There are a few images that I did find slightly striking. All in all I feel like the beginning of the book is slightly depressing BUT not all of it is depressing.
The first image that I see is that of locusts and bugs destroying all that God’s people have. The elders talk about having never seen anything like it. All the oil is gone. The wine, it too is no more. All the people are sad and morn. Joel, told the drunkards to awake and weep. Even the drunks are sad because of the famine and drought. In my opinion it is because they finally were sobered up because of the lack of wine. (Joking)
One other image that is just after that is that of Joel calling God’s people into a fast, that shouldn’t be too hard. Now all they have to do is focus on God more, seeing as how they have no food. An image of fire burning up everything ensues. The pastures, the wilderness, even the vineyards are decimated from the flames. There was talk about all the herds of the field wandering aimlessly due to the fact that all the pastures were gone. “How the beasts groan!” what a terrible image indeed
Finally an image of hope. Joel talks about an image of God sending fresh grains and oils. He says that the people will be satisfied with them in full with them. He also talked about how God would send all the enemy armies away. He was going to send the north army into what is basically the desert, and other armies into the seas. The pastures would be turned green and all hope would not be lost. Joel calls all the different types of locusts his army. He said that he would make up for the years that the army ravaged the land.
The lord will take care of his people and that is for sure.
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