Joel - The Day Of The Lord (2:28 - 3:21) Part 2 of 2

"STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

Joel - The Day Of The Lord (2:28-3:21)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson on Joel, we saw that...
a. Joel’s prophecy was occasioned by a plague of locusts - 1:2-4
b. He proclaimed the plague as a warning from God - 1:15-16
1) If the people would not repent, "the day of the Lord" would
come and bring greater destruction - 2:1-5
2) If they did repent, then material blessings would follow
- 2:12-14
c. Joel therefore called for a national repentance - 2:15-17a
d. Evidently his work was effective, for he describes the blessings
that had come - 2:21-27

2. We also noticed some lessons to be learned from the book...
a. The value of natural calamities (can serve to turn men to God)
b. The nature of true repentance - 2:12-13
c. The character of the Lord - 2:13b
d. "The day of the Lord", when referring to God’s judgment on a city
or nation, can be averted - cf. also Jer 18:7-8; Jonah 3:1-10

3. In this lesson, we shall complete our survey of Joel by reading
2:28-3:21...
a. With attention to the prophetic element of this passage
b. Offering comments concerning its interpretation

[Let’s begin with a careful reading of this passage...]

I. JOEL’S PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE

A. WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS "AFTERWARD" (2:26-32)
1. God’s Spirit will be poured out on all flesh - 2:28-29
2. Wonders in heaven and earth to appear before the coming of
"the day of the Lord" - 2:30-31
3. There shall be deliverance in Mount Zion and Jerusalem - 2:32

B. WHAT SHALL OCCUR "IN THOSE DAYS" (3:1-17)
1. God will judge all nations on account of His people - 3:1-3
2. Specifically mentioned are Tyre, Sidon and Philistia - 3:4-8
a. Who had mistreated God’s people
b. Who shall be treated as they treated others
3. The nations are called to do battle - 3:9-12
a. "Prepare for war!"
b. Come to the "Valley of Jehoshaphat", where the Lord will
judge the nations
1) Jehoshaphat means "God shall judge"
2) The valley referred to may be the Kidron near Jerusalem
4. The outcome - 3:13-17
a. There will be a great harvest
b. "The day of the Lord" is described...
1) As near in this "valley of decision"
2) In which the heavenly bodies are diminished and shaken
c. While God’s people find shelter and strength in Him
d. The Lord will be known and dwell in Zion, Jerusalem forever
remaining holy

C. WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS "IN THAT DAY" (3:18-21)
1. Judah shall be blessed by a "fountain...from the house of the
Lord" - 3:18
2. Egypt and Edom will be desolate because of their violence
- 3:19
3. Judah and Jerusalem shall abide forever, acquitted of their
guilt - 3:20-21

[Such is the prophetic message of Joel. What he SAYS is clear enough.
What he MEANS is something else! Here are a few thoughts on...]

II. INTERPRETING JOEL’S PROPHECY

A. THERE ARE THREE KEY PHRASES...
1. "it shall come to pass afterward" - 2:28
a. This period of time is clearly defined by Peter in Ac 2:
14-21
b. In which he applies it to the