The study of Joel
Joel
The genre of this book is prophetic. The primary theme of this book is God judgment on mankind is real. God will not tolerate sin, and he will punish it. The second theme that runs through Joel is that God is merciful; he will not give his people over to destruction. He will restore his creation to himself. The key characters and events are as follows. Jerusalem and Judah are facing a devastating crisis. A plague of locust has eaten all the crops, gardens, grapevines, fruit trees and grass. On top of the locust they are facing a terrible drought. This has left the land burnt and barren. The people are dying in record numbers. They are fighting for their very existence. The Prophet Joel appeals to the people and priest of the nation to humble themselves, before God and seek his forgiveness. The prophet states that the locust will seem like gnats in comparison to his judgment of the nation and world, if they fail to repent, and turn away from wickedness and except him as the one true God. The people of Israel and Judah are faced with two options, to turn from God and blame him for their troubles or except reasonability for their sins and seek his blessing. For spiritual, physical, and national restoration the chosen people must return to the God of Israel the one true God.
The genre of this book is prophetic. The primary theme of this book is God judgment on mankind is real. God will not tolerate sin, and he will punish it. The second theme that runs through Joel is that God is merciful; he will not give his people over to destruction. He will restore his creation to himself. The key characters and events are as follows. Jerusalem and Judah are facing a devastating crisis. A plague of locust has eaten all the crops, gardens, grapevines, fruit trees and grass. On top of the locust they are facing a terrible drought. This has left the land burnt and barren. The people are dying in record numbers. They are fighting for their very existence. The Prophet Joel appeals to the people and priest of the nation to humble themselves, before God and seek his forgiveness. The prophet states that the locust will seem like gnats in comparison to his judgment of the nation and world, if they fail to repent, and turn away from wickedness and except him as the one true God. The people of Israel and Judah are faced with two options, to turn from God and blame him for their troubles or except reasonability for their sins and seek his blessing. For spiritual, physical, and national restoration the chosen people must return to the God of Israel the one true God.
