Joel 2 explained: Locusts, Alarm, and a Second Chance

Alarm on the holy hill (vv. 1-2)

A trumpet is to be blown on Zion, the hill in Jerusalem where the temple stood, to warn everyone that the day of the LORD, a day of judgment, is close. The darkness may come from swarms thick enough to block out the sun.

An unstoppable army (vv. 3-11)

The invaders strip green land bare, look like horses, never break rank and climb in through windows, which fits a locust swarm described as a military attack. Scholars are unsure whether Joel means real locusts, a human army pictured as locusts, or both, but verse 11 is clear that the LORD is leading it.

Tear your hearts (vv. 12-14)

People tore their clothes as a sign of grief, but here God asks for inner change, not just the outward gesture, and describes himself as gracious and slow to anger. Even so, the prophet only hopes that God might relent and send harvests good enough to bring offerings again, which the famine had stopped.

Everyone gathers to plead (vv. 15-17)

No one is excused, not children, not nursing babies, not even newlyweds, who were normally free from public duties. The priests stand between the temple entrance and the altar and ask God to spare his people so other nations cannot mock them by asking where their God is.

The LORD answers (vv. 18-27)

God promises grain, wine, oil and the autumn and spring rains, and says he will drive the invader from the north into the desert and into the seas to the east and west. He also promises to make up for the years of harvests the locusts destroyed.

Spirit for everyone (vv. 28-32)

Later, God's Spirit will come on all people, young and old, men and women, even servants, and frightening signs in the sky will come before the great day of the LORD. Anyone who calls on the LORD will be rescued, and Christians read this as fulfilled at Pentecost, when Jesus' followers received the Spirit and Peter quoted this passage (Acts 2).

Key verse: Joel 2:13

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether the promise of the Spirit and the signs in the sky (vv. 28-32) were fully fulfilled at Pentecost or still point partly to a future end of the age.

Something to think about

What do you think separates a real change of heart from just going through the motions of being sorry?