Joel was written during the locust plague, a time of great distress for the people. The prophet sees in the devastation of the locusts an indication of the coming of the day of the Lord. Therefore all must repent with fasting and mourning. With repentance, however, there is a promise of relief and God’s blessing for Israel.

Joel 1

1:2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?