Joel 2 Commentary

The prophet Joel issues a call to blow the trumpet to announce God’s imminent judgment on Judah which will come in the form of a large, invading army.

The prophet describes details of the army which God will use to carry out His judgment on Judah, along with a description of the devastation it will impose.

As the prophet announces God’s impending judgment on Judah, he calls the people to repentance. He tells them to return to God genuinely because God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love and therefore might relent of the impending judgment.

Joel urges the entire community of Judah to gather for a sacred fast with the hope that the Suzerain God will forgive and restore.

In response to Judah’s genuine repentance, the LORD will have mercy on them and restore their agricultural products, which the locust plague devoured. The text infers that Judah repented, and God relented of the impending judgement.

Joel summons the land, the wild animals, and the inhabitants of Zion to rejoice because the LORD will restore their blessings.

The LORD promises to pour out His Spirit on the inhabitants of Judah in the end times. All the Israelites in Jerusalem who invoke the name of the LORD with a heart full of faith will be delivered from His judgment.