the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Commentaries
Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary Poor Man's Commentary
The Locust Plague as a Symbol of Judgment.Chapter 2
The Coming Day of the Lord; Call to Repentance.Chapter 3
God's Judgment on Nations; Future Restoration of Israel.
- Joel
by Robert Hawker
THE PROPHET JOEL
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
THE prophecy of Joel is but short; but if it were only from one passage in it, which hath respect to gospel days, and was interpreted by an Apostle with peculiar reference to the open descent of the Holy Ghost, after the ascension of Christ, it would form a precious portion of the spirit of prophecy. And the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The name Joel is significant; it appears to be a compound of Jah and El; that is, the Lord God. We have no account of this Prophet's descent or connection further back than his immediate father. Neither can it be determined with any exactness, the period in which he prophesied. Probably, somewhat about eight hundred years before the coming of Christ. But we are much more interested to trace the evident marks of inspiration in Joel's writings, than to be particular as to the time in which he delivered his commission. I only detain the Reader with my usual precaution on entering any and every inspired writing; namely, to be careful to implore that Almighty God that guided the Prophet's pen, to influence every Reader's heart, that since to Jesus all the Prophets give witness, we may receive the truth in the love of it, and the truth may make us free. May the Lord God of the Prophets thus graciously do both by Writer and Reader in the present record now opening before us, to make us wise unto salvation through the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Amen.
