Topical Bible: The Locust of Destructive Enemies

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The imagery of locusts as destructive forces is a recurring theme in the Bible, symbolizing devastation, judgment, and the overwhelming power of enemies. This metaphor is deeply rooted in the agrarian context of the ancient Near East, where locust swarms could obliterate crops and lead to famine, representing a tangible threat to survival and prosperity.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 10:12-15: The plague of locusts in Egypt is one of the ten plagues that God sent to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that locusts will swarm over the land and devour every plant in the fields, everything that the hail has left.' So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD directed an east wind on the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts; they invaded all the land of Egypt and settled in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again. They covered all the ground until it was black, and they devoured all that was left after the hail—everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt" . This event underscores the locusts as instruments of divine judgment and a demonstration of God's power over creation.

2. Joel 1:4: The prophet Joel vividly describes a locust invasion as a harbinger of the Day of the Lord, a time of divine judgment. "What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten" . This passage highlights the totality of destruction that locusts can bring, serving as a metaphor for the comprehensive nature of divine judgment against sin and disobedience.

3. Revelation 9:3-4: In the apocalyptic vision of John, locusts emerge as agents of torment during the end times. "And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads" . Here, locusts symbolize demonic forces unleashed upon the earth, emphasizing the spiritual warfare and trials faced by humanity.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In the biblical narrative, locusts are more than mere insects; they are emblematic of the destructive power of enemies, both physical and spiritual. They serve as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the inevitable judgment that follows. The locusts' ability to consume and devastate reflects the potential for sin and rebellion to bring about ruin and desolation.

The use of locust imagery also serves as a call to repentance and reliance on God's mercy and protection. In Joel 2:25, God promises restoration: "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you" . This assurance of restoration and redemption underscores the hope and renewal available through faith and obedience to God.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, locust swarms were a well-known and feared natural disaster. The sudden appearance of these insects could lead to widespread famine and economic hardship, making them a fitting symbol for the destructive power of enemies. The biblical authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit, utilized this imagery to communicate profound spiritual truths about judgment, repentance, and divine sovereignty.

The locusts' role as agents of divine judgment and their association with enemy forces serve as a powerful reminder of the need for vigilance, faithfulness, and trust in God's providence. Through the lens of Scripture, the locust becomes a symbol of both warning and hope, urging believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to God amidst the trials and tribulations of life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joel 1:6,7
For a nation is come up on my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the cheek teeth of a great lion.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joel 2:2-9
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread on the mountains: a great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Defence of the Council's Phrases, "From the Essence," and "One in ...
... Now the aforesaid grovelling phrases of Christ's enemies have been ... that the caterpillar
and the locust are called ... and one in essence,' are destructive of those ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/chapter v defence of the councils.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... had but lately ventured upon destructive plundering expeditions ... and of judgment upon
their enemies begins. ... according to him, the migratory locust, which visits ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

The Seven Trumpets.
... renders it so much the more terrible and destructive. ... a foreign foe: and from thence
new enemies arose to ... servants of God, and that these locust-warriors were ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the seven trumpets.htm

The Second vision "On Earth"
... Arbah in Hebrew means a locust. ... carried out in face of the opposition of more formidable
enemies. ... no refutation, for they are all mutually destructive of one ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the second vision on earth.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... or a native of Pontus to eat a locust, and he ... For nothing is so destructive to the
mind as a full ... evening, and until he had avenged himself upon his enemies. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... astonishment, and quailing of heart, as it doth among the implacable enemies (Joshua
2:8 ... she is and hath been of old a rebellious city, and destructive to kings ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm