Joel: Call on the LORD
Joel 2:12-27 ESV
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.[a]
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land
and had pity on his people.
19 The Lord answered and said to his people,
“Behold, I am sending to you
grain, wine, and oil,
and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
a reproach among the nations.
20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,
and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard[b] into the eastern sea,
and his rear guard[c] into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
for he has done great things.
21 “Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice,
for the Lord has done great things!
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the latter rain, as before.
24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore[d] to you the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent among you.
26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
GATHERING FOR SUNDAY
CAN BE FOUND AT:
https://www.facebook.com/NewDayCovenantChurch/
Following the worship gathering, worship services will be uploaded to our website and will be available at www.newdaycov.org/listen.
NewDay Online Giving: https://newday.churchcenter.com/giving
Small Group Study
Joel – Call on the Lord
September 6, 2026
Joel’s few references to those in power and specific enemies has left his historical context in question. His reference to fasting and sacrifices at the temple indicate that Joel lived prior to the destruction of the temple in 586 BC. Some place the prophet as early as 780 BC while others speculate a time as early as 400 BC after the temple is rebuilt. Most scholars place Joel in Jerusalem after the 2nd captivity. His frequent reference to the prophetic “Day of the Lord” indicative of the coming destruction of the temple.
God’s message through Joel was similar to other prophets at the time: The Day of The Lord is Coming. However, instead of ranting and raving using fear as a tactic for turning to the Lord, Joel called God’s people to weep for the impending destruction and spiritually weep for those that would rather listen to false prophets proclaiming peace.
Present Situation Lament (Joel 1:1-20)
Verses 1, 10 - Joel calls for those that imbibe to mourn the lack of wine due to a locust plague.
Why would Joel include the drunkards in his message as well as the faithful (v. 13)?
What was God using the locust plague for His prophetic message for the future?(v. 15)
Verse 13 – Joel calls on the spiritual leaders to personal repentance. What is being lamented (what is not right)? What is the significance of this in our relationship with God?
Verse 14 – Joel calls on the spiritual leaders to lead God’s people. What is being called for? What does this inform us about God (worship, prayer, etc.)?
Verse 20 is Joel’s personal prayer. What do we see nature do in response to destruction? (Luke 19:40; Isaiah 55:12; Psalm 148:3)
Future Enemy Lament (Joel 2:1-17)
In similar fashion to Chapter 1, Joel now describes a future destructive event (v. 1-11) and ends this section with another call to turn to the Lord. (v. 12-17).
Joel sounds the alarm (v. 1) that an even more destructive event is coming. What thought or understanding about Jerusalem is Joel calling in to question? Share your own ideas/understanding about the “special status” that Israel has in the eyes of God. How have we in America applied this understanding to our nation’s relationship with God? How can we educate those around us of Joel’s warning? How can we discern between a gentle/tender approach or the need for “trumpet blowing?”
Present Situation Deliverance (Joel 2:18-32)
Unlike other prophets and false prophets, Joel uses the coming “Day of the Lord” to call for repentance and lamentation. His motivating message is that there is hope in that day. The Day of the Lord is not the end, but is a new beginning.
Verses 18-27
Describe the “new beginnings”/blessings.
Describe the effect on God’s people (v 21, 23, 27)
Verses 28-30 Describe the spiritual change in God’s people.
Do you see these changes as having already occurred or things that will happen in our future?
How has the coming of Christ fulfilled these? What has not been fulfilled?
Future Restoration/Salvation (Joel 3:1-21)
Part of God’s restoration would be judgement and justice (v. 3:2-8).
What appeals to you about God being the judge and not us? (Matt 7:1-3)
What is unsatisfying about leaving judgement to God?
Verse 14 refers to the “valley of decision” twice in reference to the coming judgement. The Hebrew word for “decision” in this context means “strict decision.”
What is being decided? (Compare verse 13 and 16)
Verses 17-21 depict a glorious future.
What is being described? Heaven? Earth? Spiritual condition of people’s hearts?
When is being described? Previous era of Judah/Jerusalem? Future heaven? Future/current individual salvation?