The notorious desert locust lives in about 30 countries, but migration and wind help it travel much farther. One-tenth of the world’s population is at risk of locust plagues. In Africa today, a swarm can pack 40–80 million desert locusts into less than half a square mile. Each one is able to eat its weight in plants each day!
The prophet Joel drew a horrifying picture of what such devastation looks like. Today’s passage opens by calling the nation to mourning (v. 8). How severe is the grief? The “virgin in sackcloth” image means it’s like an engagement that didn’t lead to marriage. What’s the reason for such sorrow? The prophet gives two pictures. The first is of the dead spiritual life of Israel (v. 9). No offerings were being made at the temple. There was no work for the priests, who were lamenting (and hungry). The second picture is of the dead physical life of Israel (v. 10). The fields were ruined, the harvests destroyed. Even the ground was in mourning. There was no new wine or olive oil. The locusts—pictured as a “mighty army”—followed by drought, had left nothing (see vv. 4–7).
“Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers” continued Joel (v. 11). The desolation was complete. Grape vines, fig trees, pomegranate trees, palm trees, apple trees—nothing remained. The people’s joy had “withered away” as well (v. 12). None of this was an accident. What had happened was a judgment from the Lord. The prophet’s descriptions were intended to call the people to repentance (see Joel 1:14 and 2:12–17). If they would turn from their sin, He would bless them again with grain, new wine, and olive oil (Joel 2:19). What a sobering reminder of our own need for confession and repentance before God.
Go Deeper
How often do you practice the spiritual disciple of confession? Is God drawing your attention to a sin of which you or your family need to repent?
Pray with Us
King Jesus, we grieve for the sins we have committed. In humility, we confess them to You. Please forgive us and bring restoration to our hearts and souls.
The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed.Joel 1:10
