Joel 2:1-27

Having thus dealt with the actual visitation and its terrible devastation, and having called the people into the place of humiliation, the prophet rose to a higher level, and interpreted the visitation as indicating a deeper and more terrible judgment threatening them. In doing this, he made use of the figure of the blowing of a trumpet.

The first blast sounded a note of alarm as it announced the approach of the Day of Jehovah. With the figure of the locusts still in mind, the prophet described the swift, irresistible, and all-consuming character of the armies which were about to come as the scourge of God, being careful to declare that this whole movement would be under the command of Jehovah. However, the prophet declared that God still waited in patience and mercy. If the people would return to Him, He would spare them.

The second blast of the trumpet called the people to assemble in repentance. The character of the assembly was to be that of a fast, and its constitution the actual gathering together of all the people, from the youngest to the oldest. Being assembled, they were to cry for mercy, the ultimate reason being that the nations should not say, "Where is their God?" To such an act Jehovah would respond in grace.