Joel 01
v 1-3. No date is given for the writing of Joel, but apparently before captivities. The magnitude of the event he describes is such that it will be told from generation to generation. (Cp. 2 Tim. 2:2 where we are commanded to tell others.)
v 4. This may be different stages of one locust or four waves of locust invasion.
v 5-7. No wines could be made and even bark of fig trees stripped to white wood. (Illust. of grasshoppers in ‘30s eating the rim off a straw hat during noon hour and how threshers pushed fork handles into the load up to the tines or the handles would be too chewed up to hang on to. Also the acres of tall corn consumed level with the ground.) This is not a nation but warns of an invading nation if people don’t repent.
v 8-13. Like a betrothed virgin weeping for her betrothed, farmers will be sad their crops are gone, and priests lament that there are no crops for offerings.
v 14. They were to call for fasting and repentance from the rest of the people.
v15-20. Locusts preceded severe judgments in Egypt and are a warning in Deut. 28 of punishment. Here they are followed by drouth, seed not germinating, destructive as fire and streams dried up. Day of the Lord would have near and future fulfillment.
Joel 02
v 1,2. Alarm for near event might have been Assyria coming from the north, v 20. However the emphasis is on the overwhelming day of the Lord. Basically, consider the Day of Christ as the Rapture and surrounding events; The Day of the Lord as the Tribulation through the Millennium and White Throne Judgment; and the Day of God as the time of the new heaven and earth.
v 3-11. Such contrast in v 3. Locusts completely and speedily overrun the land. (Recall noise of locust infestation and bugs even getting in windows, v 9.) The army God sends will come on relentlessly. Verse 10 is a good description of the Tribulation.
v 12-14. True repentance is urged, not mere tearing of garments, realizing the Lord’s mercy. He might yet turn from judgment and allow blessing to return.
v 15-17. The trumpet in v 1 was a call to war, but this is a call to worship. From priests on down, no one was excepted, even newlyweds ordinarily set apart 7 days. The plea was that the name of the Lord be not a reproach among enemies.
v 18-27. True repentance would result in the Lord turning back the enemy. In v. 20 the enemy had done great things, but in 21, the Lord will do great things. (NIV says the Lord in both verses.) He will restore pastures for wild animals, restore rains and harvest, and replenish that destroyed by locusts. Then they would acknowledge God.
v 28,29. In Num. 11:16-30 seventy elders were given the Spirit, but two men not with them also received the Spirit. (People were not indwelt by the Spirit then.) When one protested to Moses, he wished that the Lord would put His Spirit upon everyone. That wish is fulfilled in these verses and is referred to by Peter in Acts 2:16. The offer for Israel to accept the Kingdom was still open, but they continued to refuse. Thus, total fulfillment as seen in the next two verses awaits the Tribulation.
v 30-32. This is quite obviously future, as nothing like this has ever taken place. During that awful time in the Tribulation, Rev. 6:12, not only Israel, but anyone who calls upon God will be delivered, Rom. 10:13.
Joel 03
v 1,2. This speaks of the regathering of Israel and the gathering of nations for judgment at the Valley of Jehoshaphat. This is the same as the Kidron valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives where Jehoshaphat had victory over enemies. However it may refer to any valley where nations will be gathered for destruction. It is called valley of decision, v 14.
v 3-6 These nations had taken boys and girls for prostitution. God speaks directly of the Tyre, Sidon area who had made profit from Israel’s troubles and engaged in trading them as slaves, Ezek. 27:13, too far from home for them to escape. That might have been about the time Babylon took Jerusalem.
v 7,8. Role will be reversed and slaves will be taken from Tyre and Sidon. This may have been fulfilled in the fourth century when Antiochus 3 and Alexander took more than 30,000 slaves from Tyre and returned many Jews to their homeland.
v 9-15. Heathen in all countries prepare for war with religious ceremonies. Note similarity, Babylon to prepare for war against Israel, Jer. 6:4 and call to war at the battle of Armageddon, here. Tools to be made into weapons by enemy, but victors will turn weapons to tools, Isa. 2:4. Verse 12 refers to judgment then, not at the “judgment of nations” later. Read v 15 with 2:30,31 and Rev. 6:12-17 for the horror men face. The valley of decision and Valley of Jehoshaphat are the same, 2:28 and 3:2.
v 16,17. After that thunderous roar and power from the Lord, Israel will know that God is the Lord, and Jerusalem will be freed from foreign invaders.
v 18. In full Kingdom blessing there will be an abundance of productivity and water. The fountain coming from the house of the Lord is described, Ezek. 47:8-12 and Zech. 14:8. It is more of God’s abundant provision.
v 19-21. In contrast, lands of Israel’s enemies will become infertile, because of how they mistreated Israel. This avenging of Judah will probably be at the actual “Judgment of Nations” just before the Millennium begins. God will dwell in the midst of His people again at that time.
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In the early 90's I started studing the bible by taking colleger courses, because I believe the Lord wanted me to become a pastor in a Nazarne Church. My goal has changed with all my studies. I have read and compared numerous translations and commentaries in my many years of studying the bible. Some of these authorities disagree with each other. I come across information on studies and classes that I have taken 15 to 20 years before and I have no documentation of where it came from. Plus I have given away or returned many books for college classes that I have taken. So if I have failed to give someone the credit that is due them I ask for their forgiveness. The following is a list of translations and commentaries that I still have and use.
ANSWERS to 200 of Life's Most Probing Questions by Pat RobertsonOUR ETERNAL HOME by Richard W. Dehaan,
PROPHECY STUDY BIBLE by Tim Lahaye
READER'S DIGEST JESUS AND HIS TIMES by the Readers Digest Association Inc,
REFLECTING GOD STUDY BIBLE By Zondervan Corporation;
SAINT JOSEPH EDITION OF THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE by Catholic Book Publishing Co.
SEVEN KEYS TO FAMILY POWER by Billy Joe Daugherty,
SIX HOURS ONE FRIDAY by Max Lacado,
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE by the Zondervan Corporation;
THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD by Jocyce Meyer,
THE BIBLE PROMISE BOOK by Babbour Publishing Inc,
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER by Charles Mortimer Guilbert
THE BOOK OF HOPE by Tyndale House Publishiers, Inc,
THE BORN AGAIN CATHOLIC by Albert H. Boudreau,
THE CASE FOR CHRIST by Lee Strobel,
THE CATHOLIC ANSWER BOOK by Peter MJ Stravinsiasi
THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BIBLE KNOWLEDGE by Mark D. Taylor;
THE DAY CHRIST DIED by Jim Bishop,
THE GREAT BIBLE QUESTION AND ANWERS BOOK by Playmore Inc
THE HOME BIBLE STUDY COURSE by Dr. Harold L. Wilmington;
THE KING JAMES BIBLE ARCHAIE WORDS DEFIND by David W. Daniel
THE KING JAMES BIBLE COMPANION by David W. Daniels;
THE KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
THE LAYMAN’S BIBLE DICTIONARY by George W. Knight and Rayburn W. Ray;
THE LAYMAN’S PARALLEL NEW TESTAMENT by Zondervan Bible Publisher
THE LAYMAN'S LIST by Calance Stucup
THE MESSAGE BIBLE by Eugone H. Peterson,
THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE by World Catholic Press;
THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE Saint Joseph Edition;
THE NEW STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE by James Strong LL. D S.T.D.;
THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE by Cardinal Francis Arinze
THE TRINITY by Rose Publish
THE VERY FIRST ESTER by Paul L. Maier,
THE WAY CATHOLIC LIVING BIBLE by Tyndale House Publishers;
UNCHRISTIAN by David Kennan and Gabe Lyon
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S LOVE by Ronald Greib
VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT WORDS By W. E. Vine;
WHAT’S SO SECRET ABOUT THE RAPTURRE? By Christian Record Services, INC
WHEN GOD WINKS AT YOU by Tomas Nelson
WILLMINGTON’S GUIDE TO THE BIBLE by Dr. H.L. Willmington,
WOMAN OF FAITH STUDY BIBLE by Zschech/Heillsong
YESTERDAY TODAY AND FOREVER by New Leaf Press
YOU WERE BORN FOR THIS by Anthony Wilhen
08/19/2011