1. JOEL

2. INTRODUCTION Nothing known about him – for sure – 12 Joels in Bible Name means Jehovah is God Nothing known about his father – Pethuel, named in 1:1 Prophet to Judah, most likely very early Book has been called “the locust plague and what it teaches” Apparently an unheard of, severe plague caused Joel to write A particular instance and not just his life of work

3. CHAPTER 1:2-12 – PLAGUE AND DRAUGHT Something very unusual has happened or “will” happen Most felt that this was an actual event Read some of account of locust in 1915 Had not been seen or will be seen for generations Everything will be eaten and all grapes lost – grapes and figs mentioned There is drought or no produce

4. CHAPTER 1:13-20 PREPARE FOR DAY OF LORD Get ready Day is near Describe famine, drought Joel is using an actual even,t, known to man Then figuratively showing how Day of Lord will be v. 19 – will cry or turn to God!

5. CHAPTER 2:1-11 DESCRIPTION OF DAY OF LORD Dark – dark – dark v. 2 and 6 Lot of figurative language – i.e. fire/like army Describes a catastrophic event – locusts/fall of Israel or Judah/Judea V. 11 – day is terrible and who can abide or endure it?

6. CHAPTER 2:12-30, REPENT! God is still there for them Pattern for repentance Give entire heart Fasting – concentration Weeping and mourning – true sorrow for wrong Feel it in heart, not just outward show Turn to God Good for all times

7. CHAPTER 2:12-30 (CONT) Stop whatever is being done – repent now! Urgent! Blessings – think of locusts and compare to judgement Feed them Protect them Do great things Restore what locust has eaten Be their God once again v. 28-32, Day of Lord will be bad unless you repent – quoted on day of Pentecost, Peter’s first sermon, Acts 2:17-24

8. CHAPTER 3 – PUNISHMENT AND BLESSINGS V. 1-8, how enemies of God’s people will be treated Identifies those to be punished Those who have done wrong to God’s people Why or is it important to know this? Punishment – v. 7 and 8 – what you did will be done to you

9. CHAPTER 3 (CONT) V. 9-17, actual day of judgment Will be like a terrible war or battle, v. 9 Will sit in judgment, v. 12 Like harvest, v. 13 V. 14, valley of decision – God’s decision or judgment v. 16 – hope of God’s people, no fear v. 18-21 shows this is final judgment God’s people will endure/prosper/be saved God’s enemies will be desolute