aNum.10.8 Amos.3.6
bExod.10.15
cJob.39.22 Rev.9.7
dJoel.2.5 Rev.9.9
eJoel.2.7-Joel.2.8
fExod.10.5-Exod.10.6
g1Sam.6.20 Ps.76.7
hJoel.2.15-Joel.2.16
iJoel.2.28-Joel.2.29
jActs.2.16-Acts.2.18
kJoel.2.30-Joel.2.31
lMatt.24.6-Matt.24.7
mJoel.2.32
nRom.10.13

‏ Joel 2

Threatenings of Judgment

In this section, God is shown bringing judgment on His own people because of their sins, just as He promised in the law. The prophet Joel describes a coming disaster using the image of a mighty army of locusts. This terrible event is a warning for everyone to take seriously the consequences of disobeying God. Even Jerusalem, God’s holy city, is not safe when people turn away from Him. The judgment is not only a real disaster, but also a picture of how God’s power and justice work in the world.

v. 1: Joel commands, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain!” . The trumpet is blown to warn the people that disaster is coming. It is the responsibility of the priests to give this warning. Everyone in the land should tremble because God’s judgment is near. Even those in Jerusalem are not protected if they do not listen to God (Numbers 10:8; Amos 3:6 a).

v. 2: Joel describes the coming day as “a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness” . This means it will be a time of sadness and trouble. The swarm of locusts is so thick that it darkens the sky (Exodus 10:15 b). The disaster will come quickly and spread like the sunrise over the mountains.

v. 3: Joel says, “A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them a desolate wilderness; surely nothing escapes them” . This means that the land was beautiful and full of life before the locusts came, but after they pass, it will be empty and destroyed.

v. 4: The locusts are compared to horses ready for battle. “Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like war horses, so they run” . This shows how powerful and unstoppable they seem (Job 39:22; Revelation 9:7 c).

v. 5: The noise made by the locusts is compared to the roar of chariots and a fire burning stubble. “With a noise like chariots, over mountaintops they leap, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array” (Joel 2:5; Revelation 9:9 d). Their coming is loud and frightening.

v. 6: When the people see this army, “all faces grow pale” . Everyone will be terrified and lose hope because the disaster is so great.

v. 7–8: The locusts move in perfect order, like trained soldiers. “They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; each marches in line. They do not jostle one another; each marches in his path. When they burst through the defenses, they do not break ranks” (Joel 2:7-8 e). Nothing can stop them.

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v. 9: The locusts invade everywhere. “They rush upon the city, they run upon the wall, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief” . There is no escape from this army (Exodus 10:5-6 f).

v. 10: The earth shakes and the sky seems to tremble. “The sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness” . When God judges, even the lights in the sky seem to fade. This is a picture of how hopeless things feel when God’s anger is revealed.

v. 11: Joel reminds the people that it is God who commands this army. “The Lord gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; who can endure it?” . This shows that God is in control of everything, even the things that seem to destroy the land. No one can stand against His judgment (1 Samuel 6:20; Psalm 76:7 g).

Exhortation to Repentance

This section is a strong call from God to His people to return to Him with sincere hearts. The prophet Joel urges everyone to repent because of the severe judgment and disaster that has come upon them. He explains that God desires real change inside each person, not just outward signs of sadness or religion. The passage also shows that God is merciful and ready to forgive if people truly turn back to Him. Joel calls for both personal and public repentance, involving everyone from the oldest to the youngest, and even the leaders and priests. The goal is for God to have compassion on His people and restore blessings to them.

v. 12: God says, "Turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning". This means that God wants His people to come back to Him sincerely, feeling sorry for their sins, and showing it through actions like fasting and crying. Repentance is not just about feeling sad, but about real change and turning from sin to God.

v. 13: The people are told, "Rend your heart and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God". In Bible times, people sometimes tore their clothes to show sadness. But God wants more than this. He wants people to be truly sorry in their hearts. The reason to return to God is because He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He relents from sending calamity. God’s character gives hope that He will forgive if people truly repent.

v. 14: Joel says, "Who knows if He will turn and have pity, and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God?". This means that if the people repent, maybe God will stop the disaster and give them good things again, like food for themselves and offerings for worship. Even though God promises forgiveness for true repentance, Joel teaches humility—we cannot demand blessings, but we can hope for them.

v. 15–16: The prophet calls for a public gathering: "Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, even infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber"(Joel 2:15–16 h). This shows everyone must participate, from the oldest leaders to the youngest children, even those who are busy with important personal events. Everyone should come together to seek God’s mercy.

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v. 17: The priests, who serve God, should also repent and pray: "Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar and say, 'Spare your people, O Lord. Do not let your inheritance become an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’". The leaders should ask God to forgive and help His people, not just for their own good, but so that other nations will not mock God or His people. This prayer asks God to protect His reputation and show mercy.

Promise of Mercy

This section shows how ready God is to forgive and bless his people when they humble themselves and turn back to him. After the people pray and seek God’s mercy, God responds with compassion. He promises to take away their troubles and restore their blessings. The Lord’s answer is a reminder that he is quick to help those who sincerely repent and trust in him.

v. 18: God becomes “jealous for his land and pities his people.” This means God cares deeply about his people and their country. He will not let them suffer forever. When they return to him, he is eager to defend his own honor and to help them because of his compassion for them.

v. 19: God promises to send grain, new wine, and oil—signs of prosperity and blessing—for their satisfaction. He says, “You will no longer be a reproach among the nations.” This means that other people will no longer look down on them or mock them because of their troubles. God will restore their reputation and their happiness.

v. 20: The Lord says he will drive away the “northern army” that invaded the land. Some think this means a real army (like the Assyrians), but it can also refer to the locusts that destroyed their crops. God will scatter the enemy into a dry, lifeless place where they cannot do any more harm. This will bring relief to the people and show that God is stronger than anything that threatens them.

v. 21–22: God tells the land and the animals not to be afraid. The pastures will become green again, the trees will bear fruit, and the fig tree and vine will produce abundantly. This is a promise that God will heal the land and restore its beauty and productivity. Even the animals will benefit from God’s mercy.

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v. 23: God encourages the people—especially “children of Zion”—to rejoice and praise him. He promises to send them “the former rain and the latter rain.” This means that the regular rains needed for crops will come at the right times. God is providing for their needs and teaching them righteousness. Some readers see a deeper meaning here, saying that the “teacher of righteousness” refers to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who brings spiritual blessings.

v. 24–25: The Lord says their “threshing floors will be full of grain” and their “vats will overflow with wine and oil.” God promises to restore all that was lost during the years the locusts destroyed their crops. He calls the locusts “my great army,” showing that even disasters are under God’s control, but now he will repay them for their losses. This restoration is a sign of God’s forgiveness and favor.

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v. 26: The people will “eat in plenty and be satisfied.” They will praise the Lord for his goodness, and they will no longer be shamed among the nations. God’s blessings will bring them joy and confidence instead of embarrassment.

v. 27: God says, “You will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other.” This means the people will realize that God is with them and that he alone is the true God. He ends by repeating, “My people shall never be ashamed.” God’s mercy restores both their relationship with him and their honor in the eyes of others.

In summary, these verses show that God is ready to forgive and bless his people when they return to him. He promises to restore what was lost, to provide for all their needs, and to give them joy and honor. God’s mercy is greater than any trouble, and he is always eager to help those who sincerely seek him.

Promise of Mercy

This section explains that God’s greatest blessings are not just physical things like corn, wine, or oil. He has promised something much greater—the gift of His Spirit and the hope of eternal life. These verses look forward to the coming of the kingdom of grace through the Holy Spirit, and finally, the kingdom of glory, with salvation for all true believers.

v. 28–29: God promises, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28–29 i). This means that, after other promises are fulfilled, God will send His Spirit to everyone—not just a few special people, or only the Jews, but all kinds of people everywhere. The Holy Spirit will give gifts to both men and women, young and old, rich and poor. This was fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:16–18 j), when Peter explained that the coming of the Holy Spirit was what Joel had predicted. Through the Spirit, people will understand and teach God’s truth in new ways, which will help build and strengthen the church.

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v. 30–31: God also warns about a coming time of judgment: “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” (Joel 2:30–31 k). These signs point first to events like the destruction of Jerusalem and even the death of Jesus, but they also look forward to the final judgment at the end of time. God will do amazing and fearful things to warn the world that His day of judgment is coming (Matthew 24:6–7 l). These are signs for everyone to take seriously, especially those who do not follow God.

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v. 32: God makes a promise of salvation: “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls” (Joel 2:32 m). No matter how terrible God’s judgment is, there is a way to be saved. Anyone—Jew or Gentile—who truly calls on God and trusts Him will find safety. This salvation is for those who respond to God’s special call and trust in Jesus. In the New Testament, Paul repeats this promise to show that everyone who truly believes and calls on Jesus will be saved (Romans 10:13 n). Only those who are called by God and sincerely follow Him will share in this great deliverance.
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