Dawn over far Judean ridges: a low dark band of locusts spreads along the horizon like a shadow, and a small walled town sits below in the gray-brown haze.

The Day of the LORD

Joel 2

When the alarm sounds in your life, which way do you run?

32 verses≈ 7 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1The locustsA ruined land, and a call to cry out
2:1–17The Day of the LORDAn army, and ‘return to Me’Chapter 2
2:18–32The LORD answersPlenty restored, His Spirit poured out
3The nations judgedThe valley of decision, and Zion’s spring

The Army of Locusts

God

God

Blow the ram’s horn in Zion;

sound the alarm on My holy mountain!

Let all who dwell in the land tremble,

for the Day of the LORD is coming;

indeed, it is near—

a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and blackness.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Joel

Joel

Before them a fire devours,

and behind them a flame scorches.

The land before them is like the Garden of Eden,

but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—

surely nothing will escape them.

Their appearance is like that of horses,

and they gallop like swift steeds.

With a sound like that of chariots

they bound over the mountaintops,

like the crackling of fire consuming stubble,

like a mighty army deployed for battle.

Joel

Nations writhe in horror before them;

every face turns pale.

They charge like mighty men;

they scale the walls like men of war.

Each one marches in formation,

not swerving from the course.

They do not jostle one another;

each proceeds in his path.

They burst through the defenses,

never breaking ranks.

They storm the city;

they run along the wall;

they climb into houses,

entering through windows like thieves.

Joel

Midday over the Judean hills gone dim as dusk: the sun a pale small disc through a vast dark swarm, storm cloud massing behind, a lone stone farmhouse below.

Before them the earth quakes;

the heavens tremble.

The sun and moon grow dark,

and the stars lose their brightness.

The LORD raises His voice

in the presence of His army.

Indeed, His camp is very large,

for mighty are those who obey His command.

For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful.

Who can endure it?

0:19

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Reflect

Who can endure it?

Joel asks, “Who can endure it?” What would you bring to stand on that day? Read verse 12 next and write down what God asks for instead.

Return with All Your Heart

God

“Yet even now,”

declares the LORD,

“return to Me with all your heart,

with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

Joel

So rend your hearts and not your garments,

and return to the LORD your God.

For He is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.

Joel 2:13

And He relents from sending disaster.

Who knows? He may turn and relent

and leave a blessing behind Him—

grain and drink offerings

for the LORD your God.

Joel

Question

Quick question

Joel calls the whole people to fast and pray. Look back at verse 13.

What does the LORD ask for in verse 13?

Restoration Promised

Joel

Then the LORD became jealous for His land,

and He spared His people.

God

God

And the LORD answered His people:

“Behold, I will send you

grain, new wine, and oil,

and by them you will be satisfied.

I will never again make you

a reproach among the nations.

God

A dark cloud of locusts driven out low over a whitecapped sea at evening by a strong wind from the west, a desert shore in the foreground.

The northern army I will drive away from you,

banishing it to a barren and desolate land,

its front ranks into the Eastern Sea,

and its rear guard into the Western Sea.

And its stench will rise;

its foul odor will ascend.

Joel

The threshing floors will be full of grain,

and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

God

I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—

the swarming locust, the young locust,

the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—

My great army that I sent against you.

God

You will have plenty to eat,

until you are satisfied.

You will praise the name of the LORD your God,

who has worked wonders for you.

My people will never again

be put to shame.

Then you will know that I am present in Israel

and that I am the LORD your God,

and there is no other.

My people will never again

be put to shame.

Given back

Whiteboard

What the locusts ate, the LORD gives back, line for line. The same land, the same grain, the same people who mourned in chapter 1 are told to be glad.

I Will Pour Out My Spirit

God

And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.

God

God

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions.

Even on My menservants and maidservants,

I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

God

Night over far Judean hills: three tall columns of smoke rise straight from the ridges with a red glow of fire at their feet, and above them a full moon in eclipse, dark copper.

I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth,

blood and fire and columns of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

Joel

The flat rooftops of Jerusalem on a spring morning, a sudden wind bending a palm and tearing smoke sideways, the temple bright in the distance.

And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD

will be saved;

for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem

there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised,

among the remnant called by the LORD.

0:12

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

You’ve experienced

Joel 2

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A verse to carry with you

So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.

Joel 2:13

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