Joel
Joel is a short prophetic book whose date is uncertain, since it names no king. It begins with a locust plague and drought that strip the land bare, and the prophet calls everyone, from elders to infants, to fast and gather for prayer. He urges the people to tear their hearts rather than their clothing. The book then turns to restoration: the lost years of harvest will be made good, and God's Spirit will be poured out on all people, young and old, men and women. Peter quotes this passage at Pentecost in Acts 2. Read slowly, listening for the turn from lament to hope.
Choose a chapter
Joel meditation prompts by chapter
- Joel 1: Swarm after swarm of locusts strips the vines and fig trees bare, and Joel calls everyone to lament. If something in you feels stripped, tell God plainly.
- Joel 2: God asks for torn hearts rather than torn clothes, and promises to give back what the locusts devoured. What lost years would you place in his hands today?
- Joel 3: Multitudes fill the valley of decision, where the LORD gives his verdict, yet he remains a refuge for his people. What do you need to bring under his shelter?