OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF JOEL

By Gene McCarty

    Very little is known about Joel except what is recorded in the book. We do know that the book is authentic as a major section of the book is quoted in Acts two. There is much discussion of the date of the book’s writing, yet no one is able to come up with any meaningful logic to establish the dating of the book. I believe that it is a mistake to try to date this book. The book gives great detail of a locust plague that devastated the land. We do not have records in history of such a plague, so this does not help us in the dating process. It does however show us that God sends disaster upon sinful people, and that the only escape is to turn back in faithfulness to God.

1. The 1st chapter gives the picture of a locust plague and the devastation that the locust have brought on the land. The chapter begins with everything that is edible being consumed by the locust. All of the people of the land are challenged to morn and show fear and to turn back to the Lord. Chapter 2 continues the picture and likens the locust to a great army of God. The locust come with great noise and more power than a powerful army. They can leap great mountains and consume every sign of life in the land. Before them the whole earth shakes.
    

2. At verse 12 of chapter 2 the invitation of the Lord begins as the people of the land are encouraged to return to faithfulness and receive the blessings that the Lord gives to his faithful. The last paragraph of chapter 2 is the prophesy that is quoted in total in Acts 2. The promise is powerful and fulfilled for all flesh in the blessings given to men in the church.
    

3. In the 3rd chapter we have a judgment of the nations that abused the people of Judah as they devastated the land and sold the people of Judah into foreign slavery. The chapter continues with a discussion of the valley of decision and some prophetic words about the resurrection of Christ and the establishment of the church. The book concludes with a brief description of the great blessings that are available in Christ.