Third  Cut As far as I am aware, no consensus exists on the date of these oracles. Since I was in seminary, roughly at the time of the writing of Joel, a move has been made to conflate the minor prophets and refer to them as the book of the twelve.

 

1) A good bit of disagreement exists if the locust horde was a natural disaster or a symbol for an army of destruction. Either way, God will make recompense. All of this reverses the previous indicators of suffering.If it is a natural event, see the new book by Terence Fretheim on creation and natural disasters.

2) the abundance image fits this time of harvest.

3) Notice the repetition against being shamed, by what do you think?

4) Now we move into familiar Pentecost territory. since we see this being fulfilled at Pentecost where does this place us in the afterward of v.28

5) What do vv. 28-9 and 32 say about claims to religious exclusivity?

6) v. 31 seems out of place to me. It certainly is of a peace with Amos 5 and the blood curdling view of the Day of the Lord. Notice how it gets picked up in Mt, especially, during the crucifixion.

7) The old men dreaming dreams seems to me to be a a very good place to write a sermon about defying age's debilities.