An Exegesis of Joel 2:28-32

A paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for

Biblical Interpretation I
Professors: The Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Johnson, Ph.D.
and Dr. Garwwod P. Anderson, Ph.D.

By James Brzezinski
7 December 2009

AN EXEGESIS OF JOEL 2:28-32

Introduction

The prophetic message in the book of Joel is effortlessly recognizable in that it has three typical elements found in many of the prophetic writings of the Old Testament, namely, punishment, forgiveness, and promise. The reality that God will pour out His spirit on all people is a word that brings with it hope for the nation of Judah, though this act of mercy does not mitigate the punishment, its warning summons Judah to repentance and turning back to the Lord by calling on His name.

Historical Context

The Book of Joel is one of the twelve Minor Prophets of the Old Testament; wide differences exist among scholars about the origin, purpose, and date of the Book.1 Since Joel mentions Judah and Jerusalem routinely, but never Israel or Samaria, it has usually been assumed that he spoke his oracles after 722 B.C.2 Another source lists six sets of data, including, international situations, political and religious conditions of Judah, postexilic words and ideas, and quotations in the Joel text from other postexilic prophets, all indicating a postexilic dating but also includes a set of data proposing a preexilic dating,3 The fact that the king is nowhere mentioned is thought by many to indicate a postexilic date, which may be supported by the lack of any references to the Northern Kingdom.4 Conclusive evidence with which to date this book is not available.

Such a dating is not essential to the appreciation of the book's message.5 This story of the locusts is a lament about complacent Judah and God’s call to repentance. Here is a book that in its first half describes present distress and in its second half describes future deliverance.6 Since it is possible to appreciate the general character of both the distress (invasion, drought, desolation) and the deliverance (return from exile, defeat of enemies, final judgment of the nations), the impact of the book remains unabated even when the precise date of the invasion or Joel's era cannot be determined.7

Literary Context

The nearer literary context of Joel 2:28-30 is the day of the Lord where Judah is promised that YHWH will pour out his spirit on all people. This promise is preceded by a detailed description of the invasion of locusts, the punishment and destruction of people who turn away from God and a charge by the prophet to fast, pray and repent. Immediately following the promise of the spirit, is a depiction of the judgment that awaits those who do not turn back to the Lord, ending with a picture of God’s people restored under God in Zion.

The immediate literary context is the books proceeding and following Joel, namely Hosea, and Amos. If the collection named for Hosea warns of impending divorce between God and Israel, and if Joel cries out to Judah to fast and lament, the collection named Amos returns to the theme of divine judgment.8 The separation of man from God shown as divorce in Hosea, the punishment and call to repentance in Joel, and the depiction of divine judgment in Amos gives the appearance of continuity and cohesion between these three collections.

The possible parallelism between Joel 2:32 with Obadiah 1:17 9 is a connection with the Twelve Minor Prophets, spoken about in a number of sources.

The Twelve Minor Prophets also known as the Book of the Twelve is the larger literary context. The most widely-used theme in the twelve is “day of YHWH” which appears in Hosea, Joel, Amos Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Malachi.10 The theme is addressed not only through specific references to “the day of YHWH,” but also often by such phrases as “on that day,” ”days are coming,” “at that time,” “it shall come to pass afterwards,” and “in those days and at that time.”11

Formal Analysis

The verses 2:28-32, from the book of Joel, which is primarily a lament over the plague of locust, is a section in this Hebrew poetry that takes the readers focus away from the invasion and destruction brought on by the locusts and momentarily looks to the salvation of YHWH. Within the poetry of the book Joel, and especially within this pericope, we can find many instances of repetition, parallelism, and chiasms which all contribute to the prophet’s delivery of his important message. The inclusion of the description of the wonders in the heavens and on earth adds an apocalyptic feeling to this text and implies that there is an eschatological dimension to this prophecy.

Outline:

I. Outpouring of God’s Spirit verses 28 and 29
II. Wonders in the heavens and on earth verses 30 and 31
III. Salvation verse 32

The form is simple here; (I) announces God’s main theme, (II) additional information, (III) invitation to participate. Joel’s genius and originality can be seen in his use of data and literary features.12 He skillfully wove the objective facts of the events of history and his day into the fabric of his prophetical warnings and pronouncements.13

Detailed analysis

Outpouring of God’s Spirit verses 28 and 29

Beginning with an inclusion, bracketed by “afterward” and “in those days” Joel makes his announcement very clear that YHWH will pour out his Spirit on all people, both times indicating events in a remoter future than the removal of the locust plague.14
With this bestowal of material blessing, which carries with it proof of YHWH’s gracious presence,15 he can bless them with a renewal of his favor (restoration blessing) manifested particularly by his own spirit being given to them in abundance,16 God here promises the fulfillment of Moses’ wish that all the Lord’s people might be prophets by the influence of the Spirit (Numbers 11:29).17

Previously the spirit of prophecy had been limited to a chosen few, but under this new dispensation God’s revelation will come to both male and female, to both old and young, and even to the servant class.18 In his Pentecost sermon Peter said the outpouring of the Spirit on that occasion, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16), and he quoted (Acts 2:17-21) the whole passage, Joel 2:28-32.19

Peter, however, goes beyond Joel in extending the promise of the Spirit even to non-Israelite believers (Acts 2:39). In the light of the New Testament fulfillment, Joel’s prediction of spiritual illumination for all God’s people is perhaps his most important religious contribution.20

Wonders in the heavens and on earth verses 30 and 31

A chiastic structure (I: sky: earth // earth portents: Sky portents: Yahweh) serves to create the impression that when Yahweh comes, everything will break loose at once.21 These verses predict natural portents as an indication of the imminence of the “Day of the Lord.”22 This is a traditional imagery, with overtones both of divine theophany and of judgment; although the sequel shows that the later is the primary connotation here.23 Joel’s use of the term, then, is in harmony with the totality of Scripture.24 By “the day of the Lord” is meant that time when, for his glory and their good.25 God actively intervenes in the affairs of men in judgment against sin and in connection with his determined will for his own.26

Salvation verse 32

The prose conclusion to the oracle provides a simple, direct answer to the invasion.27 Its message is that there is coming a time when salvation will be readily available to the people of Jerusalem, but only if they return faithfully to YHWH.28 To “call on the name of the Lord” is to invoke his name in approaching him, but especially to call on him in believing faith.29 For such a one there will be not only physical deliverance but a spiritual transformation and an abundant entrance into that great millennial period of peace and prosperity, when a repentant Judah and Jerusalem are once again spiritual centers for a redeemed Israel.30

Synthesis / Conclusion

The keys to understanding this prophecy are; that God’s Spirit is available to everyone regardless of any personal characteristics, that we will warned by natural and cosmic signs of great proportion that judgment and punishment are forthcoming, that we can receive deliverance from this judgment by calling on the name of the Lord, and that we are chosen for redemption by God.

Reflection

Even though prophecy is not the type of scripture that one may be inclined to read first there is an important place for this writing in our lives. Application of this passage to contemporary Christian life brings up a number of thoughts. There is a good sense of encouragement received by the fact that God pours out His spirit for all people not just on one group of people and not only on one occasion. The fact that not everyone will receive salvation or the spirit of the Lord without calling on the name of the Lord makes the urgency of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ most important. We each have a mission and ministry that Christ has called us to with a mandate that we take the gospel to everyone everywhere.

Some of the challenges that people may have with this passage are the manifestations of the spirit that are implied and brought into question when we refer to the quotation from the Book of Joel used by Peter in His Pentecost Sermon in Acts and Paul in Romans. The outward visible signs of the Holy Spirit are not understood by all. We need to be sensitive to the fact that the wind blows where it wills and that we are to love one another in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation in Christ is for all who call on the name of the Lord. I am thankful for my salvation and desire everyone I meet to see the joy of my salvation and I must give it away.
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Footnotes

1 F. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone, . The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 3rd Edition Revised. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 885.
2 Douglas Stuart. Word Biblical Commentary - Hosea - Jonah. Edited by David A. Hubbard. Vol. 31. 52 vols. (Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1987), 225.
3 John A. Thompson and Norman F. Langford. The Interpreter's Bible - Joel. Vol. 6. 12 vols. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1956), 732.
4 Anthony Gelston. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. Edited by James D. G. Dunn and John W. Rogerson. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmanns Publishing Co., 2003), 686.
5 Stuart, Word Biblical Commentary - Hosea – Jonah, 226.
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.
8 Paul L. Redditt. Introduction to the Prophets. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmanns Publishing Company, 2008), 237.
9 Anthony Gelston. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible, 686.
10 Paul L. Redditt. Introduction to the Prophets, 206.
11 Ibid.
12 Frank E. Gaebelein. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Edited by Frank E. Gaebelein. Vol. 7. 12 vols. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zonderzan Corporation, 1985), 234.
13 Ibid.
14 Anthony Gelston. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. 688.
15 Leslie C. Allen. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament – Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah. Edited by R. K. Harrison. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eermann's Publishing Company, 1976), 97.
16 Stuart, Word Biblical Commentary - Hosea – Jonah, 260.
17 John A. Thompson and Norman F. Langford. The Interpreter's Bible – Joel, 752.
18 Ibid.
19 Ibid.
20 John A. Thompson and Norman F. Langford. The Interpreter's Bible – Joel, 752.
21 Stuart, Word Biblical Commentary - Hosea – Jonah, 261.
22 Anthony Gelston. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. 688.
23 Ibid.
24 Frank E. Gaebelein. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. 257.
25 Ibid.
26 Ibid.
27 Stuart, Word Biblical Commentary - Hosea – Jonah, 261.
28 Ibid.
29 Frank E. Gaebelein. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. 257.
30 Frank E. Gaebelein. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. 257.
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Bibliography

Allen, Leslie C. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament - Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. Edited by R. K. Harrison. Grand Rapids: William B. Eermann's Publishing Company, 1976.

Cross, F. L., and E. A. Livingstone, . The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 3rd Edition Revised. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Gaebelein, Frank E. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Edited by Frank E. Gaebelein. Vol. 7. 12 vols. Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zonderzan Corporation, 1985.

Gelston, Anthony. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. Edited by James D. G. Dunn and John W. Rogerson. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmanns Publishing Company, 2003.

NIV. HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1973,1978,1984.

Redditt, Paul L. Introduction to the Prophets. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmanns Publishing Company, 2008.

Stuart, Douglas. Word Biblical Commentary - Hosea - Jonah. Edited by David A. Hubbard. Vol. 31. 52 vols. Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1987.

Thompson, John A., and Norman F. Langford. The Interpreter's Bible - Joel. Vol. 6. 12 vols. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1956.