Joel 2:1-11

The day of the Lord is great -- Joel 2:1-11: The trumpet was blown to warn the nation of danger and invasion. The warning was sounded in order that the people could tremble and make matters right with God before the day of the Lord came. The Lord was sending the locusts and He was also sending the army of Babylon. It would be a dark and gloomy day of destruction for Judah. Nothing like this had ever been seen before nor will it ever be seen again.

Word pictures are often very vivid. God said before the invasion the land was like Eden, after the invasion it looked like a burned, desolate wilderness. Israel had been a great country; now they faced a complete overthrow. This overthrow was inflicted as punishment for evil. The locust plague would be horrible. God said they look like horses and appear like a charging cavalry. They roar across the mountains like noisy chariots. Behind this mighty army it looked as if a forest fire had consumed everything.

The very appearance of both the locust and the Babylonian army would be a frightening. Neither walls nor barricades could hindrance these invading armies. They would climb over the walls and in rank continue their destruction. This army is so very destructive because it is the Lord army that He is using to chastise His rebellious people. The destruction was everywhere and it was total or complete devastation, in the city and in their homes. In a figurative way the prophet said, “They make the earth tremble and the heavens shake; the sun and moon turn dark, and stars stop shining." The day of the Lord was so terrible that none could withstand it.