Locust in book of joel

Of all the old testament books, joel has the highest concentration of. These words may therefore be regarded as different names of the locust, referring to different stages of development of the insect. The book of joel tells us more about satans children these men are likeness to locusts. This attack causes significant damage to the economy and agriculture as this disaster of locusts is accompanied by a severe famine throughout the land. Swarms of locusts had descended and destroyed years and years worth of cropsnothing was left untouched. The prophet joel called the priests to repent joel 1. The book of joel mentions four types of locusts that would destroy the. The locust horde and the day of the lord desiring 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. 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. The author of the prophecy is identified only as joel the son of pethuel. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish the israelites. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten esv. Now the reason for that is obvious if you have read the book of joel recently.

Locusts were one of the 10 plagues god used to free the israelites from slavery in egypt, remember. The years the locust has eaten prairie view christian. Insightful readers, especially the priests addressed in joel 1. Swarms of locusts and the book of joel lagrange daily news. Jan 26, 2018 joel describes an army of locusts who attack and glean all the green grass of the holy land. And what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten. Joels keen interest in jerusalem particularly in the temple and its functionaries e. Locust terminology only appears in the first two chapters. Book of joel bible study chapter 1 locuts, destruction. Sep 05, 2019 the first half of the book clearly falls into two parts as well. Lament over a great locust plague and a severe drought 1. Also, the fact that god sent locusts was a very big deal because of what the bugs symbolized. The book of joel was likely written between 835 and 800 b.

Why the book of joel is second in the order of the 12 minor prophets. Joel is referred to only once in the new testament acts 2. We know nothing else about him other than the name of his father. His father, pethuel, is mentioned nowhere else in the bible. 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. Meditations of a christian hedonist and most recently coronavirus and christ. Overview of the book of joel third millennium ministries. From joel i 4 until the end of the book, the interpretation of joel depends upon a decision about the identity of the locusts.

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. 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. Most scholars date the book after the exile to babylon 586 b. What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have.

Joel was a prophet in the southern kingdom of judah during the period of the divided kingdom 930722 bc. Joel is bright and flowing, his imagery and language are fine driver, introduction to the literature of the old testament. Of all the old testament books, joel has the highest concentration of imperative verbs. The book of joel describes a completely devastating locust infestation in the land. Jul 27, 2017 alan delivers the book of joel, where we look at the invasion of locusts. Joel chapter 1 and our subject for tonight is judah, the locust, and the day of the lord. Jan 02, 2020 the prophet joel called the priests to repent joel 1. Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. 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. Chapter 2 moves on to gods army of locusts, speaking of them in the. Yhwhs call to return to him with all your heart and the day of yhwh, when. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish israel joel 1. The date of the book is uncertain because it names no kings. The book of joel opens with the telling of an impending locust swarm and its consequences. The locust horde and the day of the lord he is author of more than 50 books, including desiring god. A decision about this issue enables the possibility for discerning a political dimension throughout the book. The first half of the book clearly falls into two parts as well.

The book of joel is a prophecy divided into three chapters. Joel 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Joel may be reckoned among the classics of hebrew literature. So what could these locusts be illustrating in bible prophecy. 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.

Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors. The book of revelation also describes an army of locusts working for god. 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. This prophecy occured a 2nd time when the sofists entered into. Misplaced prophet of the locust plague my jewish learning. Joel sees the massive locust plague and severe drought devastating judah as a harbinger of the great and dreadful day of the lord 2. A locust plague had preceded the plagues of darkness and death in egypt cf.

Mourning over the locust plaguehear this, you leaders of the people. 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. A most unusual feature of the book of joel is the plague of locusts chapter 1. The prophet exhorts the people, the elders, and the priests to don sackcloth and beseech gods mercy through repentance, fasting, and prayer. The author281 the name joel means, the lord is god. The author approaches the story from several directions, from the purely scientific to human views of locusts. Joel goes on to say that the locusts are in fact gods army. There is no taxonomic difference they are locusts when they swarm and grasshoppers when they dont. Little is known about joel, a prophet from judah perhaps jerusalem. The locust plague in judah the word of the lord that came to joel the son of pethuel. Yhwhs call to return to him with all your heart and the day of yhwh, when he judges the nations and blesses his people. Chapters 12 refer to a plague of locusts which ravaged judah at the time. Overall, the sequence of books in the twelve conforms to the historical periods of the.

Summary of the book of joel the story of the bible. God compares the past to the future in the book of joel. By the millions ravenous locusts will swoop over israel, gorging themselves on every plant in sight. Since the book of joel contains no clear indications as to when it was written, it is exceedingly difficult to date the book.

The book of joel states that its author was the prophet joel joel 1. As one reads joel, it is important to catch the changes in verb tense and in chronology. Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. The prophet uses many literary devices to produce his vivid style. What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten. That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten a succession of noxious creatures hath perfectly destroyed the fruits of the earth. He also weaves a mystery into the book, the disappearance and apparent extinction of the rocky mountain locust. After a superscription ascribing the prophecy to joel son of pethuel, the book may be broken down into the following sections. Joel regards the locust plague as comparable to any other mighty act of israels history. And the chewing locust, my great army which i sent among you. What we use to determine the date, in that case, is internal evidence reference to various nations, events, etc.

The book of joel written around 800bc and begins by describing a disastrous attack of locusts in the country of judah. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong people. Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers. This prophecy occured a 2nd time when the sofists entered into the postapostolic church with doctrines.

Joel and the locust invasion reformed bible studies. 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. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains. The day of the lord is a term that appears frequently in the old testament, especially in. Chapter 2 moves on to gods army of locusts, speaking of them in the present tense. Alan delivers the book of joel, where we look at the invasion of locusts. The prophet then uses the locusts to illustrate the devastation about to be inflicted on the jews by an invading army. The most destructive of the locust tribe that occur in the bible lands are the edipoda migratoria and the acridium peregrinum. There are only two explicit references to the locusts in. However, many feel that joel must have prophesied during the reign of joash 2chronicles 2224. From joel i 4 until the end of the book, the interpretation of joel depends upon. 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 literal swarms of locusts that invaded in successive waves to destroy the crops of israel spoke of a sooncoming invasion of. The prophecy of joel is short but certainly not lacking in beauty or interest.

This book tells the story of locusts, especially the rocky mountain locust. The book of joel is apocalyptic in nature, referring to the day of the lord. The book of joel mentions four types of locusts that would destroy the agriculture of israel. From this book, we can see that he was acquainted with the land, the farming and the geography. 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. Thus, rather than seeing the locust plague as the end of the peoples troubles, joel saw it as a prelude to something worse. Joel calls the inhabitants of judah and jerusalem to lament and return to the lord during a time of national disaster. Book of joel overview insight for living ministries. Joel describes an army of locusts who attack and glean all the green grass of the holy land. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends.

Judah, the setting for the book, is devastated by a vast horde of locusts. A locust invasion precipitated the vision of the next book in our yearlong study of the old testament writing prophets. Joel judah, the locust, and the day of the lord slj. Bryan cutshall examines the book of joel on its deepest levels, with expert teaching on the history, context, and intent of the book. Twelve other men in the old testament have this name, none of whom can be identified with the author of this book. The land laid waste hear this, you elders, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. The book of joel introduction to the book of joel in the bible. 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. It is usual with the prophets to speak of things which were certainly about to take place, as already come to pass.