Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryJoel 1

Threatenings of JudgmentThe book of Joel begins with a warning about a terrible judgment coming upon Judah because of their sins. This judgment is so severe that nothing like it has happened before, and it will be remembered for generations. The prophet Joel uses the example of a devastating plague of locusts to show how God can use even the smallest creatures to humble a proud nation. The message is clear: when people turn away from God, He can use any means to bring them back to Him, even by taking away the things they enjoy most.v. 1: The word of the Lord

v. 2: Joel asks the old men and all the people of the land if they have ever heard of anything like this before. He tells them to search the stories of their ancestors, but they will not find anything as terrible as this plague . This shows that when people sin more than those before them, they can expect even greater punishments.

v. 3: Joel tells the people to make sure their children know about this disaster. He says, “Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation” . This is not just for stories, but so that future generations will learn to respect God and fear His judgments.

v. 4: The judgment is described as an invasion of locusts and other insects: “What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten; and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten” . Some people think these insects represent enemy armies, but it is more likely that Joel is talking about a real plague of insects. Locusts were one of the plagues in Egypt (Exodus 10:14 ), and this plague in Judah is just as bad. These insects come in huge numbers and destroy everything—crops, vines, and even the bark of fig trees. God can use even the weakest creatures to punish a nation if He chooses.

v. 5: Joel calls on the drunkards to wake up and weep because the new wine they love will be taken away . This shows that God can remove the things people misuse, like wine, especially when they use them for sinful pleasure. Those who depend on these things will feel the loss the most. Joel also hints that the people have ignored God’s warnings before, but now they will be forced to pay attention when their pleasures are suddenly gone.

v. 6–7: The locusts are described as a strong nation, even though they are just insects. They come together like an army, and their numbers make them powerful. They have “teeth like lions” (Joel 1:6; Revelation 9:8 ), and they destroy everything in their path. They eat the vines and fig trees, stripping them bare and leaving nothing behind (Joel 1:7 ). This shows that God can use even the smallest creatures to bring down a whole nation if He wants to.

Threatenings of JudgmentThis section describes how the coming judgment will cause deep sorrow among all kinds of people in Judah. The disaster will not only take away pleasures like wine, but also the basic things that people need to live, such as bread and fruit. Both farmers and priests are called to mourn because the devastation will affect everyone: those who work the land will lose their crops, and those who serve in the temple will have nothing to offer to God. The text warns us that we should not put our trust in material things, because they can easily be lost. We must always remember to depend on God, who is the true source of all blessings.v. 8: Joel tells the people to mourn like a young woman who has lost her fiancé before they could marry. This deep grief shows how hard it will be to lose the harvest and the good things they enjoyed .

v. 9: The offerings of grain and drink, which are given in the house of the Lord

v. 10: The fields are ruined, and the land itself seems to mourn. Grain, wine, and oil are all destroyed. These are the things people need for daily life, and now they are gone (Joel 1:10; Isaiah 24:4 ; Jeremiah 4:28 ).

v. 11: Farmers and vine-dressers are told to be ashamed and to cry out in grief, because their hard work has been wasted. The wheat and barley, the main crops for both rich and poor, are destroyed. Both groups suffer together from this disaster .

v. 12: All the trees are dried up: the vine, fig, pomegranate, palm, apple, and every tree in the field. The harvest is gone, and with it, the joy of the people has also disappeared .

v. 13: The priests are told to dress in sackcloth and mourn, because there are no more offerings for God in the temple. The lack of food and drink means they cannot continue the worship that God commanded. When people suffer, true religion can also suffer, and this is a special reason for those who serve God to grieve .Reflection: This passage reminds us that all our blessings, like food and joy, come from God. When people forget to thank Him and turn to sin, even the most basic blessings can be taken away. It also shows that we should trust in God and not in material things, because those things can fail us. Even when everything is lost, those who make God their joy can still rejoice in Him (Habakkuk 3:17-18 ).

Threatenings of Judgment; A Proclamation for a FastAfter describing the sorrow caused by the plague of locusts, Joel now calls the people to direct their grief toward true repentance before God. The people are urged to recognize God’s power in their suffering and to humble themselves. The prophet explains that in times of national trouble, everyone should come together and seek God’s mercy through fasting and prayer. When God sends judgment, the right response is to turn from sin, admit guilt, and ask for His help. Even the animals suffer, and their distress is a reminder to people that all creation depends on God’s kindness.v. 14: Joel instructs the priests to declare a holy fast. He says, “Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord

v. 15: Joel warns that “the day of the Lord

v. 16: Joel tells the people to look at their own homes. He says, “Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God?” . There is no more feasting, and even the worship in the temple is sad and empty because of the disaster.

v. 17: The seeds in the ground have rotted, the barns are empty, and the storehouses are broken down because there is no grain to store. The harvest has completely failed, and there is nothing left for the future .

v. 18: Even the animals are suffering. The cattle groan with hunger, and the sheep are left with nothing to eat because the pastures are ruined. All creation is feeling the effects of the people’s sin .

v. 19: Joel gives his own example and prays, “O Lord

v. 20: The wild animals also cry out to God because the streams are dry and the fields are burned. Even though animals cannot speak, their suffering is like a prayer to God. If animals depend on God, how much more should people turn to Him in their trouble (Joel 1:20; Romans 8:26 ; Psalm 104:21; Job 38:41 ).