Joel's Time

 King Ahab dies in battle Elisha becomes a prophet  Jehu becomes king of Israel; Athaliah seizes Judah's throne Joel becomes a prophet? Joash becomes king of JudahJehoahaz becomes king of Israel Jehoash becomes king of Israel Joel's ministry ends 
 853 B.C.848 841  835814  798 796?




Vital statistics



  Purpose: To warn Judah of God's impending judgment because of its sins and to urge the people to turn back to God
 Author: Joel son of Pethuel
 Original audience: The people of Judah (The southern kingdom)
 Date written: Probably during the time Joel may have prophesied, from approximately 853-796 B.C.
 Setting:  The people of Judah had become prosperous and complacent. Taking God for granted, they had turned to self-centeredness, idolatry, and sin. Joel warned them that this kind of life-style would inevitably bring God's judgment. 
 Key verses: "That is why the Lord says, 'Turn to me now, white there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don't tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.' Return to the Lord you God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish" (2:12, 23). 
 Key people: Joel, the people of Judah 
 Key place: Jerusalem




The Rulers and Prophets of Joel's Time


930920910860850840830820810800790

Kings of Israel

(Northern Kingdom)

 

Jehoram (Joram)   852-841

Jehu

841              814

Jehoahaz  (Joahaz)  814-798

 
 

Prophets to Israel

(Northern Kingdom)

 

Elisha

852                                                      796

 
 

Kings of Judah

(Southern Kingdom)

 

Jehoram (Joram)   853-841

Ahaziah  841  
 Queen Athaliah   841-835 
 

Joash (Jehoash) 835-796

 

Joel and His Contemporary Prophets    (Southern Kingdom)

865 Jahaziel 835

 

JOEL      825-809

  
   
  

Obadiah  841-825

    
      
930920910860850840830820810800790

 


Book of Joel


Prophecies of:
Predict Pentecost     Joel 2:28–32
Proclaim salvation in Christ     Joel 2:32
Portray the universal judgment     Joel 3:1–16
Picture the eternal age     Joel 3:17–21

Nelson's topical Bible index . 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (347). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.





Personality Profile: Joel
1:1 Name means: “The Lord is God.”
Not to be confused with: Thirteen other men of the same name in the Old Testament, including a son of Samuel (1 Sam. 8:2), and a Levite who helped cleanse the temple during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah (2 Chr. 29:12).
Home: Possibly Jerusalem.
Family: Son of Pethuel (“Vision of God”).
Occupation: Unknown, though some believe he may have been a farmer due to his many allusions to agriculture.
Best known today as: The prophet whose visions of the outpouring of God’s Spirit (Joel 2:28–32) are contained in the Book of Joel.
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Jl 1.3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.



Joel


Served as a prophet to Judah, possibly from 835-796 B.C.
 
 CLIMATE OF THE TIMES

  
  Wicked Queen Athaliah seized power in a bloody coup but was overthrown after a few years. Joash was crowned king, but he was only seven years old and great need of spiritual guidance. Joash followed God in his early years but then turned away from him.
 
 
 MAIN MESSAGE

 
 A plague of locust had come to discipline the nation. Joel called the people to turn back to God before an even greater judgment occurred. 

 
 IMPORTANCE OF MESSAGE

 
 God judges al people for their sins, but he is merciful to those who turn to him and offers then eternal salvation. 

 
 CONTEMPORARY PROPHETS 

 
 Elisha (848-797 B.C.), Jonah (793-753 B.C.)




The Blueprint


 
  A. THE DAY OF THE LOCUSTS (1:1-2:27)

  B. THE DAY OF THE LORD (2:28-3:21)

  The locust plague was only a foretaste of the judgment to come in the day of the Lord. This is a timeless call to repentance with the promise of blessing. Just as the people faced the tragedy of their crops being destroyed, we, too, will face tragic judgment is we live in sin. But God's grace is available to us both now and in that coming day.