Joel 2:12-17

““Yet even now,” the Lord says, “return to me with all your heart – with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your garments!” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love – often relenting from calamitous punishment. Who knows? Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve, and leave blessing in his wake – a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God! Blow the trumpet in Zion. Announce a holy fast; proclaim a sacred assembly! Gather the people; sanctify an assembly! Gather the elders; gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out from his bedroom and the bride from her private quarters. Let the priests, those who serve the Lord, weep from the vestibule all the way back to the altar. Let them say, “Have pity, O Lord, on your people; please do not turn over your inheritance to be mocked, to become a proverb among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, “Where is their God?””

— ‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭17‬‬

Joel is such an interesting little book. The first chapter describes an insane locust plague. There’s nothing left to eat. (Need to look up when Joel lived and when scholars date the book.) Chapter two is often seen as armies invading Palestine (whether Babylon or someone else), but it’s likely a metaphorical depiction of the same locusts. A great army, blackening the sun, hooves so loud, etc. 

Day of Lord is key phrase in Joel and speaks of God’s coming in judgment. It will be picked up in NT. So this is typological fulfillment. Joel is quoted throughout Acts and letters for God showing up in “end times.”

Prophet urges people to repent to see if God will relent from His judgment. “Who knows”? Very similar to king of Nineveh in Jonah. Human perspective when it comes to facing judgment. 

God does long for broken hearts and not just torn garments or sacrifices. We see this throughout the Bible. True repentance and submission to Him. Why? From fear? No, because He is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger. 

Always must remember Old Covenant. So He is judging Israel because of their foolishness and breaking of covenant. These descriptions of His character, though, are interesting, because even in that cultural context it’s how they understood Him.

He will leave a meal/wine offering…more evidence that locusts destroyed everything, but God may leave them something to offer.

Law gave certain people exemptions from tasks (e.g., men from jobs/battle after marriage), but Joel says this is more important. Blowing the trumpet signaled religious assembly. It’s time for all people to gather and cry to God. 

We see the covenant language in vv. 16-17. God is highest god. Don’t want Him to be mocked by other nations and their gods. This is all about your glory. So don’t let us fall down/apart. Don’t ruin us because it’s a reflection of you. Funny, cause that’s why God called Israel. To reflect Him and His name. Using His own purposes against Him.

Next passage has YHWH relenting.