, both individually and nationally. Lord, give us humble hearts to acknowledge that You alone are God.
Thanks for commenting Melissa. I hold on to that verse for me and my family. Blessings
Thank you, Yvonne. I enjoy relearning themes and details about Joel. I like the thought of “national repentance” something we don’t think about much. And I do think asking the Lord to pour out His Spirit on us is a prayer we need today and always need.
I believe we do need it every day too. Thanks for commenting Karen. Blessings
God promises to restore what the locusts have eaten. I love that passage. The little books have great depth. Thanks, Yvonne. God bless!
Thanks Nancy. Blessings
Great lesson here, Yvonne.
Repentance is greatly needed in our day and preceeds revival. This, we need!
Our pastor delivered a wonderful sermon on repentance just a couple of weeks ago.
Thanks for sharing this important Word.
Thanks so much Connie. Blessings