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Autumn And The Minor Prophet, Joel

I would like to spend a few minutes with you this week to take a look at one of our Biblical prophets.

The book attributed to Joel is rarely preached on, and is often passed over in favor of one of the Major Prophets like Jeremiah or Daniel. However, Joel holds an interesting place along the Biblical Timeline.

First, his very name; keep in mind the letter “J” is pronounced as a “Y”, Joel, or Yoel is a combination of two Hebrew names for God – Yo, as in YHWH (Yahweh), and El, as in Elohim. This could be the writers literary way of saying Joel is “a worshipper of God.”

The book of Joel most likely was written post-exilic, that is, after the Israelites returned from their exile in Babylon. Joel mentions the suffering of Judah and the standing temple, which indicates the children of Israel have returned to the Promised Land.

The greatest verses are within the 2nd chapter:

“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.  The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.” (Verses 23, 24)

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth,” (Verses 28-30)

The verses which follow are prophecies about the end times, but that is beyond the scope of this small article.

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, October 19th is a feast day in honor (not worship) of Joel and his prophecies. Joel is also venerated by the Baha’i faith in Lebanon with a feast day on the 23rd of May. Although the first chapter of Joel is filled with the imagery of invading locusts and a call to lament (be sorrowful and repent) the remainder of his writing is very hopeful. Unlike the doom and gloom prophecies of Jeremiah and Amos, Joel writes about a time to come when things will be better, storehouses full of grain, enemies vanquished and God will again be glorified.

We, 21st century Americans, are experiencing much the same as Israel in the time of Joel. It seems we also have prophets of doom and gloom, pundits who foresee the demise of both society and country. Perhaps it is time we start looking to the prophets of old whose sole message was, and is, seek help from God, trust in the Lord, keep faithful and know that a better time will come. I do not claim to be a prophet, or even to make prophetic announcements, but perhaps a time of ‘exile’ is what we need for us to return to our roots of religious freedom and once again become a nation of God.

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