Instructions to Students

Commentary on Joel 1 by Matthew Henry

They vineyard was to be cut off: The vine and the fig tree, among the most stable and enduring of the plants that nourished Israel anciently, represented the finest that the Lord had given His chosen people. But they had rejected the gift and the Giver, and all would be laid waste by the numberless nation of invaders who, as a lion, would not be denied.


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  • Matthew Henry :: Commentary on Joel 1.

The lion is the most feared of animals and pulls down his prey with great savagery. A tree is barked by stripping the bark from the trunk, which kills the tree. The imagery was clear. The house of Israel would be pulled down, or cut off, and spoiled by powerful outside nations. Their vineyards and orchards would be desolate. Their field was wasted; they were no longer a fruitful people unto the Lord see vv. At this time a husbandman was a person who tended an orchard, and a vinedresser was one who cultivated a vineyard.

In New Testament times a husbandman also took care of a vineyard. Joel called upon all the people to howl and lament because the temple would fall and the people of God would undergo national disaster. Just as Moses had instructed Israel to learn a song see Deuteronomy A solemn assembly was held to gather priesthood leaders and members to consider these sacred matters see v. When Israel and Judah were devoured by their invaders, they, too, would spoil. The barns would be of no value, for they would house nothing. These dire predictions were fulfilled when the covenant people fell, first to Assyria and then to Babylon, and then were ruled by a series of empires.

But these verses also seem to require a latter-day fulfillment with destruction again threatening Judah. Chapters 2 and 3 of Joel definitely apply to the final days. Sometimes it is the temple see Isaiah 2: Zion is the saints of God; Zion is those who have been baptized; Zion is those who have received the Holy Ghost ; Zion is those who keep the commandments; Zion is the righteous; or in other words, as our revelation recites: Though the context makes it difficult to say in which sense Joel used the terms, Zion and holy mountain, they are probably yet another example of Hebrew dualism.

Mount Zion was one of the names of Jerusalem, and thus it is a cry for the inhabitants to awaken. But Mount Zion also has a meaning in the latter days. An event of the latter days known as the battle of Armageddon is described in these verses. Compare this language with that of John and Ezekiel when they describe the battle of Armageddon in Revelation 9: The sun, moon, and stars will be darkened. The horses see v. Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said of the warning given in these verses: The siege against the city will be severe. The relentless army will overrun the land of Israel.

Commentaries on Joel

The city walls will be breached and the houses plundered see v. But the Lord is strong, and He will keep His word. He has promised to rescue the people, and He will see v. The Lord calls to His children in all ages: He desires them to become His people so that He can be their God. Prepare yourselves, oh Israel, that you may receive My blessings, that you might be protected from this condition that is going to come.

And then the last words that I have read from this part of this chapter, the Lord says that He will take that great army in hand, that He also has an army. His army is terrible, just as terrible as the other army, and He will take things in hand. He is not thinking about any earthly army. He would drive this terrible northern army into the wilderness, barren and desolate, with his face towards the east sea and his hinder part towards the utmost sea.

He would do that, and then He would bless His people—having references, of course, to Israel. The figure of the bride and bridegroom see v. Israel was married to the Lord in the Abrahamic covenant see Jeremiah 3: The Bridegroom was Jehovah, and the bride was Israel. The Bridegroom returned to claim His bride, who had been temporarily set aside for wickedness. The years of the locust, the cankerworm, the caterpillar, and the palmerworm indicate generations of oppression for scattered and rejected Israel. One major theme of the Old Testament prophets is that although there will be a great apostasy in Israel, in the end Israel will be restored to the covenant the gospel and become faithful.

When Moroni appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith he quoted these verses, saying that they were not yet fulfilled but soon would be. It obviously applies to the latter days in its language and content, although it has also been fulfilled previously. This he expressed in figures that would be easily understood by his people. The last days are to be characterized by the pouring out of the Spirit upon all flesh. Peter, experiencing a rich and wonderful outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, quoted Joel see Acts 2: Sons and daughters will prophesy—preach, exhort, pray, and instruct so as to benefit the Church.

Direct revelation will be given.

Young men and women who are representatives of the Lord will be inspired. The gifts of teaching and inspiration will be given to all classes and levels of people. The Lord will call and qualify those He chooses. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary: Hosea, Joel, and Amos 0 Chisholm Jr. Handbook on the Prophets: The Book of The Twelve Prophets: Joel 0 Ogden, Graham S. Wayne Daniel, Hosea and Joel: Be Amazed Minor Prophets: Gignilliat, Mark The Minor Prophets? Naylor, Peter Joel, Amos?

God Will Not Be Mocked

William Minor Prophets I? Joel, Obadiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi? Hosea Green, Timothy M. Pak, Sujin Minor Prophets. Twelve Prophets, Volume 1. Prophet of the Coming Day, The message of Joel.

(7-1) Introduction

A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets, Volume 1: A Commentary on Hosea, Joel, Amos. Commentaries on the Twelve Prophets: Hosea, Joel, and Amos. Zephaniah, Habakkuk and Joel.


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