LOCUST JUDGMENT
Joel’s word from the Lord talked about an invasion of the country but not, this time, from enemy forces like Assyria and Babylon but a sequence of destructive locust swarms. The cutting locust, the swarming locust, the hopping locust and the destroying locust. (v4). A National Geographic article on the web describes how, in isolation, locusts are mild mannered like their relative the grasshopper but under certain conditions, in their gregarious phase, they turn into thick, mobile, ravenous swarms. Locust swarms can devastate crops and cause major agricultural damage leading to attendant human misery, famine and starvation. A desert locust swarm can be 460 square miles in size and pack 40-80 million insects; one locust can eat its weight in plants in one day.

The locust invasion (v6) is, vividly compared with the eating power of a lion. The vines had been laid waste and the fig trees had been stripped bare (v7). The fields were devastated, the grain destroyed, the fruit, wine and oil had failed (v10,11). Even the house of the Lord was suffering because of lack of food for the offerings.  Joy and gladness had withered away, the animals moaned and fires devastated the countryside.

The locusts were a judgement from God (v15) and the people were encouraged to cry to the Lord in desperation (v14). Chapter 2 warned them of another great and powerful locust army (v2), a day of the Lord, that was near (v1,11). Verses 2 to 9 describe the frightening swarm, the like of which had never been seen before and would never be seen again.

RETURN WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO THE LORD
The solution to the crisis was the same one found in Hosea:

“yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart” (v12) …”return to the Lord your God” (v13). God allows trouble in the life of His people to bring them back to Him for He is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (v13).

We read in v18 that the Lord became jealous for His land and had pity on His people. While Gods people suffered, many of the neighbouring nations would mock them for their reliance on a God who either would, or could not, help them. This attitude was particularly aggravating to the Lord who was utterly faithful and would give so much to His people if, only, they relied on Him. These insults, coupled with the people’s repentance, encouraged God to change His mind and make their lives fruitful again (v19-24). Somehow God would make up for the lost years and He said “I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten” (v25). God had always had a vision for their land, one where His people were safe, satisfied (v26) and lived a life of praise and self respect. This land was to be a place where God was the centre (v27) and His people acknowledged Him as the one true God.

If you consider verse 27, it talks of a time when God would be in the midst of Israel and His people would never again be put to shame. Surely this speaks of Jesus who would come in human flesh and die to take away our sin and shame.  Then, soon after the death and resurrection of Jesus the Holy Spirit would be poured out to transform the lives of his followers.

COMING OF THE SPIRIT
It is helpful to see the context for Joel’s famous prophesy of the Holy Spirit (v28), “then afterwards I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh….”. We know, exactly, which occasion this relates to- Pentecost, for Peter referred to this passage in his speech following their baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2v16-21). The land of Joel was a picture of God’s kingdom, a people united and living in the Holy Spirit, with God in their midst. It was to be a place where everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (v32).  Paul, like Peter, also quoted this verse in Romans 10v13 and we know from 1 Timothy 2v4 that God desires everyone to be saved.

FINAL JUDGEMENT
Chapter 3 talks about God restoring the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem and judging those same nations who troubled Israel, in the valley of Jehoshaphat. The name Jehoshaphat means “Jehovah is judge” and we read that it will happen at the same time as the events we have just discussed (3v1).  So at the time when God restored the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, Calvary and Pentecost (v1), He would also judge those who had been against them. We know that since the coming of Jesus and the Holy Spirit there has been restoration for the believer but also judgement for the unbeliever. In the fullest sense, this will reach complete fulfillment at the final judgement when Jesus returns to the earth. Be assured though, that God will always be a refuge for his people (v16); His presence will be among them and His people will, finally, be holy (v17) because through the death of Jesus holiness has become possible.

It is interesting that the final words of Joel read “for the Lord dwells in Zion” (3v21). The message of the book is clear to me. It is all about His presence among His people, His Holy Spirit poured out on us. Judgement (like the locust army) starts with God’s people and draws them towards their Saviour but it ends with those who choose to go another way, in the valley of Jehoshaphat. God will, one day, separate out those who wish to live with Him in eternity but He would much prefer to save us all and pour out his Spirit upon us. Our true and greatest destiny is to live in His presence.