Scofield Reference Notes The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. SCOFIELD REFERENCE NOTES (Old Scofield 1917 Edition)
Book Introduction The Book of Joel Joel, a prophet of Judah, probably exercised his ministry during the reign of Joash (2Chr 22. to 24.). In his youth he may have known Elijah, and he certainly was a contemporary of Elisha. The plagues of insects, which were the token of the divine chastening, give occasion for the unveiling of the coming "day of the Lord" (Isa 2.12, refs.), in its two aspects of judgment on the Gentiles and blessing for Israel. Joel is in three chief parts: I. The plague of insects, 1.1-20. II. The day of the Lord, 2.1-3.8. III. Retrospect of the day of the Lord, and full kingdom blessing, 3.9-21. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?
Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. [1] palmerworm
The palmerworm, locust, etc., are thought to be different forms, at different stages of development, of one insect. The essential fact is that, according to the usual method of the Spirit in prophecy, some local circumstance is shown to be of spiritual significance, and is made the occasion of a far-reaching prophecy (e.g.) Isa 7:1-14 where the Syrian invasion and the unbelief of Ahaz give occasion to the great prophecy of verse 14. Here in Joel a plague of devouring insects is shown to have spiritual significance Joel 1:13,14 and is made the occasion of the prophecy of the day of the Lord, not yet fulfilled. See Scofield Note: "Isa 2:12". This is more developed in Joel 2., where the literal locusts are left behind, and the future day of Jehovah fills the scene. The whole picture is of the end-time of this present age, of the "times of the Gentiles" Lk 21:24 Rev 16:14 of the battle of Armageddon Rev 16:14 19:11-21 of the regathering of Israel. See Scofield Note: "Rom 11:26" and of kingdom blessing. It is remarkable that Joel, coming at the very beginning of written prophecy (B.C. 836), gives the fullest view of the consummation of all written prophecy. The order of events is: (1) The invasion of Palestine from the north by Gentile world-powers headed up under the Beast and false prophet Joel 2:1-10 "Armageddon," See Scofield Note: "Rev 16:14". (2) the Lord's army and destruction of the invaders Joel 2:11 Rev 19:11-21. (3) the repentance of Judah in the land Joel 2:12-17 See Scofield Note: "Dt 30.3. (4) the answer of Jehovah Joel 2:18-27 (5) the effusion of the Spirit in the (Jewish) "last days" Joel 2:28,29. (6) the return of the Lord in glory and the setting up of the kingdom Joel 2:30-32 Acts 15:15-17 by the regathering of the nation and judgment of the nations Joel 3:1-16 (7) full and permanent kingdom blessing Joel 3:17-21 Zech 14:1-21. See Scofield Note: "Mt 25:32". Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.
For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.
The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.
Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,
Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?
The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.
How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.
The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness. Scofield Reference Notes by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield [1917] Bible Hub |
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