Joel
Key Learnings from Wednesday Bible Study
March 2024 - April 2024
The book of Joel is a short collection of prophetic poems that are both powerful and puzzling. The book contains no references to datable historical events, it could have been written in the days of the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom or after the Babylonian captivity. The Disciple Peter quotes Joel in his Pentecost sermon (Acts 2). The Apostle Paul quotes Joel in his letter to the Romans. Joel himself reflects on the scriptures of his time to helped him to make sense of the tragedies of his day and gave him hope for the future. Meets in the Library.
Joel Introduction
Unknown about when the prophet Joel wrote.
• Interpreters have struggled with the Plague of Locusts description wondering if its a literal locust plague or a figurative description of invading armies.
- Joel’s message is a call to repentance.
• The Lord will judge the world and to condemn the unrepentant.
• The Lord will declare “not guilty” all who trust in His mercy
- Book of Joel traditionally read in Lent
- Locusts - A call to repentance.
• Army worms are a thing.
• Stroke a grasshopper's leg hairs for 5 seconds once a minute for the next 4 hours and a few molting later you have a locust.
- Imagery of Good Friday & The Cross
- Pentecot - Joel 2:28-32
• Peter's Sermon Acts 2:17-21
- Drink Offering
• Surrendering, Partnering, Allegiance, Devoting, Giving
• Giving yourself over to God
• Avoid those little g-gods
• Holy Communion connections
- Secular Toasting Customs based on the Drink Offering?
Joel 2.2
- Grain Offering - Acceptance
• Gaining, Seeking, Making Amends
• God Accepting; Acceptance by God
Followup on Chapter 2
- Eucharist - Greek for “giving thanks”
- Communion benefits
• Forgiveness of sins
• Public confession of faith
• Strengthens faith
- There some sort of relationship with Grain & Drink offerings with Communion
• Grain Offering: God Accepting - Us Seeking, Us Making Amends
• Drink Offering: Surrendering, Partnering, Allegiance, Devoting, Giving
- Judgment
• God is faithful and abhors faithlessness
• We are faithless; We sold ourselves & our children; We do evil toward one another
- Redemption
• Joel 3:18 fulfilled in Christ John 7:37