Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.
Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
Joel 2 presents a powerful and vivid picture of impending judgment, followed by a profound call to repentance and a glorious promise of restoration. This chapter, central to the Book of Joel, speaks to the urgency of turning back to God and the boundless grace He offers to those who seek Him with all their heart. It is a message that resonates not only with ancient Israel but also with believers today.
The Approaching Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-11)
The chapter opens with a dire warning. Joel urges the watchmen to sound the alarm: Blow the horn in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! For the day of the LORD is coming; in fact, it is near (Joel 2:1). This is not a day to be welcomed, but a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness (Joel 2:2). A great and powerful army is approaching, consuming everything in its path.
The identity of this "army" is debated. Some see it as a metaphorical description of the locust plague detailed in Joel 1, while others interpret it as a literal human army poised to invade. Regardless of its specific nature, the description is terrifying. They ravage the land (Joel 2:3), their advance is unstoppable, and their noise is deafening (Joel 2:5). They move with precision and purpose, leaving devastation in their wake. All exits are sealed; no escapes are left (Joel 2:7-9).
The magnitude of this event is further emphasized by cosmic disturbances: That the earth quakes . . . the sky shakes . . . the sun and moon grow dark and the stars cease their shining (Joel 2:10). This is not merely a natural disaster or a military invasion; it is the work of God Himself. The power of heaven is about to be unleashed on the earthly realm. Joel emphasizes the dreadfulness of the Day of the Lord, asking, who can endure it? (Joel 2:11). The prophet's intention is clear: to awaken the people of Israel to the severity of their situation and the imminence of God's judgment. God’s anger is waiting at the door.
A Call to Repentance (Joel 2:12-17)
In the midst of this impending doom, a message of hope emerges. The Lord, through the prophet, offers a path to salvation: turn to me with all your heart (Joel 2:12). This is a call to repentance, a complete change of mind and direction. It means acknowledging the wrong path taken and turning back towards God.
Joel emphasizes that true repentance requires more than just words. It demands an outward manifestation of inward change, including fasting, weeping, and mourning (Joel 2:12). It's a call to genuine humility and brokenness before the Lord.
The prophet emphasizes the character of God as the basis for hope: Because God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love (Joel 2:13). Even though the people have made God their enemy through prolonged unrighteousness, He remains their only hope. He relents from sending disaster and is the only source of true blessing (Joel 2:13-14).
Joel urges the people to gather for a sacred assembly, intent on repentance (Joel 2:15-16). He calls for heartfelt prayer, pleading for God's pity and for His glory to be upheld among the nations: Have pity on your people, LORD. Indeed, we too, should cultivate a desire to see God glorified and praised among all: Why should it be said among the peoples, Where is their God? (Joel 2:17).
Restoration and Blessing (Joel 2:18-27)
The good news is that the people's repentance is effective! The prophet's plea was successful, and God's people displayed the fruit of repentance. For the LORD became jealous . . . and spared his people (Joel 2:18). This is not a sinful jealousy, but the righteous jealousy of a faithful husband who protects his bride.
God promises to restore what was lost. The harvest and blessings previously withheld (Joel 1:16-20) will be returned in abundance (Joel 2:19-26). They will be satiated (Joel 2:19) and satisfied (Joel 2:26)—stuffed full. God knows how to deliver blessings to those who align themselves with him.
The description of the "northerner" in Joel 2:20 suggests that the army described earlier (Joel 2:2-9) may indeed be a human army, possibly referring to a future eschatological event where God will protect Israel from invading forces.
God's ultimate purpose is revealed: you will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. Only God can cause such reversals of fortune. One day, his people will never again be put to shame (Joel 2:27).
The Outpouring of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-32)
Joel's prophecy takes on an even greater significance in light of the New Testament. The apostle Peter quotes this passage in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21), recognizing it as a prophecy of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
It’s a fitting mention in Acts because there, the Lord began to fulfill this promise to pour out [his] Spirit on all humanity (Joel 2:28). Moses had desired that God might do such a thing (see Num 11:29), and here Joel prophesies that this is God’s plan. Indeed, on Pentecost, the initial fulfillment began among the Jews and then spread as Gentiles were brought into the church (see Acts 10:44-48).
The Holy Spirit is not reserved only for the Jews or for a select group of believers. There are no second-class Christians who receive only partial membership in the church. God’s Spirit is available to all who receive Christ as their Savior. This promise transcends national and ethnic boundaries, offering hope and power to all who call on the name of the Lord.
Joel 2 is a powerful reminder of the seriousness of sin, the urgency of repentance, and the boundless grace and power of God. It calls us to examine our hearts, turn away from our own destructive paths, and embrace the promise of restoration and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It's a timeless message that speaks to the heart of the human condition and the enduring love of God.
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.
Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
Joel 2 presents a powerful and vivid picture of impending judgment, followed by a profound call to repentance and a glorious promise of restoration. This chapter, central to the Book of Joel, speaks to the urgency of turning back to God and the boundless grace He offers to those who seek Him with all their heart. It is a message that resonates not only with ancient Israel but also with believers today.
The Approaching Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-11)
The chapter opens with a dire warning. Joel urges the watchmen to sound the alarm: Blow the horn in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! For the day of the LORD is coming; in fact, it is near (Joel 2:1). This is not a day to be welcomed, but a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness (Joel 2:2). A great and powerful army is approaching, consuming everything in its path.
The identity of this "army" is debated. Some see it as a metaphorical description of the locust plague detailed in Joel 1, while others interpret it as a literal human army poised to invade. Regardless of its specific nature, the description is terrifying. They ravage the land (Joel 2:3), their advance is unstoppable, and their noise is deafening (Joel 2:5). They move with precision and purpose, leaving devastation in their wake. All exits are sealed; no escapes are left (Joel 2:7-9).
The magnitude of this event is further emphasized by cosmic disturbances: That the earth quakes . . . the sky shakes . . . the sun and moon grow dark and the stars cease their shining (Joel 2:10). This is not merely a natural disaster or a military invasion; it is the work of God Himself. The power of heaven is about to be unleashed on the earthly realm. Joel emphasizes the dreadfulness of the Day of the Lord, asking, who can endure it? (Joel 2:11). The prophet's intention is clear: to awaken the people of Israel to the severity of their situation and the imminence of God's judgment. God’s anger is waiting at the door.
A Call to Repentance (Joel 2:12-17)
In the midst of this impending doom, a message of hope emerges. The Lord, through the prophet, offers a path to salvation: turn to me with all your heart (Joel 2:12). This is a call to repentance, a complete change of mind and direction. It means acknowledging the wrong path taken and turning back towards God.
Joel emphasizes that true repentance requires more than just words. It demands an outward manifestation of inward change, including fasting, weeping, and mourning (Joel 2:12). It's a call to genuine humility and brokenness before the Lord.
The prophet emphasizes the character of God as the basis for hope: Because God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love (Joel 2:13). Even though the people have made God their enemy through prolonged unrighteousness, He remains their only hope. He relents from sending disaster and is the only source of true blessing (Joel 2:13-14).
Joel urges the people to gather for a sacred assembly, intent on repentance (Joel 2:15-16). He calls for heartfelt prayer, pleading for God's pity and for His glory to be upheld among the nations: Have pity on your people, LORD. Indeed, we too, should cultivate a desire to see God glorified and praised among all: Why should it be said among the peoples, Where is their God? (Joel 2:17).
Restoration and Blessing (Joel 2:18-27)
The good news is that the people's repentance is effective! The prophet's plea was successful, and God's people displayed the fruit of repentance. For the LORD became jealous . . . and spared his people (Joel 2:18). This is not a sinful jealousy, but the righteous jealousy of a faithful husband who protects his bride.
God promises to restore what was lost. The harvest and blessings previously withheld (Joel 1:16-20) will be returned in abundance (Joel 2:19-26). They will be satiated (Joel 2:19) and satisfied (Joel 2:26)—stuffed full. God knows how to deliver blessings to those who align themselves with him.
The description of the "northerner" in Joel 2:20 suggests that the army described earlier (Joel 2:2-9) may indeed be a human army, possibly referring to a future eschatological event where God will protect Israel from invading forces.
God's ultimate purpose is revealed: you will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. Only God can cause such reversals of fortune. One day, his people will never again be put to shame (Joel 2:27).
The Outpouring of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-32)
Joel's prophecy takes on an even greater significance in light of the New Testament. The apostle Peter quotes this passage in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21), recognizing it as a prophecy of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
It’s a fitting mention in Acts because there, the Lord began to fulfill this promise to pour out [his] Spirit on all humanity (Joel 2:28). Moses had desired that God might do such a thing (see Num 11:29), and here Joel prophesies that this is God’s plan. Indeed, on Pentecost, the initial fulfillment began among the Jews and then spread as Gentiles were brought into the church (see Acts 10:44-48).
The Holy Spirit is not reserved only for the Jews or for a select group of believers. There are no second-class Christians who receive only partial membership in the church. God’s Spirit is available to all who receive Christ as their Savior. This promise transcends national and ethnic boundaries, offering hope and power to all who call on the name of the Lord.
Joel 2 is a powerful reminder of the seriousness of sin, the urgency of repentance, and the boundless grace and power of God. It calls us to examine our hearts, turn away from our own destructive paths, and embrace the promise of restoration and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It's a timeless message that speaks to the heart of the human condition and the enduring love of God.