Joel 2

18–27 Joel says that the people’s prayer (verse 17) will awaken God’s jealous love, His passionate and zealous concern for His land and for His people (verse 18). When the Lord hears their sincere prayers, He will answer His people favorably. He will restore what they have lost⁹ (verses 19,25); He will drive away the invading army (verse 20); He will send righteousness and refreshment to the land¹⁰ (verse 23); and He will provide abundantly for all the people’s needs (verses 24,26). And finally, God promises that He who worked wonders for them in Egypt will work wonders for them once more; never again will His people be shamed (verses 26–27).

What does God mean by saying that never again will His people be shamed? We know, for example, that the JEWS were “shamed” (conquered) by the Romans long after Joel’s time. It’s possible that in verses 18–27 (especially verses 25–27) God is speaking of a yet more distant future—the time of the MESSIAH. Joel, after all, only knew these things were going to happen sometime in the future, but he didn’t know when (see Mark 13:32–37). Indeed, starting in the very next section, Joel will be speaking of a future age, an age beginning with the first coming of Jesus Christ and culminating in a still more distant day when Jesus will come again.

The Day of the Lord (2:28–32)

28–29 “And afterward. . .” (verse 28). These opening words propel us into the future. Here the Lord is not merely promising rain (verse 23); He is promising to pour out His Spirit—on all people! (see Isaiah 32:14–18; Jeremiah 31:31–34 and comments). In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit was ordinarily given to certain individuals to enable them to accomplish some specific task. But here Joel is predicting a day when all believers will be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

This passage is one of the most important passages in the Old Testament; the Apostle Peter quoted it in Acts 2:16–21. “All people” will be recipients of this gift of the Holy Spirit: young and old, male and female (verse 29). The Spirit will enable people to know God’s mind, to speak His word—to prophesy¹¹ (verse 28)—and to witness to Him with power (Acts 1:8). MOSES’ wish that all God’s people might be prophets will come true (Numbers 11:29). And all classes of people—men and women, slave and free, Jew and GENTILE—will be filled with one Spirit; they will become one in the Lord (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11).

30–31 Accompanying this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, there will be wonders in the heavens and on the earth (verse 30). Some of these wonders occurred at Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:45,50–54; Mark 15:33). Others will occur when Jesus comes again (Mark 13:24–27). The great and dreadful day of the LORD will be the “day” when Jesus the Messiah returns to reign (see Joel 1:15 and comment).

32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved (see Romans 10:12–13). That is, everyone who calls on the Lord in true faith will be saved (see Mark 13:13). The Old Testament writers believed that being “saved” primarily meant being “delivered” from earthly trials; the New Testament writers understood that being saved included not only earthly deliverance but, more important, deliverance from the power and penalty of sin, a deliverance resulting in SALVATION,in ETERNAL LIFE with God. Here, however, Joel is thinking of deliverance from the trials that the coming “day of the Lord” will bring. Those whom the Lord calls will be delivered; they will be the survivors.

Joel did not know how many “days of the Lord” lay in the future or when they would occur; but the Apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has given us a clearer understanding of Joel’s words in verses 28–32. In Acts 2:14–16, Peter plainly states that Joel’s PROPHECY of the outpouring of the Spirit came true on the day of Pentecost, when Jesus’ disciples were first filled with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:1–13). When the disciples, empowered by the Spirit, started to speak in other tongues (Acts 2:4), they confirmed the accuracy of Joel’s prophecy. They also experienced the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that He would send them the Holy Spirit (see Luke 24:49; John 14:16–18; 15:26; Acts 1:4–5,8).

In verses 28–32, Joel is speaking about the “last days” or the “end times.” What Peter has shown us is that the “last days” began on the day of Pentecost. In other words, we are now living in the “last days”—sometimes called the “Church age.” And these “last days” will continue until Jesus comes again. His coming will constitute the final “day of the Lord,” and it will be great and dreadful indeed (verse 31)—and also glorious for those who believe (Acts 2:20).

Thus Joel’s prophecy has already been partially fulfilled. God has indeed poured out His Spirit on all people (verse 28)—on both Jews and Gentiles, those who are near and those who are far off (Acts 2:38–39; Ephesians 2:13,17–18). And one day under the reign of the Messiah, Israel will be fully restored and reincorporated into one body of believers, the eternal family of God, and Joel’s prophecy will be totally fulfilled.