Joel – The Day of the LORD
01/04/23 07:14
One of the major themes in Joel is the Day of the LORD. It appears in all sections:
1. judgement of Zion
1.1 the locusts – 1:15
1.2 the army – 2:1-2, 11
2. the promise of the Spirit – 2:31
3. judgement of the nations and restoration of Zion – 3:14, 18.
From this observation we may ask ourselves if the Day of the LORD refers to three different events. From a historical perspective it does, but from a prophetical perspective it does not. And the latter is our concern. We will find application in the prophetical perspective only. Of course we can lay down the three aspects of the Day of the LORD historically, namely the destruction of the kingdom of Judea/Benjamin by the Chaldeans, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and the establishment of the eternal Kingdom of God. But if we concentrate on each aspect in stead of seeing it as a whole we may miss the point. Maybe that is why the only thing we get to know about the prophet himself is that he is the son of Pethuel, so we may have to find some significance in the meaning of that name, which is Vision of God, or Enlargement, Opening up. We may say that God is opening up His heart. He must judge on the basis of His covenant, but that is not His final word. His judgement is inextricably bound up with His love and His purpose of dwelling with mankind. For that reason 2:13 is the heart of the book: God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. His judgement is loving discipline at the same time and even bound up with the promise of vindication. And that is all laid down in His covenant. So first of all we have to look at Joel as a typical prophet, whose task it is to lead God’s people on to the right track towards the fulfilment of His promises.
1. judgement of Zion
1.1 the locusts – 1:15
1.2 the army – 2:1-2, 11
2. the promise of the Spirit – 2:31
3. judgement of the nations and restoration of Zion – 3:14, 18.
From this observation we may ask ourselves if the Day of the LORD refers to three different events. From a historical perspective it does, but from a prophetical perspective it does not. And the latter is our concern. We will find application in the prophetical perspective only. Of course we can lay down the three aspects of the Day of the LORD historically, namely the destruction of the kingdom of Judea/Benjamin by the Chaldeans, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and the establishment of the eternal Kingdom of God. But if we concentrate on each aspect in stead of seeing it as a whole we may miss the point. Maybe that is why the only thing we get to know about the prophet himself is that he is the son of Pethuel, so we may have to find some significance in the meaning of that name, which is Vision of God, or Enlargement, Opening up. We may say that God is opening up His heart. He must judge on the basis of His covenant, but that is not His final word. His judgement is inextricably bound up with His love and His purpose of dwelling with mankind. For that reason 2:13 is the heart of the book: God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. His judgement is loving discipline at the same time and even bound up with the promise of vindication. And that is all laid down in His covenant. So first of all we have to look at Joel as a typical prophet, whose task it is to lead God’s people on to the right track towards the fulfilment of His promises.
