Plague of locusts in israel book of joel

To explain how devastating this came to be, david guzik writes. In summary, the prophet joel is most likely referring to a literal locust invasion that took place shortly before his writing, around 845 b. Joel also has a lot to say about the gentile nations and their collision course to armageddon. Amos 7 modern english version mev plague of locusts. God judges judah joel 12 god sends a plague of locusts on judah joel 1. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish israel in joel 1 vs 4. Israeli locust plague is a blessing for adventurous palates this article is more than 7 years old millions of locusts have swarmed into israel just two weeks before passover and.

The results of this locust plague were utterly devastating. Study guide for joel 1 by david guzik blue letter bible. Sometime during the prophets lifetimeand the date is very much disputeda plague of locusts invaded judah. Joel judahs repentance and gods repentance slj institute. The first part of joels vision concerned a locust plague that had.

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle. Joel in the picture study bible the book of joel with. Joel will only mention one sin, the sin of drunkenness. The book of joel accounts for justice over evil in a form thats unique to the other old testament prophets.

Joel 1 depicts how the effects of the locust plague permeate every level of israelite society, and it is a call to every level of israelite society, from low to high, from the drunkards to the high priest, to likewise wake up and weep and call out to god for mercy. So in verse joel calls for israel to cry to the lord. The book opens with the word of the lord describing a locust plague of epic proportions 1. The land laid waste hear this, you elders, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. Its an important book because it records israel s place in gods program. Book of joel bible study chapter 1 locuts, destruction. The primary theme in the book of joel is the day of the lord.

The land of israel judah was devastated by a vast horde of locusts. The book of joel is very short but is an important prophecy book. This plague was so unusual that joel says, tell your children about it. To call the people back to god who were suffering from a locust plague due to sin. Earlier in their history, at the time joel was prophesying, idolatry was not the great sin in israel. So what could these locusts be illustrating in bible prophecy. Joel opens his prophecy with a unique description of a literal plague of locusts. The book of joel was likely written between 835 and 800 b.

An investigation into the use of israel s historical traditions in joel 1. The four phases of locust devastation upon the land of israel also speaks of the four world empires that would dominate israel during the times of the gentiles. As one reads joel, it is important to catch the changes in verb tense and in chronology. The term in the book i think we shall see has a kind of double sense, that is it is a term which has a reference to the local plague of locusts about which joel writes in the book for it was a time. To understand the word of god you must realize that our father uses agriculture and horticulture as forms of symbolism in to demostrate and teach us. Deuteronomy 28, but it had been a harbinger of future worse destruction in the past. And so joel lets us know by this description that he does not want us to understand this invasion of the locusts as simply a local plague of locusts. A locust plague had preceded the plagues of darkness and death in egypt cf. 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 locust swarm joel tells of a past locust plague in israel and describes its detailed devastation like that of a destruction with weapons. The second half of the book sees god responding and promising to remove the locust plague. This allegorical interpretation was applied to the church by many church fathers.

A most unusual feature of the book of joel is the plague of locusts chapter 1. Greek name joel greek form of the hebrew author joel according to tradition date 800 bc approximately theme the kingdom of judah types and shadows in joel the day of jesus is at hand. The book of joel is the second work in the collection of the minor prophets known as. A locust invasion precipitated the vision of the next book in our yearlong study of the old testament writing prophets. The locust plague in judah the word of the lord that came to joel the son of pethuel. The book of joel states that its author was the prophet joel joel 1. We know little of the prophet joel beyond a few personal details contained in the book. Both chapters describe a locust plague, but there is progression. The word of the lord that came to joel son of pethuel. The superscription of the book names the prophet joel son of pethuel as the author. Of all the old testament books, joel has the highest concentration of imperative verbs. In the holy bible, the book of joel begins with him describing a literal locust plague. The bible journey introduction to the book of joel.

Joel judah, the locust, and the day of the lord slj. The divided kingdom the northern kingdom of israel. A locust swarm has the potential to devastate all vegetation in its path and can cause economic disaster in a region. Of all the old testament books, joel has the highest concentration of. The day of the lord the day of the lord is defined as when god will defeat all evil for good and save his people. Thus, rather than seeing the locust plague as the end of the peoples troubles, joel.

At the same time, the plague as a local day of the lord should warn israel of the eschatological day of yahweh homer heater, jr. 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 book of revelation also describes an army of locusts working for god. The book of joel written around 800bc and begins by describing a disastrous attack of locusts in the country of judah. Joel reflects on the day of the lord and how true repentance will bring about the great restoration hoped for in the other prophetic books. The literal swarms of locusts that invaded in successive waves to destroy the crops of israel. The book ends with a speculation about what the final day of the lord will be like as opposed to this temporary one. Joel and the locust invasion reformed bible studies. An investigation into the use of israels historical.

This modern parallel provides valuable insight into the locust plague the prophet joel points to as a foreshadowing of the day of the lord. Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers. Clearly, then, there is a better explanation for the relationship between joel 1 and joel 2 than first a locust plague, then an army. Yhwh is god, the second book in the minor prophets. This invasion of locusts destroyed everythingthe fields of grain, the vineyards, the gardens and the trees. The two chapters describe two distinct stages in the development of such a plague. Joel was written because of a locust plague described in chap. 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. The locust plague was only a forerunner of much greater. Joel prophesied a drought and a plague of locusts signs that will accompany the end times when god pours out his spirit on all people. Why is this plague gods punishmentcoming to destroy everything.

When god was delivering israel from slavery in egypt, he sent a plague of locusts on. Joel goes on to say that the locusts are in fact gods army. It is filled with apocalyptic imagery and phrases, recording historical events over two thousand years ago and pointing to. Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. This attack causes significant damage to the economy and agriculture as this disaster of locusts. Misplaced prophet of the locust plague my jewish learning. The book of joel is part of the hebrew bible, one of twelve prophetic books known as the. A locust plague was not only an evidence of gods judgment cf.

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. From joel i 4 until the end of the book, the interpretation of joel depends upon a. Using what was at that time the wellknown locust plague in judah, joel. An investigation into the use of israels historical traditions in joel 1. Following the invasion of locusts at one point in the history of gods people, the lord sent joel to warn them that a worse day of judgment was yet ahead for the impenitent. In 1915 a devastating plague of locusts covered what is modernday israel. God compares the past to the future in the book of joel. The book of joel gives us an overview of the entire tribulation from the plague of locusts to armageddon. 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. Almost every other prophet goes on at length describing the sins of the people, their worship of idols, and their turning away from the lord. Having begun by describing a plague of locusts joel. No indication of the authors life, time, or place of residence is given, and the name of the prophet is not mentioned again either within the book.

The prophet joel showed up in israel during a time of the most terrible plague of locusts. The book of joel places great emphasis on the motif of the divine presence residing in the midst of israel, and it is asserted that the prophets main purpose was to bring. The first swarms came in march, in clouds so thick they blocked out the sun. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish israel joel 1. In hosea, the book just before joel, 7 of the 14 chapters describe gods charge against israel. The book of joel prophecies of disaster for jerusalem similar to the plague on egypt. In 1915 a devastating plague of locusts covered what is modernday israel and syria. While the book purports to describe a plague of locusts, some ancient jewish opinion saw the locusts as allegorical interpretations of israels enemies. The locust horde and the day of the lord desiring god. Whiting, jerusalems locust plague, national geographic 28 december 1915. For an eyewitness account of the 1915 locust invasion of palestine see j. Why did god use a locust swarm to punish israel in joel 1. The lord used the apostle john in the book of revelation to warn israel and the world that during the terrible events of the great tribulation when the 5 th of 7 trumpets of judgment sounds, he will unleash a plague of demonic locusts. Unlike the other books, joel tells us a story about a terrible plague of locusts.