Joel Week 2
Open up Joel 2
Read 2:1-11
“Finding sections is helpful”
Add Dividing Line under vs 11. - description of the day of the Lord (vs.1-11)
Box Day of the Lord in 2:1 and 2:11 (it bookends our section)
“Finding repeated phrases or ideas is helpful”
Have we heard any of these things before? Careful readings and repeated readings
Circle 2:2b (“their like…generations”) draw arrow points back and write 1:2-3
Circle in 2:3 “fire devours” and “flame burns” draw arrow points back and write 1:19
This new thing is going to be like the old thing, but a bit different.
Vs. 4-8 underline war imagery/words
“Last time there was locust destroying crops, this time there is the “perfect” army
Vs. 9 circle city, walls, houses, windows - LOCAL
Vs. 10 circle earth, heavens, sun, moon, stars - COSMIC
This is no ordinary army. They are perfect and their destruction is cosmic.
Vs. 11 - When the Lord sends this army, how will anyone survive?
The famine was meant to illustrate destruction at an earthly level so that they would repent to receive earthly blessings. Now Joel has explained there is a cosmic destruction coming. It’s similar but greater. The response to it should also be similar but greater.
Read vs. 12-17
Section break after 17 —-------------
“Is there anything we’ve seen before?”
2:15a is same as 2:1a
2:15b-16a is same as 1:14 (circle this and draw arrow back)
This is a similar repentance to what you did before for the food.
But this one is also bigger
Underline the commands he gives in 12-13
“Return to me” “Rend your hearts” “return to the Lord”
This is repentance that is internal not merely external.
How can I rend my heart?
Who can cause me to be repentant?
Will God save you?
Circle 13b and point arrow backwards to Exodus 34:6
God’s covenant character is that he loves to forgive and save. Let’s depend on that.
Compare the prayer of repentance in 2:17 with the one from 1:19-20
First one is “We repent for the sake of our food”
Second one is “We repent for the sake of your glory”
Next section read Joel 2:18-27
What have we seen before in vs 19?
Grain wine oil - circle with arrow back to 1:10 - The food is restored
Reproach among the nations - circle with arrow back to 2:17 - God’s glory is restored
Vs. 20 - the northerner could be both locusts and enemy armies
Circle “I will remove” and add Big bracket - Enemy defeated
Underline the commands in 21-23
Fear not, be glad, rejoice, fear not, be glad, rejoice
Box the people he’s talking to in 21-23
O Land (1:10), you beasts of the field (1:20), children of zion
Circle swarming hopper destroyer cutter in 25 arrow back to 1:4
Circle I will restore add big bracket (21-25) - Food restored
Circle “You shall eat… satisfied” and “You shall know… Israel”
Arrow from first to second and write “lesser to the greater”
Add big bracket on 26-27 - God’s glory returns
Our questions -
Did God send the locust/famine?
Yes. 2:25
Why did God send the famine?
Warn them of greater destruction, call for greater repentance, and provide greater blessing
Is the Day of the Lord a good thing?
Yes and No
It’s a day of justice and forgiveness
Good if you rend your heart, bad if you haven’t
New question
How can we rend our hearts?