Introduction
The Biblical prophets knew that everything is
temporary in our world. In every event threatening the lives of the people,
they saw the coming of the Lord who judges this world in order to establish
the final world.
Joel speaks when the land is invaded by locusts. The people are looking at
their ruined fields and their lost crops. Joel looks beyond: The day of
Yahweh is exceedingly great, terrible and dreadful ¨C who can endure it?
Along with the promise of freedom from this plague, God also promises a
happy age in which there will be neither grief nor fear. A day is announced
when God will give the Spirit of the prophets to all his children: for the
church, Joel is the prophet who announced Pentecost, as Peter said on that
day (see Acts 2:17).