Locust in book of joel

Joel is referred to only once in the new testament acts 2. Little is known about joel, a prophet from judah perhaps jerusalem. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors. Locust terminology only appears in the first two chapters. He also weaves a mystery into the book, the disappearance and apparent extinction of the rocky mountain locust. Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers.

Insightful readers, especially the priests addressed in joel 1. God judges judah joel 12 god sends a plague of locusts on judah joel 1. Joel although the book of joel contains only three chapters and is seldom read, it is one of the most stirring of all the prophetic writings. Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. Joel goes on to say that the locusts are in fact gods army. And finally, one may observe that the central horror of the book of joel is a plague of locusts, one type of which is called the gazam cutter joel 1. From joel i 4 until the end of the book, the interpretation of joel depends upon a decision about the identity of the locusts. The book of joel also makes ample mention of priests, temple rituals, and nations, such as phoenicia, philistia, egypt, and edom, that were prominent in the late ninth century bc. However, many feel that joel must have prophesied during the reign of joash 2chronicles 2224.

We know nothing else about him other than the name of his father. The day of the lord is a term that appears frequently in the old testament, especially in. Why the book of joel is second in the order of the 12 minor prophets. The locust horde and the day of the lord desiring god. A locust plague had preceded the plagues of darkness and death in egypt cf. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong people. The most destructive of the locust tribe that occur in the bible lands are the edipoda migratoria and the acridium peregrinum. Sep 05, 2019 the first half of the book clearly falls into two parts as well. It is usual with the prophets to speak of things which were certainly about to take place, as already come to pass.

The years the locust has eaten prairie view christian. Joel regards the locust plague as comparable to any other mighty act of israels history. Locusts were one of the 10 plagues god used to free the israelites from slavery in egypt, remember. The greek septuagint lxx, and latin vulgate versions follow the hebrew masoretic text, titling this book after joel the prophet, the recipient of the message from god 1. The prophet then uses the locusts to illustrate the devastation about to be inflicted on the jews by an invading army. The book of joel is apocalyptic in nature, referring to the day of the lord.

The book of joel tells us more about satans children these men are likeness to locusts. The first half of the book clearly falls into two parts as well. Of all the old testament books, joel has the highest concentration of. A decision about this issue enables the possibility for discerning a political dimension throughout the book. The locust horde and the day of the lord he is author of more than 50 books, including desiring god. Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. The book of joel opens with a locust invasion that prophesies the destruction of jerusalem, but in the midst of devastation, god calls for revival. The locust plague in judah the word of the lord that came to joel the son of pethuel. Judah, the setting for the book, is devastated by a vast horde of locusts.

Joel describes them destroying wheat and barley crops, stripping trees down to their bark, ruining grape vines so no wine offerings could be made to the lord. The literal swarms of locusts that invaded in successive waves to destroy the crops of israel spoke of a sooncoming invasion of. The book of joel written around 800bc and begins by describing a disastrous attack of locusts in the country of judah. There is no taxonomic difference they are locusts when they swarm and grasshoppers when they dont. Jan 02, 2020 the prophet joel called the priests to repent joel 1. Joel judah, the locust, and the day of the lord slj. Twelve other men in the old testament have this name, none of whom can be identified with the author of this book. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. The book of joel states that its author was the prophet joel joel 1. Joel chapter 1 and our subject for tonight is judah, the locust, and the day of the lord. Mourning over the locust plaguehear this, you leaders of the people. From joel i 4 until the end of the book, the interpretation of joel depends upon. The author281 the name joel means, the lord is god. Joel was a prophet in the southern kingdom of judah during the period of the divided kingdom 930722 bc.

Most scholars date the book after the exile to babylon 586 b. There are only two explicit references to the locusts in. So what could these locusts be illustrating in bible prophecy. What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten. Overview of the book of joel third millennium ministries. By the millions ravenous locusts will swoop over israel, gorging themselves on every plant in sight. Misplaced prophet of the locust plague my jewish learning. And the chewing locust, my great army which i sent among you. Summary of the book of joel the story of the bible. Meditations of a christian hedonist and most recently coronavirus and christ. The book of joel is a prophecy divided into three chapters. What we use to determine the date, in that case, is internal evidence reference to various nations, events, etc. We refer to the book of joel, which describes a plague of locusts under the old covenant as a type of the day of the lord joel 1. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish israel joel 1.

Of all the old testament books, joel has the highest concentration of imperative verbs. From this book, we can see that he was acquainted with the land, the farming and the geography. This attack causes significant damage to the economy and agriculture as this disaster of locusts is accompanied by a severe famine throughout the land. Jul 27, 2017 alan delivers the book of joel, where we look at the invasion of locusts. Joel calls the inhabitants of judah and jerusalem to lament and return to the lord during a time of national disaster. A locust invasion precipitated the vision of the next book in our yearlong study of the old testament writing prophets. The book of joel mentions four types of locusts that would destroy the agriculture of israel.

These words may therefore be regarded as different names of the locust, referring to different stages of development of the insect. Joel describes an army of locusts who attack and glean all the green grass of the holy land. Swarms of locusts and the book of joel lagrange daily news. Chapter 2 moves on to gods army of locusts, speaking of them in the present tense. Joels keen interest in jerusalem particularly in the temple and its functionaries e. God compares the past to the future in the book of joel. The date of the book is uncertain because it names no kings. Joel and the locust invasion reformed bible studies.

Yhwhs call to return to him with all your heart and the day of yhwh, when. Book of joel bible study chapter 1 locuts, destruction. What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have. The book of joel describes the day of the lord through locust swarms, war scenes, and powerful imagery in order for readers to comprehend its magnitude.

Joel is bright and flowing, his imagery and language are fine driver, introduction to the literature of the old testament. The book of joel introduction to the book of joel in the bible. The book of joel describes a completely devastating locust infestation in the land. After a superscription ascribing the prophecy to joel son of pethuel, the book may be broken down into the following sections. The book of joel mentions four types of locusts that would destroy the.

Joel 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. This prophecy occured a 2nd time when the sofists entered into the postapostolic church with doctrines. His father, pethuel, is mentioned nowhere else in the bible. Jan 26, 2018 joel describes an army of locusts who attack and glean all the green grass of the holy land. Thus, rather than seeing the locust plague as the end of the peoples troubles, joel saw it as a prelude to something worse. The word of the lord that came to joel son of pethuel. Swarms of locusts had descended and destroyed years and years worth of cropsnothing was left untouched. All of this points to a date of approximately 835 bc or soon after, making joel one of the earliest writing prophets, as well as a contemporary of the prophet elisha. This book tells the story of locusts, especially the rocky mountain locust. Joel sees the massive locust plague and severe drought devastating judah as a harbinger of the great and dreadful day of the lord 2. Book of joel overview insight for living ministries. Lament over a great locust plague and a severe drought 1.

Joel may be reckoned among the classics of hebrew literature. The author approaches the story from several directions, from the purely scientific to human views of locusts. This prophecy occured a 2nd time when the sofists entered into. Chapters 12 refer to a plague of locusts which ravaged judah at the time. The land laid waste hear this, you elders, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. The prophecy of joel is short but certainly not lacking in beauty or interest. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains. Bryan cutshall examines the book of joel on its deepest levels, with expert teaching on the history, context, and intent of the book. The prophet exhorts the people, the elders, and the priests to don sackcloth and beseech gods mercy through repentance, fasting, and prayer. And what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten. Yhwhs call to return to him with all your heart and the day of yhwh, when he judges the nations and blesses his people. The author of the prophecy is identified only as joel the son of pethuel. The literal swarms of locusts that invaded in successive waves to destroy the crops of israel spoke of a sooncoming invasion of enemies as well as a future day of judgment.

The first chapter describes a historical locust plague, one of such magnitude that the prophet sees it as a punishment from god and urges the people to fast and repent before god. The book of joel opens with the telling of an impending locust swarm and its consequences. The book of joel was likely written between 835 and 800 b. Also, the fact that god sent locusts was a very big deal because of what the bugs symbolized.

Jan 02, 2020 in summary, the prophet joel is most likely referring to a literal locust invasion that took place shortly before his writing, around 845 b. In summary, the prophet joel is most likely referring to a literal locust invasion that took place shortly before his writing, around 845 b. Since the book of joel contains no clear indications as to when it was written, it is exceedingly difficult to date the book. A most unusual feature of the book of joel is the plague of locusts chapter 1.