Theme - Joel wrote his prophecy at a time when natural calamities had fallen upon Western Asia: successive plagues of insects, particularly, one of locusts; and a severe drought blighting Palestine and surrounding countries (Ch. 2:23,25). Joel interprets these plagues as tokens of divine chastenings for the sins of the nation and calls upon the people to repent. He further takes these plagues as an occasion for certain prophecies concerning the destruction of Israel, her restoration, and the certainty of God's judgments upon the whole world.

Even as a prophet of divine judgment against sin, Joel's message is filled with optimism and promises of triumph of the righteous. The ultimate hope of mankind is in the Messianic kingdom, and his great distinctive prophecy relates to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church of Christ fulfilled on the first Pentecost after the crucifixion and resurrection of the Saviour.

Outline - The book may be divided into three main sections: I. The Plague of Insects and Drought (1) II. The Day of the Lord with Its Judgments and Blessings (2:1-3:8) III. Retrospect of the Day of the Lord (3:9-21)