The Festival as it is TODAY  Open to the Gentile...that NONE should Perish

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1. The judgment of an army of locusts
Joel 1:2-2:11

The land of Israel, in the time of the prophet Joel, possibly underwent a serious invasion of locusts that had threatened the survival of the land. I write possibly here as it may be that Joel is simply using what the nation knew about locust invasions as a backdrop to what God was wanting to say to His people.

In Joel 1:4, the four names given to the different types of locusts have often been taken to represent the stages of development of the locust from larvae to adult (see, for instance, JFB). The phrases used here are as they appear in the RSVs translation would take the cutting locust as referring to the locust having just emerged from the egg in spring and without wings and swarming locust as the locust at the end of spring when still in its first skin and when they put forth little ones without legs or wings. The hopping locust would refer to the locust after their third casting of their old skin when they get small wings which enable them to leap better but not to fly. Being unable to go away until their wings are matured, they devour all before them. And, finally, the destroying locust would refer to the matured winged locust.

The full cycle would therefore be represented in one verse, depicting the cycle taking place on Israels soil, this being the immensity and severity of the plague. However, this view has been seriously called into question through etymology and by appeal to the cycle of the development of the locust, so that the four names more likely refer to four successive waves of locust attack that swept into the land of Israel and laid waste the nation.         

The parallels to a natural swarm of locusts are well related in Ungers and the following passage is a quote taken from that source (which is itself a quote from the Biblical Archaeologist - an unknown edition) with passages from Joel included to show the similarity between the two:

Vast bodies of migrating locusts, called by the orientals The armies of God (2:4-5,11,25) lay waste the country. They observe as regular an order when they march as an army (2:4-5,7-8). At evening they descend from their flight and form, as it were, their camps. In the morning, when the sun has risen considerably, they ascend again if they do not find food and fly in the direction of the wind. They go in immense numbers (1:6, 2:2) [Zondervan - Numbers can be astronomical: a desert locust swarm that crossed the Red sea in 1889 was estimated to cover 2,000 square miles], and occupy a space of ten or twelve miles in length, and four or five in breadth, and are so deep that the sun cannot penetrate through them; so that they convert the day into night and bring a temporary darkness on the land (2:2,10). The sound of their wings is terrible (2:5). When they descend upon the earth, they cover a vast track a foot and a half high...Nothing stops them (2:8-9). They fill the ditches that are dug to stop them with their bodies, and extinguish by their numbers the fires which are kindled. They pass over walls and enter the doors and windows of houses (2:7,9). They devour everything which is green, strip off the barks of trees, and even break them to pieces by their weight (1:4,7,10-12,16,18-20, 2:3)

It would appear best, then, to take the description by the prophet as a use of figurative language to denote a human army intent on invading the nation of Israel and commanded by YHWH Himself.

2. The judgment of an army of men
Joel 1:2-2:11, 3:9-15

That the passages in Joel are not just referring to a natural locust plague is hinted at in 2:20 when God says

I will remove the northerner far from you...

The locust swarms that sweep over Israel are carried by south-east winds that blow the locusts from their breeding grounds in Arabia. To expect a swarm from the north would be unlikely and, as most of you will be aware, the north is a word thats often used to denote the enemies of Israel who swept down from this direction (such as Assyria or Babylon) even though their home land was somewhere east of north (a large barren wilderness to the east prevented a successful march for an army to arrive capable of besieging cities and towns).

Further to this, in Joel 3:9-15, its revealed that God is stirring up the men of the nations of the earth to gather them for battle against His people Israel. The locust plague that Joel vividly describes is seen as a type of the army of the Lord thats going to march upon the nation - though specifically Jerusalem (2:1,15, 3:1,6,16,20).

3. The repentance of Gods people
Joel 1:14, 2:1,12-17

The trumpet is blown (Joel 2:1,15) to call the nation to repentance, to petition the Lord God to avert the judgment thats about to fall upon His people and to plead with God to remember the covenant He made with them.

The Festival of Trumpets today announces to the nation of Israel the ten days of penitence (from the first day to the tenth day - which is the Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur). The third to the ninth (seven days) are considered of primary importance as days of preparation (repentance) before Yom Kippur, days in which Jews are called to seek forgiveness.

It is in this, I believe, that well see the fulfilment of the Festival of Trumpets - not that the tradition just outlined is taken to be an indication that what I propose here will happen but that, in the context of the Book of Joel, the added tradition makes perfect sense.

The Lord does not wish II Peter 3:9)

that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance

The judgment of a foreign invading army is not sent by God to destroy Israel out of existence but to bring them to a place of genuine repentance where Hell be able to forgive and revoke the judgment thats fast approaching.

In the natural swarm, the prophet (Joel 1:19), the nation (1:14) and the beasts of the land (1:20) all cry to God to provide for them in the famine thats suddenly occurred. In the coming approach of a foreign invading army, all the people of the nation will seek Gods face for forgiveness.

Note also that the judgment of Gods people always comes first so that, in the following judgment of the wicked, they are blameless before God (I Peter 4:17).

4. The restoration of Gods people and Gods land
Joel 2:18-29, 3:16-21

Its not just a natural restoration from a plague of locusts thats being related but a spiritual restoration of Gods people into blessing (Joel 2:18-29). As has already been shown, Joel 2:20 indicates that a locust plague is not meant here. Also in 2:28-29, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh (which in the christian life also follows repentance and does not precede it) is a restoration of the nation of Israel into covenant blessing and relationship. Joel 3:18 tells us that

...a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the valley of Shittim

which is a specific reference to a spiritual restoration. In passages like Ezek 47:1,8, Zech 14:8 and Rev 22:1, water issues from the centre of Gods throne and flows out to the east where the death and barrenness of the Dead Sea area is converted into life and newness. Here, although the direction is the same, the meaning is considerably different.

The valley of Shittim lies east of the Jordan river, above the Jordan valley, and is today connected with Abel-Shittim (which means, by translation, the stream of the acacia trees). Its quite impossible, naturally speaking, for water to flow east up the hills to fill the stream bed of Shittim. And, from its name, its evident that vegetation already exists so that water must, of necessity, already be sufficient there.

But the passage refers us back to Numbers chapter 25 when Israel, encamped in the plains of Shittim, yoked himself to Baal of Peor. Judgment followed through a plague which was averted by the nations repentance and destruction of the sin from their midst. In the same way, God is saying here that the life-giving fountain that will come from Him (that is, the Holy Spirit) will cleanse the sin of the nation as in Numbers chapter 25 and restore them into a covenant relationship with Him once again.

The parallels in the two passages are significant and need to be carefully noted:

a. Num 25:9 - A great plague arose against Israel.
Pp Joel 1:4

b. Num 25:6 - Israel humbled itself before the Lord in repentance.
Pp Joel 2:12-17
These first two events then lead on to the cleansing fountain of the Lord being opened up to Israel.

c. Num 25:8 - The plague was revoked.
Pp Joel 2:18
In Jesus Christ, sicknesses find their end and healing is provided for in the cross (Mtw 8:17, I Peter 2:24 - see on the subject Healing).

d. Num 25:11 - Their sin was forgiven.
Pp Joel 2:32
In Jesus Christ, sins have been borne in His body which hung on the cross (I Peter 2:24). Through the shed blood, all can now receive the forgiveness of their sins (I John 1:7).

e. Num 25:11 - The nation was restored.
Pp Joel 2:19-29
In Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has been given to all believers for their full restoration (Acts 3:19, John 7:37-39).

Israels repentance of its immorality and idolatry in that day will be accepted by the Lord who will restore Israel back into a covenant relationship with Himself. As can be seen from points c-e above, this relationship is none other than the conversion of the people of Israel to their Messiah, which is the new covenant.

I know that, in the churches where I grew up as a christian (as opposed to the churches that I never attended when I was growing up), theres always been an expectation that the Jews, at some future time in earths history, will turn back to Jesus after having rejected Him in the first century AD.

That the Scriptures speak of this is equally certain and I need only quote two passages to show to the reader (if youre in any doubt) that its one of the important occurrences that must take place (incidentally, by turning back I dont mean forced conversion but that which comes from an individuals freewill).

Paul, writing in Romans 11:25-32 (really, the entire passage that runs from chapter 9 to the end of 11 should be read to see this in context) says

Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brethren: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins. As regards the gospel they are enemies of God, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy. For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all

And the prophet Zechariah (Zech 12:10-13:1) in the passage which runs from chapter 12 through to the end of chapter 14 (and which concludes with details concerning the established visible Kingdom of YHWH and the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles - see also the notes on that festival) writes:

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land shall mourn, each family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves. On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. And on that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more; and also I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirit

What appears to be still a future event is spoken of not just in the OT passages but in the New as well. And its this turning back to YHWH which seems to be foreshadowed by the nations call to repentance at the approach of a foreign invading army.

5. The judgment of the nations
Joel 3:1-8,11-12

In Num 25:17-18, 31:1-2, Israel avenged himself upon the Midianites after the matter of Baal of Peor. When Israel is restored, the Lords army, which was His instrument of judgment for a time, will be judged (see also the notes on Yom Kippur which deals with the need for a future fulfilment of the festival).

Just as the plague of locusts were miraculously removed from Israels land in the days of Joel, so too the nations armies will be rendered impotent as God, through Jesus, sits to judge the nations who sought to destroy Gods people (Joel 3:1-3,11-12).

God may use the unsaved to discipline His children, but that doesnt mean that theyll escape judgment themselves. Believers are protected by a God who cares for and protects them with a great jealousy. God restores their fortunes and renews the covenant when they turn to Him in their situation for forgiveness and healing.

6. The significance for the Festival of Trumpets

Joel 1:1-3 indicates that the prophecys fulfilment was for many days to come at the time that Joel received and proclaimed it. It wasnt a history book, a poetic account of what once happened in Israels past, for we find no such parallel in the history books of the Bible, but it caused the people of that generation to look forward (probably not with a great deal of excitement!) to a time when these things were to take place. Joel 2:1,15 records that the Israelites were to

Blow the trumpet [shophar] in Zion...

to announce to the nation that the time had come for repentance.

The Festival of Trumpets will therefore be fulfilled in the call to Israel to humble itself before its God through repentance and its subsequent forgiveness, healing and restoration. In addition to this, it will be a time when Israel will call upon the Lord to act as a Warrior on behalf of His people (corresponding to the remembrance aspect of the festival). As the festival was given to the Jews to observe, so too the fulfilment needs to be seen primarily in the context of that people - to move it out of the context in which it was given and to apply it to the Church represents a misunderstanding which many commentators have overlooked.

Therefore, as Paul wrote to the Roman christians concerning the Jewish people (Rom 11:25- 27) and which has been previously quoted above
to understand this mystery, a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel will be saved