Joel's Prophecy of the Spirit

It’s been a cold and blizzard-filled Sunday for us here in Michigan (Feb 10). We made it half of our 30 mile ride to church this morning and had to stop four times right in the middle of the highway because we could not see where we were going. So we turned around and came back home. It’s been kind of a slow day, but has given us some time to read and write.

We’ve been looking at the book of Joel for the last couple of posts. One of the things that has struck me is that God makes specific promises to the nation of Israel. After the immediate discipline of God by means of locusts, God promises restoration and peace. Some of those promises were obviously not for immediate fulfillment.

Consider specifically Joel 2:28: “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

On the day of Pentecost, Peter referred to the outpouring of the Spirit about which he said, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” (Acts 2:16) An interesting question is whether the events of that day are the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. I don’t see how it can be since Joel continues to describe events, which Peter also quotes, that didn’t take place. Joel speaks of wonders in heaven above, the sun turning to darkness and the moon to blood. These obviously didn’t take place on the day of Pentecost. What I think Peter means is that this Holy Spirit that came upon the church on the day of Pentecost is that same Spirit which the prophet Joel is talking about. The literal fulfillment of the prophecy with the signs in the heavens is yet to occur.

More next time.