Joel 2:28-32; Ac. 2:14-21, The Promised Covenant (3)

Today’s passage is from Joel, and it was quoted by Peter as an introduction to his sermon on the day of Pentecost.  Peter said, on that day, that what was happening was what Joel had prophesied.  The outpouring of the Spirit. 

Joel said this would happen “afterward” (v28).  After what?

·       First, in Ch. 1, Joel prophesied a coming locust plague in Israel, an event so terrible that he refers to this as “the day of the LORD” and is said to be “at hand” (1:15).

·       Then the prophet announced another coming “day of the Lord” (2:1-11), a time of judgment and refining for Israel, a terrible time.  Some who read this say he is still talking about the coming plague.

·       Because that day is coming, Israel is called to repentance (2:12-17). 

·       Once that call to repentance is heeded they will be restored in the land (2:18-27).  

·       Then the LORD says through Joel, “Afterward … I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” (v28a).  The result of this for Israel is that her sons and daughters would prophesy, etc. (v28b-29).  Also, there would be signs in the sky (v30-31) “before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.”  And lastly, “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (v32) because deliverance shall have come to Zion, the deliverance promised to the remnant of Israel.

This “day of the LORD” (whether the locust plague or the future terrible day) seems to be designed for Israel, to chasten them and cleanse them to be the saved remnant.  But Joel 3 indicates that it also involves the nations.  The nations will be gathered to Israel (3:2) for judgment, called “the day of the LORD” (v14).  The “day of the LORD” speaks of various events in Israel’s history but also refers to an ultimate “day” that is still future.

The question we ask is, what was Peter saying when he quoted Joel in full in Acts 2:16-21?  He says, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel (2:16).  Acts does not tell us there were many Jewish people prophesying and seeing visions and dreaming dreams on that day.  Nor are we told there were wonders in the heavens.  What Peter is referring to is in v17: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Aspects of Joel’s prophecy are still out in the future.  Israel did not become the saved nation on that day.  Peter says this in his “invitation”: repent … be baptized … and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off as many as the Lord our God will call (2:38-39).  The complete fulfillment is still future.  It is by the Holy Spirit that Joel said “afterward” these things would happen.  He did not use the familiar prophetic formula, “in that day.”  The Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, but Israel as a nation still rejected the invitation of the Apostles as they had rejected Christ’s invitation.  There was 70AD and there has been 2000 years gone by in the time of special blessing on the Gentiles.  But Joel’s full prophecy will be fulfilled: all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26).