Sound the Alarm
Study note
Joel calls for the trumpet to be blown in Zion as a warning signal. In ancient Israel, the shofar (ram's horn trumpet) was used to alert people to danger. Joel describes the coming Day of the Lord as a day of deep darkness, with an army unlike anything the world has ever seen.
1 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sound the warning on God's holy mountain! Let everyone in the land shake with fear, because the Day of the LORD is on its way — and it is close! 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;
2 It will be a day thick with darkness and gloom, heavy with clouds and deep shadows. Spreading across the mountains like dawn, a vast and mighty army appears — nothing like it has ever come before, and nothing like it will ever come again. 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.
An Unstoppable Army
Study note
This passage describes the locust swarm as a terrifying invading army. Before them, the land looks like the Garden of Eden, but behind them it is a barren wasteland. Joel uses images of soldiers, horses, and chariots to show how organized and unstoppable the swarm is. The description builds to a climax: this is God's own army, and the Day of the Lord is terrible beyond words.
3 Fire burns up everything ahead of them, and flames blaze behind them. The land in front of them looks like the Garden of Eden, but behind them it is a scorched and empty wasteland. Nothing gets past them. 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.
4 They look like warhorses, and they charge forward like trained cavalry. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5 They clatter across the mountaintops like the rumble of chariots. They crackle like a wildfire tearing through a dry field. They are arranged like a massive army ready for battle. 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.
6 Nations tremble at the sight of them. Every face goes pale with terror. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7 They attack like seasoned warriors and scale walls like trained soldiers. They stay in perfect formation and never break rank. 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:
8 They do not bump into each other — each one charges straight ahead on its own path. Even when they crash into defenses, they keep going without slowing down. 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.
9 They swarm through the city, race along the walls, and climb right into the houses. They slide through windows like burglars. 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.
10 The ground shakes beneath them and the sky trembles above. The sun and moon go black, and the stars stop shining. 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:
11 The LORD's voice thunders at the head of his army. His forces are beyond counting, and the ones who carry out his orders are exceedingly powerful. The Day of the LORD is overwhelming and terrifying — who could possibly survive it? 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?
Tear Your Hearts, Not Your Clothes
Study note
Despite the terrifying warning, God offers hope. He invites the people to return to Him with sincere repentance. In that culture, people would tear their clothes to show grief. But God says He wants torn hearts, not torn clothing. He wants genuine sorrow, not just outward show. Joel reminds them that God is gracious, merciful, and slow to anger.
12 "But even now," the LORD says, "come back to me with your whole heart. Fast and weep and grieve sincerely." Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 Tear open your hearts, not just your clothing, and come back to the LORD your God. He overflows with grace and compassion. He is endlessly patient, and his faithful love has no limits. He would rather forgive than punish. 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.
14 Who knows? Maybe he will change his mind. He may leave a blessing behind. There may be enough for grain offerings and drink offerings to the LORD your God. 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?
Gather Everyone Together
Study note
Joel calls for another trumpet blast, but this time to gather the whole community for repentance. Everyone is included -- elders, children, even nursing babies, and newlywed couples. The priests are to stand between the temple porch and the altar, weeping and begging God to spare His people from the disgrace of enemy rule.
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Announce a time of fasting and call a sacred gathering. Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Bring all the people together and set the whole community apart as holy. Gather the elders. Bring in the children — even the tiniest babies. The newlywed groom should leave his room and the bride should step away from her celebration. 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.
17 Let the priests stand between the temple porch and the altar, weeping and praying: "Have mercy on your people, LORD. Do not let your own people become a joke. Do not give the nations a reason to mock us, saying, 'Where is their God?'" 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?
God Promises to Restore
Study note
The tone of the book changes dramatically here. God responds to His people's repentance with compassion. He promises to send grain, wine, and oil again, and to remove the northern army far away. The 'eastern sea' and 'western sea' refer to the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, showing the army will be driven to the far edges of the land.
18 Then the LORD will be filled with fierce love for his land and will have deep compassion for his people. Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
19 The LORD will answer his people: "I am sending you grain, new wine, and olive oil — more than enough. You will never again be an object of ridicule among the nations." 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:
20 "I will push the northern army far away from you, driving it into a dry, barren wasteland. Its front lines will be shoved toward the eastern sea, and its rear guard toward the western sea. The stench of their rotting remains will fill the air, because they did terrible things." 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.
The Land Will Bloom Again
Study note
God now speaks words of comfort to the land, the animals, and the people. He promises rain in the right seasons, overflowing harvests, and full storehouses. The famous promise in verse 25 says God will restore everything the locusts destroyed. This verse has brought hope to countless people who have suffered loss. God declares that His people will never again be put to shame.
21 Don't be afraid, land! Be happy and celebrate, because the LORD has done something incredible! Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
22 Don't be afraid, wild animals! The pastures are turning green again. The trees are bearing fruit once more. The fig trees and grapevines are producing their best harvest. 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.
23 Celebrate, people of Zion! Be joyful in the LORD your God! He has given you the right amount of autumn rain, and he will pour down showers for you — both fall and spring rains, just like he used to. 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.
24 The threshing floors will be piled high with grain. The storage vats will overflow with new wine and fresh olive oil. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 "I will pay you back for every season the locusts stole. I let those swarms loose on you. The creeping ones, the swarming ones, the cutting ones, the eating ones." 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.
26 You will eat your fill and be completely satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has done wonderful things for you. My people will never be embarrassed again. 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.
27 You will know for certain that I am right here among the people of Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never be put to shame again. 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.
God's Spirit Poured Out on All People
Study note
This is one of the most important prophecies in the Old Testament. God promises to pour out His Spirit on all kinds of people -- sons, daughters, old and young, even servants. The apostle Peter quoted these exact verses on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 to explain what was happening when the Holy Spirit came. Joel also describes cosmic signs that will come before the great Day of the Lord, and promises that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
28 "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 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:
29 "In those days, I will even pour out my Spirit on servants — both men and women." And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 "I will show terrifying signs in the sky and on the earth — blood, fire, and huge columns of thick smoke." And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun will go dark and the moon will turn blood-red before the great and terrible Day of the LORD arrives. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 But here is the good news: everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, there will be a way out — just as the LORD promised. And among the survivors will be the ones the LORD himself has called. 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.