This illustration of the Day of the Lord can only be described as intense. Joel uses the metaphor of the plague of locusts and drought as the backdrop of God’s call for the repentance of His people.
One thing is clear from this chapter: God will judge His enemies and bless the faithful. God requires repentance and obedience from His people. In chapter two, we see Joel admonishing God’s people, possibly because of their indifference: “rend your hearts, and not your garments (2:13)”. God expects His people to return to Him, surrendering everything and seeking His will for their lives.
Although terms of darkness and thick clouds are prevalent in this chapter, it is not all doom and gloom: the reaffirmation of God’s covenant with His people is what God is seeking after. As surely as there is judgement and retribution, there will also be fruitfulness, blessings and prosperity: in essence, the judgement leads to the blessing.
So we see here that God is ever gracious as even in the midst of judgement, there is an opportunity given to repent. God always stands ready to forgive, He will always leave the ninety-nine for the one (Matthew 18:12) but every man, woman and child is to account for themselves from the old to the young. So as you go forth into this week, carry the final words of this chapter with you.
“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32)