Complacent People Before the Locust Plague
Category: Failure of repentance
Could endure: Return to God with fasting and humility.
“Even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” (Joel 2:12)
Cross-Refs: Hosea 14:1–2; James 4:8–10.
Chose wrongly: Ignored warnings, lived in indulgence.
“Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips.” (Joel 1:5)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 5:11–12; Luke 21:34.
Endured (negatively): Faced devastation from locusts.
“What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten.” (Joel 1:4)
Cross-Refs: Amos 4:9; Revelation 9:3–4.
Why (wrong motive): Self-indulgence, ignoring God’s covenant.
“Grain offerings and drink offerings are cut off from the house of the LORD.” (Joel 1:9)
Cross-Refs: Malachi 1:7; Matthew 6:24.
Result: Ruined harvest, spiritual dryness.
“The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up.” (Joel 1:10)
Cross-Refs: Haggai 1:6, 9; Romans 1:28.
Priests Neglecting Their Role
Category: Failure of intercession
Could endure: Cry out on behalf of the people.
“Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the portico and the altar.” (Joel 2:17)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 28:29; Hebrews 5:1.
Chose wrongly: Silent in crisis, delayed repentance.
“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.” (Joel 1:14 — implied failure before command).
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 56:10–11; Malachi 2:7–8.
Endured (negatively): Shame, loss of offerings.
“The grain offering and drink offering are cut off from the house of the LORD.” (Joel 1:9)
Cross-Refs: Lamentations 2:9; Hosea 4:6.
Why (wrong motive): Neglect, complacency.
“Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn.” (Joel 1:13)
Cross-Refs: Ezekiel 22:26; James 4:17.
Result: Spiritual famine, loss of worship.
“Joy is withered away from the sons of men.” (Joel 1:12, KJV)
Cross-Refs: Amos 8:11; Revelation 2:4–5.
Nations Opposing God’s People
Category: Failure of reverence
Could endure: Leave Israel in peace and acknowledge God’s sovereignty.
“Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion.” (Joel 3:17)
Cross-Refs: Zechariah 2:8–9; Psalm 2:10–12.
Chose wrongly: Enslaved Israel, plundered their treasures.
“They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink.” (Joel 3:3)
Cross-Refs: Amos 1:6–9; Obadiah 11.
Endured (negatively): Faced God’s judgment in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
“I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial.” (Joel 3:2)
Cross-Refs: Zechariah 14:2–3; Revelation 16:14–16.
Why (wrong motive): Greed, cruelty, hatred of God’s people.
“You took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.” (Joel 3:5)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 10:13–14; Luke 21:24.
Result: Overthrown by God’s hand.
“The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem.” (Joel 3:16)
Cross-Refs: Amos 1:2; Revelation 19:15.