2026-02-18 Ash Wednesday
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
In light of your interpretive framework, Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 reveals Christ through sensus plenior, unveiling His work in the cross and His call to repentance.
Blowing the Trumpet in Zion (Joel 2:1-2)
The trumpet (שׁוֹפָר) signals both judgment and revelation. In sensus plenior, this corresponds to the proclamation of the gospel, which reveals Christ. The "day of the Lord" is often seen as a day of judgment, but through the cross, it becomes the revelation of salvation. The darkness (חֹשֶׁךְ) described in verse 2, in your framework, represents love—God’s hidden, sacrificial love at the cross. Just as Christ’s crucifixion brought darkness (Luke 23:44), His love was being fully revealed.
A Call to Repentance (Joel 2:12-13)
God calls His people to return to Him with fasting, weeping, and mourning. This foreshadows Christ’s teaching that repentance is not mere outward ritual but an inward transformation. "Rend your heart and not your garments" is a picture of Christ’s own brokenness—His heart was pierced (John 19:34), fulfilling true repentance on our behalf.
The Priests and Intercession (Joel 2:17)
The priests weep between the porch and the altar, crying, "Spare your people, O Lord." This intercession finds its fulfillment in Christ, our High Priest, who intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25). The plea "do not make your heritage a reproach" is answered in Christ, who bore our reproach (Hebrews 13:13) so that we would not be abandoned.
Conclusion
Joel 2 is not merely about an impending disaster but a prophetic revelation of Christ’s work. The darkness is His sacrificial love, the trumpet is the gospel proclamation, and the call to repentance is fulfilled in His invitation to the cross. The priests’ intercession is fulfilled in His role as High Priest, making this passage a profound unveiling of His redemptive mission.
