Rend you heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:13 (Joel 1-3)
Judah had a child king, Joash. Athaliah, Jehoram’s widow and the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, desired to rule Judah. She killed her own offspring to assure her undisputed throne. However, one child was hidden, in the temple under sanctuary, until he is six years old. When Joash comes of age he repairs the once beautiful temple, but still accepts paganism and later has to use the wealth of the temple to pay off his enemies. The prophet Joel speaks to this time.
Famine, caused by a swarm of locust and a prolonged drought, was foretold by Joel and meant to humble the men of Judah. Joel warned of the coming punishment, but also begins to speak of a Christian era in which the Holy Spirit will come to all mankind and will be the sickle in a great harvest of souls.
Joel called the nation to repentance because God still loves His people and longs to rescue and restore them. In contrast, the Day of the Lord, God’s judgement, will be worse than this day of locust/judgement for those who refuse to repent. God does not want grand gestures. He seeks a broken and contrite heart that brings a newness of life. God is a jealous God, but He equips His children with all they need for victory.
Love,
Gretchen