Introduction:

A locust invasion had devastated the land of Judah.  As Joel, the son of Pethuel, reflected on this calamity, the Word of the Lord came to him.  He became a great prophet proclaiming to his people the divine implications of this catastrophe.  The book which bears his name records Joel’s sermon upon this occasion.

The prophet describes the plague in terms of a human army which, moving on, leaves behind it a scorched earth (1:4 – 12; 2:2-10).  In this attack of insects, Joel knows God is at work.  Indeed, this is God’s army (2:11), and the day of its invasion is the Day of the Lord – the day of God’s judgement upon a sinful people (1:15; 2:1, 11).  The prophet urges the people to repent, and extends the hope theat God will relent and withdraw the judgement (1:14; 2:12 – 17).