At what time the prophet Joel preached is therefore uncertain, because he does not remember in the title of the kings at whose time he lived. But if the content of his prophecy is diligently examined, then we find not insignificant indications, which we follow, and want to believe that he lived after the prophet Isaiah, and that Isaiah was older. First of all, Joel does not remember the kingdom of Israel, as Hosea and Isaiah do. Therefore, we consider that the kingdom of Israel had already been disturbed by the king of Assyria, and the ten tribes had been taken away, when Joel began to preach. Second, he clearly indicates that he is speaking of the destruction that would come at the hands of the Babylonians and the tribe of Judah. For he remembered the house of the Lord, which alone was at Jerusalem, and said, Let the meat offering and the drink offering be taken away. Although he does not name any kings, we assume that he lived in the last days of King Hezekiah or under Manasseh.
But as far as the content of his sermons is concerned, it is almost the same as in the prophets Hosea, Amos and Isaiah. For he threatens that destruction will come at the hands of the king of Babylon, and urgently exhorts to repentance and prayer. For this is the right place of refuge; if we flee thither, we shall be preserved, even in the midst of dangers. Today the Church is in danger in many ways. The godless Mahomedans are fighting against us with great success, and we are in no less danger from the pope and his followers. For with this they are going about, with great effort, after many and various perfidies, that under the appearance of a council, which is set up to settle the cause of religion, 1) the kings and princes are arming themselves against our poor churches, which have rejected the papal idolatry and have accepted the true doctrine of the Gospel. With these evils, what could the churches do for a
1) This also seems to refer already to the Tridentine Conciliar.
What more useful doctrine, or what richer consolation, can be held up than the sermons of Joel? He exhorts his people most diligently to repentance. He prescribes the way they should use when praying to God in such great dangers, he adds excellent consolations of God's mercy and His inexpressible patience or long-suffering.
But because these godly and necessary exhortations were despised by the people (just as today we almost cry ourselves hoarse, but in vain, that our people should limit their excessive expenditure, that they should help the church more generously, that they should beware of annoyances and by their example also accustom others to the fear of God), the prophet turns to the holy remnant, which the common misfortune would, as it were, sweep away at the same time as a great flood of water. He preaches about the kingdom of God, which is to be spread in the whole world through the gospel; he teaches about the benefits of Christ, that he will give the Holy Spirit; he prophesies about new and different services than those under the law, and says that they will have different rewards. He says: "Now those are considered God's people who are circumcised in the flesh, who sacrifice oxen, who offer drink offerings, but then it will happen that "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Finally, he adds the exhortation to all Gentiles to willingly bow their necks under the gospel, for it will come to pass that those who do not believe the gospel will be eternally damned.
This is the summa of Joel's sermons, and it has earned him no small reputation that Peter, in the first sermon of the New Testament [Acts 2:16 ff] about Christ, the Son of God, who suffered and rose again, used the testimony of this prophet against the ungodly slander of the wicked, who blasphemed the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, we also rightly undertake the interpretation of these sermons, which are so suitable for our times and highly necessary to comfort the afflicted congregations. May the Son of God, who sits at the right hand of the Father, also rule us by his Spirit, that we may speak what is good, and may win the hearts of many people.
that through the reading of this prophet we may be awakened to the fear of God and learn in these sorrowful times that God is in truth gracious and merciful, patient and of great kindness, repentant even of the evil which He has planned for us because of our sins. Amen.