Introduction to Joel: The Day of the Lord

The book of Joel is a prophetic call to repentance, a warning of divine judgment, and a promise of restoration through the Day of the Lord. Written by Joel, son of Pethuel, the book addresses Judah, likely during the reign of King Joash, emphasizing the spiritual and national consequences of turning away from God.

Joel begins with a vivid description of a devastating locust plague, symbolizing both immediate destruction and the coming Day of the Lord, a time of divine judgment and deliverance. He calls the people to repentance, urging them to fast, pray, and seek God’s mercy.

  • And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire, and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

    Joel 2:28–32

  • "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?

    Joel 2:12–14

  • Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your GOd, and cry out to the LORD. Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes!

    Joel 1:14–15

Authorship, Location & Date

  • The book of Joel was written by the prophet Joel, son of Pethuel (Joel 1:1), a true prophet of Yahweh. He ministered in Judah, likely centered in Jerusalem, as indicated by his focus on the temple, priests, and sacrificial system (Joel 1:13-14; 2:15-17). His message calls for repentance, warns of divine judgment, and promises restoration through God’s Spirit.

  • The book was written during the reign of King Joash (circa 835-796 B.C.). Joel's prophecy speaks to the people of Judah about the Day of the Lord, a time of both judgment and deliverance. He foretells the outpouring of the Holy Spirit(Joel 2:28-32), later fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21), marking the beginning of Christ’s Church and the new covenant. Joel’s message points to Christ’s ultimate redemption and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.

Joel’s Historical Context

  • The book of Joel is set in the kingdom of Judah, likely during the reign of King Joash (835–796 B.C.). This was a time of spiritual and political instability, as Joash initially ruled under the guidance of Jehoiada the priest but later turned away from God, leading Judah into corruption and idolatry (2 Chronicles 24:17-19).

  • Joel describes a severe locust plague that devastated the land, symbolizing both an immediate crisis and a prophetic warning of an even greater Day of the Lord—a time of divine judgment and restoration. This catastrophe would have caused widespread famine, economic collapse, and despair, making Joel’s call to national repentance urgent (Joel 1:13-14).

  • Joel’s prophecy also reflects the covenant warnings found in Deuteronomy 28, where God promised blessings for obedience and devastation for rebellion. His focus on the temple, priests, and sacrifices (Joel 1:9, 2:15-17) suggests a pre-exilic period when worship in the temple was central.

  • Theologically, Joel’s message points to both immediate judgment (through the locusts and potential foreign invasion) and future hope, culminating in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29) and God’s final restoration at the end of history.

Purpose of the Book

The book of Joel serves as a prophetic call to repentance, a warning of divine judgment, and a promise of future restoration.

  1. Call to Repentance – Joel urges the people of Judah to return to God with sincere hearts (Joel 2:12-13). The locust plague symbolizes both a present disaster and an impending greater judgment, emphasizing the need for spiritual renewal.

  2. Warning of the Day of the Lord – A central theme in Joel is the Day of the Lord, a time of God’s judgment and intervention (Joel 1:15; 2:1-2; 3:14). This day involves both punishment for the wicked and deliverance for the faithful, foreshadowing future events, including Christ’s second coming.

  3. Promise of the Holy Spirit and Restoration – Joel prophesies the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29), fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21), marking the beginning of the Church Age. He also promises God’s ultimate restoration, where He will judge the nations and reign over His people (Joel 3:16-21).

Ultimately, Joel’s purpose is to show that God is sovereign, calling His people to repentance while offering hope and salvation through Christ’s redemptive work.

Theological Themes

The Day of the Lord – A central theme in Joel, the Day of the Lord refers to God’s divine judgment and intervention (Joel 1:15; 2:1-2; 3:14-16). It has both immediate (locust plague, potential invasion) and eschatological(final judgment) significance, highlighting God's sovereignty over history.

  1. Judgment and Repentance – The locust plague serves as a warning of coming divine judgment, calling Judah to national and personal repentance (Joel 2:12-14). God desires genuine, heartfelt return, not just outward religious actions.

  2. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit – Joel prophesies that God will pour out His Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28-29), a prophecy fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21). This marks the beginning of the Church Age, where the Holy Spirit is given to all believers, not just select individuals.

  3. God’s Sovereignty and Restoration – Though judgment is severe, God remains sovereign and merciful, promising to restore Judah (Joel 2:25-27) and ultimately defeat evil (Joel 3:16-21). His faithfulness ensures the final victory of His people through Christ’s redemptive work.

  4. Salvation and the Nations – Joel declares that salvation is available to all who call on the Lord (Joel 2:32), emphasizing God's universal redemptive plan fulfilled in Christ and the Church.

How to Read Hosea

  1. Read in Historical Context – Consider the setting of the Southern Kingdom of Judah prior to its exile.

  2. Look for Christological Themes – There are multiple prophecies that point to Christ & His church. Look for NT connections.

  3. Near-Far Fulfillment – Look for fulfillment in Israel’s history and Joel’s historical context. Identify distant fulfillment in Christ, the Church.

An Outline of Joel

I. The Devastation of Judah (Joel 1:1-20) – A Call to Mourning and Repentance

A. Introduction: The Word of the Lord to Joel (1:1)

B. The Locust Plague as Divine Judgment (1:2-12)

  1. A disaster unlike any before (1:2-4)

  2. A call for the elders and people to lament (1:5-7)

  3. The destruction of agriculture and economy (1:8-12)

C. A Call to Repentance and Fasting (1:13-20)

  1. Priests and ministers called to lament (1:13-14)

  2. The Day of the Lord is near (1:15)

  3. The land mourns, animals suffer, and people cry out (1:16-20)

II. The Coming Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-27) – A Call to Return to God

A. The Army of the Lord Brings Destruction (2:1-11)

  1. The trumpet sounds an alarm (2:1-2)

  2. The fearsome invading army (2:3-9)

  3. The Lord leads His army in judgment (2:10-11)

B. A Call to True Repentance (2:12-17)

  1. Return to God with all your heart (2:12-13)

  2. The character of God: gracious and merciful (2:13b-14)

  3. The priests’ intercession for the people (2:15-17)

C. God’s Response: Restoration and Blessing (2:18-27)

  1. The Lord’s pity and deliverance (2:18-20)

  2. Agricultural and economic restoration (2:21-26)

  3. God’s presence affirmed among His people (2:27)

III. The Future Outpouring of the Spirit and Final Judgment (Joel 2:28-3:21)

A. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (2:28-32)

  1. The Spirit poured out on all people (2:28-29)

  2. Cosmic signs before the Day of the Lord (2:30-31)

  3. Salvation for those who call on the Lord (2:32)

B. The Judgment of the Nations (3:1-16)

  1. Gathering of the nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (3:1-3)

  2. Judgment against Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia (3:4-8)

  3. The Lord summons the nations to war (3:9-12)

  4. The great Day of the Lord in the Valley of Decision (3:13-16)

C. The Restoration and Blessing of God’s People (3:17-21)

  1. Jerusalem made holy and secure (3:17)

  2. Abundant blessings in the land (3:18)

  3. Judgment on Egypt and Edom (3:19)

  4. Judah restored and the Lord dwells in Zion (3:20-21)

Visual Images in Joel

The Locust Plague (Joel 1:4-7)

  • A massive swarm of locusts devastates the land, stripping crops and trees bare. The sky is darkened by their overwhelming presence, symbolizing destruction and divine judgment.

The Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-2, 10-11)

  • A day of darkness and gloom, where the sun, moon, and stars lose their brightness. The earth quakes as a mighty army advances, representing God’s impending judgment.

The Call to Repentance (Joel 2:12-17)

  • The people, including priests and elders, gather at the temple, tearing their garments and crying out to God. The scene is one of mourning, fasting, and seeking mercy.

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29)

  • A vision of God’s Spirit being poured out on all people, with men and women prophesying, dreaming, and receiving visions, symbolizing spiritual renewal and empowerment.

Judgment of the Nations (Joel 3:14-16)

  • The Valley of Decision is filled with multitudes awaiting judgment. The sun and moon darken, and the Lord roars from Zion, shaking the heavens and the earth, portraying final divine justice.

A picture of the day of the Lord in Joel
A picture of the locusts of Joel in the day of the Lord
A picture of Israel lamenting in the Day of the Lord

Get more content on our Visualizing Theology website

Other Biblical References to Joel

1. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:16-21)

  • Joel 2:28-32 – “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh... And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

  • Acts 2:16-21 – “But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…’”

  • Fulfillment: This prophecy is fulfilled at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descends on the believers, marking the birth of the Church.

2. Salvation for All Who Call on the Lord (Romans 10:13)

  • Joel 2:32 – “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

  • Romans 10:13 – “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

  • Paul uses Joel’s prophecy to emphasize that salvation through Christ is available to both Jews and Gentiles.

3. The Day of the Lord (Revelation 6:12, Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24-25)

  • Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15 – “The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.”

  • Revelation 6:12 – “The sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood.”

  • Matthew 24:29 / Mark 13:24-25 – “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven.”

  • Jesus and John refer to Joel’s imagery of cosmic disturbances as a sign of the coming judgment and Christ’s return.

4. Judgment in the Valley of Decision (Revelation 14:14-16, Matthew 25:31-32)

  • Joel 3:12-14 – “Let the nations stir themselves up and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat… Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near.”

  • Revelation 14:14-16 – “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand… The earth was reaped.”

  • Matthew 25:31-32 – “When the Son of Man comes in his glory... Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another.”

  • Joel’s vision of God gathering the nations for judgment is echoed in Jesus’ teaching on the final separation of the righteous and the wicked.

Next Steps

Search this theme in Joel: The Day of the LORD

  1. Read Joel& keep a journal.

  2. Look for the key words: Day of the LORD

  3. Write out the verse with the key word in it. Look for at least one per chapter.

  4. Look for the concept which is connected to the key word & identify how it is being used.

  5. Identify the eternal truth that is being taught.

  6. Look for some of these verses in the New Testament especially their connection to Jesus, his people & his gospel along with the human sin nature, forgiveness of sin & righteousness.