Work Cited

Crenshaw, James. "A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary." Joel. 1st. 1. New York: Doubleday, 1995. Print

Hubbard, David. Joel & Amos. Dowerns Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1989. Print.

Joel Interpretation

Though the entire book of Joel is something I enjoyed reading, for my interpretation I am going to focus on Chapter 2 verses 18-32. During my initial reading of Joel earlier in the semester I found the first part depressing, but the second part uplifting. I came to realize through further reading there is so much more this prophetic book has to offer. I guess that is true with any piece of literature. To really grasp the fullness of Joel, I had to read and reread. I also consoled the aid of several books including The Anchor Bible on Joel, the Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, and Introduction and Commentary for Joel and Amos.

Judah, the setting for the book, is devastated by a vast horde of locusts. This invasion of locusts destroys everything—the fields of grain, the vineyards, the gardens and the trees. Joel symbolically describes the locusts as a marching human army and views all of this as divine judgment coming against the nation for her sins. The book is highlighted by two major events. One is the invasion of locusts and the other the outpouring of the Spirit. The initial fulfillment of this is quoted by Peter in Acts 2 as having taken place at Pentecost. This summary was provided by gotquestions.com.

From my discernment, the book is divided into two main sections; The invasion and devastation of the locusts, and the coming of the Spirit. There are several themes; however the common theme that Joel seems to be centered on is the ‘day of YHWH’. (Crenshaw 47) After reading it several times more, I can see that Joel uses present day threats and catastrophe in Judah of the locust to better describe the future day of the Lord. He calls his people to repent and turn to God. The second half of the book, the part I am focusing on, is the Divine speech. This speech proclaims the restoration of the plague-damaged land of Judah. I am captivated by the use of metaphors and descriptive language in this prophetic word. For example verse 20 says “But I will remove the northern army from you, and I will drive it into a parched and desolate land, and its vanguard into the eastern sea…” The army being described could be the swarms of locusts that caused such great misery, although locusts usually approach from the east or southeast. (Crenshaw 151) I have done some reading of these scholarly writings and interpretations of Joel, and I am fascinated to realize how timeless scripture truly is. I am truly awed by the hope and elegant poetry that this book has, although it starts of depressing if you will. I chose to focus on this section because this is the turning point for the book of Joel. This now turns to the prophesy by Joel, the promise of better days, and the Day of the Lord.

Afterward in verse 28 does not specifically point to end times, but rather just establish the chronological sequence between the two stages. (Hubbard 68) “The difference between the two stages is not that the first is material and the second spiritual but the first is the restoration of old damage and the second is the inauguration of a new era in God’s dealing with his people.” (Hubbard 68) I find that we may often miss the point if we are reading for information or to cross it off the to-do list. I have really realized the importance of slowing down and rereading. Although lectio divina is a wonderful exercise, I think some key information can be missed without seeking expert commentary. Granted, there are some very liberal commentaries that take things a little too literal. I have spent the last week in these three chapters of Joel and got so many answers, however there are so many questions still. I guess it is like Corrigan said that questions that require answers are not deep enough; rather questions you must sit with and wrestle with are questions that will give you a better answer.

The exercise we did for class was one of the times I questioned professor Corrigan’s teaching methods. However, I was quickly silenced the next day when we brought our paintbrushes and supplies to class. The painting I did was mediocre at best, but it really brought the literature to life. If I got the most out of a single exercise it would be the painting of the scene of Joel, it focused on a specific portion of Joel. It is kind of like every piece of literature. To really understand, I must sit with the text and engulf myself in it.

To wrap things up, Joel can be interpreted in several ways but from my best reading and rereading and lectio divina study of the book; this is the best I could come up with. It was also helpful to console the help of James Crenshaw and David Hubbard. I am no expert on interpreting Old Testemement text’s, so those two were very helpful. I took from this prophesy that no matter what destruction or heartache you may be experiencing, the Lord will soon rescue you. For it says in Joel chapter 2 verse 32 “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered…

PASS

I am using my second Pass! I forgot about the blog that was due today.

Today I took a trip to the Alliance for Independence, an educational and skills facility to help people with a range of mental disabilities. It brought me so much joy to see people with disabilities making the most of what they have. It frustrates me to see and hear fully functioning people complain about life, and how terrible it can be when they have full mobility of their mind. I believe this trip helped me connect with the text that parallels this field trip. I pictured Lucien as J.B., the snack counter employee. It was awesome to see them making some money with either the snack bar or employee benefit packages for Publix. I seemed to realize the need for government funding, because apparently there are some days that they do not get to come to AFI due to lack of transportation. There facilities were functional, but definitely use some improvements. I though it was funny that all of Professor Corrigan's questions related to government funding. I would not be opposed to giving them the money that they needed, but I know that money is not an unlimited resource. So when money is given to them, it must be taken away from somebody else who may need it. However, I really did enjoy this field trip. It brought this play to life. I am a very visual person. I learn better by seeing things, rather imagining their voice and movements. It was great to have that opportunity today. I think it will be interesting to see the play The Boys Next Door at Theater Winter Haven. It was the first piece of literature that I would have read, watched, and experienced. I would like to volunteer, however the process is fairly extensive. so she recommended coming to the big events, because the volunteer training is very minimal. Overall, this was a great personal experience and literary experience.

quick sketch

I wish we could have taken camera's in, but this is a rough sketch of the painting i wrote a poem on. You will probably see the real thing and just laugh at mine. in my defense i only had a blue pen, and nothing to draw on... the colored in part is supposed to be a shadow...

Day at the Museum and Poem

"I went to the Polk Museum of Art for this assignment, and I stayed there for at least 40 minutes." I actually stayed for a little over an hour. I had my favorite parts, as well as my not so favorite parts. I did not care fore the Central American art, although I did successfully put the puzzle together. I was amazed at the high school section. They had incredible paintings, photographs, and watercolor paintings. I wrote my poem on an oil painting titled Glenn by Cory McCullough. It struck me the emotion that he was able to convey though the painting. I sat and stared at it for about 10 minutes, and found something new each moment. There was some art that I thought was just incredible the amount of time and effort it must have taken to complete it. For example, there were two puff paint painting that I just marveled at, only because I know how extremely difficult it is to work with puff paint. There was also a painting next to those that was painted on hand made paper. How in the world would you make paper, and why would you want to? The upstairs was pretty cool too. Except the pottery lying on the ground, I wanted to turn it right side up every time I looked at it. I really enjoyed the pictures of the families all around the world. It made me realize how fortunate I am when some people’s future wish is to just stay alive. Overall it was a great experience that I had no idea I was so close too, and especially since it was free. I will probably go back when they have the other exhibit open. I went to the Dali Museum in St. Pete last year and it was great because there was a guide to explain some key points and figures in the paintings. It was larger than the Polk Museum, but it was a farther away.

A Hope to Cling to

Dark shadows over come

A boy in despair.

His eyes fixed upward

Perhaps to a father

Or a hope to cling to

His face screams a feeling of insignificants

A feeling of unworthiness.

Shadows darken the boys already black face

He seeks purpose, joy, strength.

He seeks a hope to cling to.

His eyes on the brink of tears,

Lips quiver

Ready to give up.

Fear is oppressing him.

Afraid to be noticed

Afraid of failing

Afraid of surrender

Seeking a greater cause

On the brink of collapse

Crushed by injustice of society

Desperate for a greater love

His heart screams out

“FATHER”

He finds new hope

Christ in you the hope of Glory

He clings to this hope.

"Constant Awareness"

While reading Darkness, Questions, Poetry, and Spiritual Hope there were several statements and quotations that struck me. Overall, the essay was very well written. It did not bring up questions with answers but rather questions with more questions. Which brings me to my first quote by Lawrence Freeman; “We should make sure we have truly heard the question, before trying to get the answer right… Important questions create silence.” I really pondered that statement and discovered that I do not like these questions. We are such an immediate gratification generation that sitting with question, really pondering a question is not on very high demand. I noticed that when I read slower, and read in search of questions, I tend to connect with the text on more of a personal level. On the other hand, when I read for understanding and answers, it becomes harder to understand transitively less enjoyable. Next is a quote from Thomas Merton who calls us “to live in constant awareness” of darkness. As a child I was very naïve to the darkness around me, and thought that my parents had a perfect marriage, and the world would always be looking out for my best interest. Once that false reality became apparent to me I could not avoid this “constant awareness”. I then became very pessimistic and thought there was no good left in the world. Thankfully today, that is not the case. I notice more and more each day the inherent beauty of all things; this beauty that is in every plant, and animal, and noise, and thought. Darkness isn’t really darkness at all, merely the absence of light. So as long as there is darkness in the world, our purpose (in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ) is incomplete, but one day God’s promise (bring heaven to earth) will be complete and darkness will cease to exist. I kind of got off a tangent there, but this essay really taught me to slow down, and grasp each moment of beauty or darkness. It taught me, whether intended or not, to not expect answers to come so easily, and search for meaning for myself.

Pass

Pass, I failed to remember my blog post. I plan on contributing more of my efforts next week.