Locust in the book of joel

Joel regards the locust plague as comparable to any other mighty act of israels history. This attack causes significant damage to the economy and agriculture as this disaster of locusts is accompanied by a severe famine throughout the land. We know nothing else about him other than the name of his father. What we use to determine the date, in that case, is internal evidence reference to various nations, events, etc. 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. Lewis johnson begins his exposition of the prophecy of joel. Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. The locust horde and the day of the lord desiring god. Overall, the sequence of books in the twelve conforms to the historical periods of the. By the millions ravenous locusts will swoop over israel, gorging themselves on every plant in sight. What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. Book of joel bible study chapter 1 locuts, destruction near. The book of joel mentions four types of locusts that would destroy the agriculture of israel. Summary of the book of joel the story of the bible.

Chapter 1 showed the devastation that was coming to israel through an unprecedented locust invasion. Most scholars date the book after the exile to babylon 586 b. Joels concern, however, is not limited to these disasters. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of. Sep 05, 2019 the first half of the book clearly falls into two parts as well. The locust horde and the day of the lord he is author of more than 50 books, including desiring god. The author approaches the story from several directions, from the purely scientific to human views of locusts. The prophet exhorts the people, the elders, and the priests to don sackcloth and beseech gods mercy through repentance, fasting, and prayer.

The date of the book is uncertain because it names no kings. A locust invasion precipitated the vision of the next book in our yearlong study of the old testament writing prophets. The book of joel opens with the telling of an impending locust swarm and its consequences. Joel judah, the locust, and the day of the lord slj. Joel is bright and flowing, his imagery and language are fine driver, introduction to the literature of the old testament. The book of joels division into chapters and verses differs widely between editions of the bible. This attack causes significant damage to the economy and agriculture as this. The book of joel is a prophecy divided into three chapters. Book of joel bible study chapter 1 locuts, destruction.

Misplaced prophet of the locust plague my jewish learning. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. Overview of the book of joel third millennium ministries. Quick outline of joel god judges judah joel 12 god sends a plague of locusts on judah joel 1. The usual approach to interpreting the book of joel is to take both chapters one and two in the same way, i. We see, therefore, in the locusts, first, the literal locusts which destroyed everything in vegetation at the time joel lived, and these locusts are symbolical of future judgments executed upon the land and the nations by the prophetically announced world powers. The day of the locust is a novel about hollywood and its corrupting touch, about the american dream turned into a sundrenched california nightmare. Joel calls the inhabitants of judah and jerusalem to lament and return to the lord during a time of national disaster.

The first half of the book clearly falls into two parts as well. Joel 1 nkjv the locust plague in judah the word bible. Joel, under divine inspiration, compares that terrible locust plague to the coming tribulation period. Bryan cutshall examines the book of joel on its deepest levels, with expert teaching on the history, context, and intent of the book. The book of joel is apocalyptic in nature, referring to the day of the lord. The most destructive of the locust tribe that occur in the bible lands are the edipoda migratoria and the acridium peregrinum. Chapter 2 moves on to gods army of locusts, speaking of them in the. The book of joel opens with a locust invasion that. He sees them as symbols of deeper significance the day of the lord.

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. The book of joel states that its author was the prophet joel joel 1. 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. Joel 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. Jan 02, 2020 the prophet joel called the priests to repent joel 1. Johnson comments on the books unique emphasis and description of. In the book of acts, the holy spirit comes upon the apostles and they began speaking in tongues on the day of pentecost. Oct 22, 2015 gcbi is a one year bible program designed to give students the tools and knowledge required to understand the bible and form a biblical worldview, with the goal of following jesus last.

Book of joel overview insight for living ministries. The first chapter describes a historical locust plague, one of such magnitude that the prophet sees. The land laid waste hear this, you elders, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. The book of joel was likely written between 835 and 800 b. There is no taxonomic difference they are locusts when they swarm and grasshoppers when they dont. This book describes the results of a recent terrible locust plague which had utterly destroyed the crops of judah, apparently sent from god to punish his people for their sins.

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. As one reads joel, it is important to catch the changes in verb tense and in chronology. Joel judah, the locust, and the day of the lord slj institute. Unlike the other books, joel tells us a story about a terrible plague of locusts that seems to traverse across time.

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. The prophet joel called the priests to repent joel 1. Joel judah, the locust, and the day of the lord joel 1. The prophecy of joel is short but certainly not lacking in beauty or interest. These words may therefore be regarded as different names of the locust, referring to different stages of development of the insect. God compares the past to the future in the book of joel. 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. Since the book of joel contains no clear indications as to when it was written, it is exceedingly difficult to date the book. Also, the fact that god sent locusts was a very big deal because of what the bugs symbolized. 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.

In summary, the prophet joel is most likely referring to a literal locust invasion that took place shortly before his writing, around 845 b. Why the book of joel is second in the order of the 12 minor prophets. 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. From joel i 4 until the end of the book, the interpretation of joel depends upon. Joel and the locust invasion reformed bible studies. Insightful readers, especially the priests addressed in joel 1. Joel 1 is the first chapter of the book of joel in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the. Book of joel part 1 the plague of locusts david yarwood. Yhwhs call to return to him with all your heart and the day of yhwh, when he judges the nations and blesses his people. We refer to the book of joel, which describes a plague of locusts under the old. The word of the lord that came to joel son of pethuel. A most unusual feature of the book of joel is the plague of locusts chapter 1. The ordinary syrian locust resembles the grasshopper, but is larger and more destructive.

Jul 27, 2017 alan delivers the book of joel, where we look at the invasion of locusts. This book tells the story of locusts, especially the rocky mountain locust. 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. What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have. 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. Swarms of locusts and the book of joel lagrange daily news. It is a small book of only 3 chapters but it certainly packs a powerful punch. Hahnemann owner joel freedman lists rittenhouse square.

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. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten esv. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish the israelites. Little is known about joel, a prophet from judah perhaps jerusalem. The book of revelation also describes an army of locusts working for god. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish israel joel 1. And the chewing locust, my great army which i sent among you. Johnson comments on the books unique emphasis and description of the day of the lord, something he refers to as a central doctrinal concept of the bible. Joel was a prophet in the southern kingdom of judah during the period of the divided kingdom 930722 bc. Thus, rather than seeing the locust plague as the end of the peoples troubles, joel saw it as a prelude to. Joel may be reckoned among the classics of hebrew literature. The book of joel written around 800bc and begins by describing a disastrous attack of locusts in the country of judah. The prophet uses many literary devices to produce his vivid style. In the book of acts, the holy spirit comes upon the apostles and they.

Hahnemann owner joel freedman lists rittenhouse square home. Meditations of a christian hedonist and most recently coronavirus and christ. Joel is referred to only once in the new testament acts 2. However, many feel that joel must have prophesied during the reign of joash 2chronicles 2224. It may be that the hordes of locusts that covered the sky and blotted out the sun and the moon and the stars 2. Judah, the setting for the book, is devastated by a vast horde of locusts. The locust plague in judah the word of the lord that came to joel the son of pethuel.

After a superscription ascribing the prophecy to joel son of pethuel, the book may be broken down into the following sections. A locust plague had preceded the plagues of darkness and death in egypt cf. Joel sees the massive locust plague and severe drought devastating judah as a harbinger of the great and dreadful day of the lord. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors. 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. The book of joel accounts for justice over evil in a form thats unique to the other old testament prophets.

Joel 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. 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. Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. Lament over a great locust plague and a severe drought 1. The book of joel mentions four types of locusts that would destroy the. The book of joel introduction to the book of joel in the bible. Chapters 12 refer to a plague of locusts which ravaged judah at the time. Peter explains that this is what joel prophesied about in joel 3.