Following the invasion of locusts at one point in the history of gods. In the second chapter joel continues to to describe the plague and to urge repentance. Joel 1 nkjv the locust plague in judah the word bible. The term in the book i think we shall see has a kind of double sense, that is it is a term which has a reference to the local plague of locusts about which joel. Joel in the picture study bible the book of joel with maps. The book of joel mentions four types of locusts that would. The greek septuagint lxx, and latin vulgate versions follow the hebrew masoretic text, titling this book after joel the prophet, the recipient of the message from god 1. Both chapters describe a locust plague, but there is. Joels concern, however, is not limited to these disasters. It is a small book of only 3 chapters but it certainly packs a powerful punch. At the same time, the plague as a local day of the lord should warn israel of the eschatological day of yahweh homer heater, jr. Apparently there was a plague of locusts that attacked israel.
It is close at hand a day of darkness and gloom, a day of. Thus, rather than seeing the locust plague as the end of the peoples troubles, joel saw it as a prelude to. Ancient israel was predominantly an agricultural society. The prophet joel showed up in israel during a time of the most terrible plague of locusts in the nations history. The contents of the book may be analyzed further as follows. Both chapters describe a locust plague, but there is progression. Others believe that the locusts are demonic creatures. The plague of locusts, and what christians can and must do.
Joel 2 niv an army of locusts blow the trumpet bible. In 1915 a plague of locusts covered palestine and syria from the border of egypt to the taurus mountains. Book of joel part 1 the plague of locusts david yarwood. Mar 07, 2020 the book of joel gives us an overview of the entire tribulation from the plague of locusts to armageddon. Joel also has a lot to say about the gentile nations and. The judgment in the book of joel centers on the warning of a plague of locusts. Summary of the book of joel the story of the bible. In joel 1, the context shows that his prophecy is clearly directed at israel. After recounting the swarms of locusts that will plague israel in joel 1, and then promising final restoration for israel in joel 2, the prophecy turns its focus in the third chapter to the nations. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was in ancient times nor ever will be in ages to come. Joel judah, the locust, and the day of the lord slj institute.
The book of joel mentions four types of locusts that would destroy the agriculture of israel. The devastating rise and mysterious disappearance of. Commentators differ as to whether it should be interpreted literally or allegorically see joel. Book of joel bible study chapter 1 locuts, destruction.
What i would like to do this morning is guide you through the whole book in a summary way, then go back and focus on the main messages of the two halves as they apply to us today. Might the locusts referred to in joel 12 describe or. The book is best when it stays closest to entomology. Dinosaurs and the bible debunking the 7 myths that deny biblical truth series duration. Sep 05, 2019 clearly, then, there is a better explanation for the relationship between joel 1 and joel 2 than first a locust plague, then an army. Chapters 12 refer to a plague of locusts which ravaged judah at the time. Now, hundreds of years later, he was judging his people with the same kind of plague for straying from him. The book of joel accounts for justice over evil in a form thats unique to the other old testament prophets. It comes right off the arabian desert and it brings desert winds, drought, and sometimes locusts. The first chapter describes a historical locust plague, one of such magnitude that the prophet sees it as a punishment from god and urges the people to fast and repent before god.
The gregarious locusts become irritable, and they start to group up. Joel goes on to say that the locusts are in fact gods army. Misplaced prophet of the locust plague my jewish learning. Jan 02, 2020 in summary, the prophet joel is most likely referring to a literal locust invasion that took place shortly before his writing, around 845 b. Nov 12, 2011 joels prophecy is about a disaster of locusts brought on israel because of their turning away from him. Sometime during the prophets lifetimeand the date is very much disputeda plague of locusts invaded judah and. It was so bad the old men couldnt even say, ah, i remember back in 46.
The book of joel accounts for justice over evil in a form thats unique. Locusts so moses stretched out his staff over the land of egypt, and throughout that day and night the lord sent an east wind across the land. The locust plague in judah the word of the lord that came to joel the son of pethuel. A locust swarm has the potential to devastate all vegetation in its path and can cause economic disaster in a. The book of joe is largely occupied with the description of a plague of locusts. The two chapters describe two distinct stages in the development of such a plague. There are only two explicit references to the locusts in. The book of joel written around 800bc and begins by describing a disastrous attack of locusts in the country of judah. As such, threats to the nations crops were one of the main concerns of its citizens. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish israel joel 1.
We refer to the book of joel, which describes a plague of locusts under the old covenant as a type of the day of the lord joel 1. Its an important book because it records israels place in gods program. The book of joel gives us an overview of the entire tribulation from the plague of locusts to armageddon. It is close at hand a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. The last picture is of jerusalem in the end of days experiencing a time of complete peace, a peace that will spread out to everyone as it becomes a house of prayer for all nations.
Four names arbeh 1, gazam 5, yeleq 6 and chacil 7, are found in joel 1. This attack causes significant damage to the economy and agriculture as this. Lockwood is an entomologist who specializes in grasshoppers and locusts, and he obviously knows his material. Joels prophecy is to turn the nation back to god in preparation for the great day of the lord, the theme of his prophecy. The literal swarms of locusts that invaded in successive waves to destroy the crops of israel spoke of a sooncoming invasion of enemies as well as a future day of judgment. Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. Restoration promised 24 the threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. Jul, 2015 dinosaurs and the bible debunking the 7 myths that deny biblical truth series duration. This natural phenomenon is a vivid picture of the coming invasion of troops and the great and dreadful day of the lord. As an entomologist, lockwood is one of those people.
The locust plague described shared by thomas cash sermon. Joel often drew upon natural imagerythe sun and the moon, the grass and the locustsand in general seemed to understand the reality that truth must have an impact on us in the real world. The first chapter describes a historical locust plague, one of such magnitude that the prophet sees it as a. The book of revelation also describes an army of locusts working for god. After a superscription ascribing the prophecy to joel son of pethuel, the book may be broken down into the following sections. God compares the past to the future in the book of joel.
Joel describes them destroying wheat and barley crops, stripping trees down to their bark, ruining grape vines so no wine offerings could be made to the lord. In 1915 a devastating plague of locusts covered what is modernday israel and syria. Unlike the other books, joel tells us a story about a terrible plague of locusts that seems to. We find it hard to grasp how bad a plague of locusts could be. Plagues of locusts are a scary thing to worry about, and it is interesting that locusts are calm when they are alone. Book of joel overview insight for living ministries. Joel reflects on the day of the lord and how true repentance will bring about the great restoration hoped for in the other prophetic books. The primary theme in the book of joel is the day of the lord. The locust horde and the day of the lord desiring god. The book of joel states that its author was the prophet joel joel 1. Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers.
More than half of the book is built around a description of the locust plague. The book of joel opens with the telling of an impending locust swarm and its consequences. Lament over a great locust plague and a severe drought 1. Using what was at that time the wellknown locust plague in judah, joel capitalized on a recent tragedy to dispense the lords message of judgment and the. And finally, one may observe that the central horror of the book of joel is a plague of locusts, one type of which is called the gazam cutter joel 1. Of all the old testament books, joel has the highest concentration of imperative verbs. Book of joel bible study chapter 1 locuts, destruction near. He sees them as symbols of deeper significance the day of the lord. This attack causes significant damage to the economy and agriculture as this disaster of locusts is accompanied by a severe famine throughout the land. The secondbest chapters are those in which insects and humans interact directly, such as human efforts to kill locusts. In the first part of the book, the prophet laments the damage done by the swarm and.
In the first part of the book, the prophet laments the damage done by the swarm and calls on gods people to mourn, not only for their losses but also for their sins. Joel came and prophesied to the land of judah before the plague came. Sometime during the prophets lifetimeand the date is very much disputeda plague of locusts invaded judah and completely devastated the land. Jan 02, 2020 the prophet joel called the priests to repent joel 1. Joel and the locust invasion reformed bible studies. The book of joel was likely written between 835 and 800 b. A most unusual feature of the book of joel is the plague of locusts chapter 1. Joel vividly portrays the dependence of human life upon gods favor.
A locust swarm has the potential to devastate all vegetation in its path and can cause economic disaster in a region. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the lord is coming. A locust plague had preceded the plagues of darkness and death in egypt cf. From joel i 4 until the end of the book, the interpretation of joel depends upon. Might the locusts referred to in joel 12 describe or foreshadow the locusts of revelation 9. The prophet joel showed up in israel during a time of the.
In summary, the prophet joel is most likely referring to a literal locust invasion that took place shortly before his writing, around 845 b. I will provide insight about the locusts of the fifth trumpet in this article. Joel also made several comments on the priests and the temple, indicating a familiarity with the center of worship in judah joel 1. The calamity was the setting for the prophetic oracles contained in the book of joel. It may be that the hordes of locusts that covered the sky and blotted out the sun and the moon and the stars 2. Joel also has a lot to say about the gentile nations and their collision course to armageddon. The last picture is of jerusalem in the end of days. From joel i 4 until the end of the book, the interpretation of joel depends upon a decision about the identity of the locusts. A decision about this issue enables the possibility for discerning a political dimension throughout the book. Insightful readers, especially the priests addressed in joel 1. Following the invasion of locusts at one point in the history of gods people, the lord sent joel to warn them that a worse day of judgment was yet ahead for the impenitent.
We thankfully know little about locust plagues except through reading about them, but they eat everything bark off trees, everything green, right down to the root. The land laid waste hear this, you elders, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. By the millions ravenous locusts will swoop over israel, gorging themselves on every plant in sight. A locust invasion precipitated the vision of the next book in our yearlong study of the old testament writing prophets. This plague was worse than any plague anyone had ever seen. As observed previously, the prophecy can be divided into two distinct units comprising joel 1. Locusts are similar to grasshoppers and can congregate in swarms of millions of. Although the third chapter of joel seems to describe a future war, chapters one and two depict as an invading army a devastating locust plague joel 1. Joel sees the massive locust plague and severe drought devastating judah as a harbinger of the great and dreadful day of the lord. God judges judah joel 12 god sends a plague of locusts on judah joel 1.