Chapter 1

1:18-20 - The animals are perplexed and cry out to God after he torments them by burning their food and drying up the rivers.

* The animals were made by God.  Therefore, it is wholly possible for them to cry to their Maker for help.

Chapter 2

2:1 - "The day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand." Is every really bad day the "day of the Lord"? And is it always "nigh at hand"?

* Joel is speaking about the judgment of the Lord.

2:13 - God is "merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness." Really? Is this the same god who orders Saul to slaughter "both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass" in 1 Sam.15:2-3?

* God gave the Amalekites about 400 years to repent.  However, this wicked and pagan people rejected God and would not trust Him.  The Creator God waited a long time, then deemed it appropriate to judge the Amalekites.

2:25-26 - God says he will repay Israel for the damage the locusts caused -- which he sent! And they will "praise the name of the Lord."

* The locusts were part of God's judgment on the Israelites for their wickedness.  After they repented and obeyed Him, He promised to restore them.

2:31 - "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood." These "signs" were a lot more impressive before the causes of solar and lunar eclipses were understood.

* This is a prophetic statement (and likely, one using symbolism).

2:32 - "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered." But Jesus denies this in Mt.7:21.

* In Matthew 7:21, this Greek word for "saith" is referring to idle words and surely not trusting, believing, and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Note that Matthew 7:21 is in the middle of a sermon by Jesus Christ that included information about deceivers and people who didn't truly love Him.

* In Acts 2:21, Peter is reciting a prophecy by Joel.  This Greek word for "calls" clearly refers to "invoking worship and declaring one's testimony."

Chapter 3

3:3 - A boy is "given for a harlot" and "a girl for wine."

* These are some of the terrible things that happened in the Jews' captivity.

3:4 - God says vengeance is only okay if he's exacting it.

* God warns people who are at war with Him.  He will judge them.

3:8 - God plans to "sell your sons and your daughters."

* This is a prophecy of judgment.  It was fulfilled by Alexander.

3:10 - God commands you to "prepare for war" by beating "your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears."

* Verse 10 is a challenge to the enemies of God.

3:16 - The Lord will roar and the heavens and earth will shake.

* This is correct.

3:17, 21 - Where does God live?

* God is omni-present.  In these verses, God is emphasizing that "He dwells in Zion" because he wants the wicked (and all others) to know that He is with Israel.