Joel 1:1-15 - "It's Happening Again"

We are beginning our study from the book of Joel. The overriding theme of the Book of Joel is the Day of the Lord, a day of God’s wrath and judgment. It's importance to the canon of Scripture stems from its being the first to develop this oft-mentioned biblical theme. While Obadiah mentioned the terrifying event first (Obadiah 15), Joel’s book gives some of the most striking and specific details in all of Scripture about the day of the Lord—days cloaked in darkness, armies that conquer like consuming fire, and the moon turning to blood. Rooted in such vibrant and physical imagery, this time of ultimate judgment, still future for us today (2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10), makes clear the seriousness of God’s judgment on sin. The prophet Joel delivers a message about a horrific locust infestation that has descended upon Judah, stripping the land bare and causing widespread famine. He describes the complete destruction of crops and vineyards, leaving the people with nothing to harvest or offer as sacrifices.The chapter progresses into a call for mourning and lament, urging the priests, farmers, and drunkards alike to acknowledge the severity of the situation and plead for God’s mercy. Joel concludes by calling for a solemn assembly and a time of fasting to appease God’s wrath.