Weekly Meditations: Joel 2

Joel 2

The second chapter of Joel focuses on the theme of the day of the Lord. The first chapter reveals a past day of the Lord in which locusts have invaded and brought judgment against Israel. Joel calls on the leaders of Israel to repent. We then come to chapter two where another “day of the Lord” is referenced but here it is a future event. The locust swarm is now depicted as an invading army (which could resemble Babylon, or the fall of Jerusalem). In either case, God ends up showing compassion for his people because of their repentance and so God relinquished this imminent threat and day of judgement. The day of the Lord theme is all about God’s judgment against nations and people which will happen at the end of all things, but God’s people will be spared of God’s impending wrath. It is a day that beings dread for many but for God’s people it is their vindication and his people should celebrate and look forward to this day.

The last part of this response is about the future day of the Lord but God’s people are not to fear, for they who call on God’s name will be saved or rather rescued from this day of judgment (2:32). This day will be recognized by the pouring out of God’s Spirit on believers. This happened in Acts 2 and Peter recalls this passage and says this is happening in their day. The fulfillment of this verse happened at Pentecost because the Spirit has been given to them. However, it still points, as other New Testament texts do, to a future day of the Lord, a future judgment that will bring ultimate deliverance and eternal life to God’s people. We know this because Paul and Peter both reference a day of the Lord which was clearly penned after Pentecost (1 Thess 5:23, 2 Peter 3:10). For them, the day of the Lord is when Jesus comes back a second time to bring judgment and deliver God’s people and inaugurate the new creation. This prophecy in Joel is fulfilled in Acts 2 but finds ultimate fulfillment when Christ comes again and God brings ultimate deliverance to his people. 

Application 

The apostles recalled the giving of the Spirit as fulfilling this passage in Joel. However, God is not done pouring out his Spirit. Every new believer who repents of their old way and follows Christ has the opportunity to receive this Spirit and live as a new creation. It is important we realize this and live with the Spirit meaning that we should be showing the fruits of the Spirit. We should be kind and loving and self-controlled as God’s Spirit transforms us from the inside out. We look forward to God’s ultimate deliverance and new creation as we await the final day of the Lord. We should not look forward to it with fear or dread but with great joy as we await our Savior and King to restore and unite heaven and earth as God’s people inherit eternal life.