Joel 2:1-18

Joel 2:1-18 Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Ash Wednesday RCL Lectionary

Joel 2:1-18

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Evangelical & Reformed UCC
Waukesha, WI

Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
- Chapter VIII, Exhortation to the Greeks, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- On the Lapsed -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 251)
- Chapter XVI, Against Praxeas, Tertullian (c. 213)
- Epistle LI -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
- On the Advantage of Patience -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 256)
- Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
- John Calvin's Commentary on Joel.
  - "...it is yet our duty to learn from the Prophets what has always been the actual mode of proceeding among the people of God, and to labour as much as we can, that this may be known, so that when there shall come an occasion for a public repentance, even the most ignorant may understand that this practice has ever prevailed in the Church of God, and that it did not prevail through inconsiderate zeal of men, but through the will of God himself."
- From the Geneva Notes.
  - "Mortify your affections and serve God with pureness of heart, and not with ceremonies."
- From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
  - "It is the work of ministers to warn of the fatal consequences of sin, and to reveal the wrath from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men."
- From Wesley's Notes.
  - "And repenteth him - He turneth from executing the fierceness of his wrath."
- From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  - "Let there be the inward sorrow of heart, and not the mere outward manifestation of it by 'rending the garment'."
Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
- Commentary, Joel 2:12-17, Martha Simmons, The African American Lectionary, 2010.
  - "Judah has been crippled by an agricultural drought sent by God through locusts. So, they need literal rain. However, they and we need spiritual rain much more. This is the greatest gift that we can receive in spite of all of our other perceived needs."
- Locusts and Lent, Reflections on Ash Wednesday from Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, John C. Holbert, Patheos, 2011.
  - " We, like Israel in the time of Joel, are in need of repentance, for their lives and ours are far from the paths that God has established for us.
- Commentary, Joel 2:1-12, 12-17, Rolf Jacobson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
  - "Joel has confidence that ritual repentance can change the course of the history of God's people because he believes the old confessional formula: [God] is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, And relents from punishing. (2:13)."
- Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
- Desert Scribblings, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17. Geoff McElroy.
  - "Too often Lenten observance becomes an individual thing: what am I going to give up for Lent? How is my heart before God this Lenten season? But to restrict Lent to individual piety is to miss the words from the prophet Joel, that true repentance is something done together."
- "Turn Back to the Lord!" Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
  - "This short passage is a perfect introduction for the season of Lent."
Articles & Background:
- "'Return to Yahweh': Honor and Shame in Joel," Ronald A. Simkins, Semeia 68: Honor and Shame in the World of the Bible, 1994.
- "Letting the 'Bi-word' 'Rule' in Joel 2:17," James R. Linville, Journal of Hebrew Scriptures, 2005.
  - "The impasse between the two roots in Joel 2:17 can be solved by recognizing a double entendre or even identifying משׁל as a ?pivot? word. This polysemy has a role in the rhetoric of the passage and in the overall complexity and richness of Joel?s imagery."
Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
- Dozeman, Thomas B., "Inner-Biblical Interpretation of Yahweh's Gracious and Comopassionate Character," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1989.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Johnson, Susan B.W., "Remorse and Hope," The Christian Century, 1997.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Langerak, Ana, "Study of the Word: Joel 2 - New Creation," Mission Studies, 1993.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Patterson, Richard D., "The Imagery of Clouds in the Scriptures," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2008.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Safendorf, Thomas E., "Rend Your Heart: an Ash Wednesday Meditation," Journal for Preachers, 2009. (Sermon text, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Simkins, Ronald A., "'Return to Yahweh': Honor and Shame in Joel," Semeia, 1994.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Strong, John T., "Joel 2:1-2, 12-17: Between Text and Sermon," Interpretation, 1996.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Sermons:
Reviews:
With Children:
- "The Plague of Locusts," online computer java-based coloring pages from Grace Baptist Church of Feeding Hill.
Drama:
Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
Hymns and Music:
- Ash Wednesday Comes and, Lord, We Hear, Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Tune: TALLIS' CANON 8.8.8.8 (“All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night”), A new hymn based on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 was written for The Presbyterian Outlook magazine for Lent 2011 and available with the music.
- Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Joel 2:1, 12, 13. The Cyber Hymnal.
- Hymn Selections, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Joel
- Last Judgment
Movies Listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
Study Links and Resources for the Book of Joel

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