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1. Kingdom Divided

a. 1 Kings 11:29-39 – Jeroboam prophesied to be King

b. 1 Kings 12:22-24 – Rehoboam told not to fight

c. 1 Kings 12 – Jeroboam sets up golden calf

d. 1 Kings 14 – Prophecy against Jeroboam’s son that he will die.

e. String of Prophets

2. Many of these prophets didn’t write (up through Joel who might be first writing prophet)

a. Writing prophets were writing for future generations

3. Joel wrote around 830?

a. Wrote around Joash

b. In between Athaliah and Joash government was between Jehoiada and the other elders

4. Key concept in Book of Joel is the Day of the Lord

a. Joel 1:15

b. Joel 2:1

c. Joel 2:2

d. Joel 2:11

e. Joel 2:29-3:1

f. Joel 2:31

g. Joel 3:14

h. Joel 3:18

i. The Day of the Lord forecasts judgment and is followed up by other prophets and is a theological theme that is followed through

i. Isa 2:11-20

ii. Isa 13:6,9,13

iii. Jer 46:10

iv. Amos 5:18,20

v. Zeph 1:7,18

j. Makes better sense that Joel introduces Day of the Lord and it is followed through by later Prophets

k. Is a threat and a blessing

i. Joel 2:12-13  — 12 “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.

1. An opportunity for repentance and there is hope for restoration

2. The “inviting anger” of God

ii. Joel 2:25-27 (ESV) — 25 I will restore 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.

iii. Joel 2:28-29 – Acts 2:17-21 (ESV) — 17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

1. Compare with Joel 2:28-32 (Septuagint)

5. God is slow to anger (prophesies in 830 and judgment comes in 586)

6. Clear to OT prophets that prophecy they had uttered would be fulfilled in last days