Joel

We finish up Hosea in the Bible Challenge this week; but we also tackle the book of Joel

We don't really know anything about Joel - even his name which means the Lord is God - seems to be designed as a part of God's message.  This book is set in Judah - the southern kingdom - during the time when that kingdom was under the strong influence of Persia (modern day Iran) - so sometime between 539 and 330 BC - probably later in that period.

Joel was familiar with the temple in Jerusalem and the worship there.  Joel may well have been a temple prophet - one whose ministry was bounded by service to the temple, either as a priest or as someone who spent a lot of time among the priests.

Joel calls the people to repentance and focuses on the coming of the day of the Lord and the judgement, but also the blessings that day will bring.