The people of Judah had experienced a massive locust plague and a severe drought that had devastated the land. In the book of Joel, these twin disasters are used by the prophet as living illustrations of the wrath God would bring to the people for their persistent violation of the covenant. As bad as the locust and the drought had been, they were a mere foretaste of what was to come.
Joel announces the destruction will come due to disobedience and exhorts the people to repentance and prayer. Restoration will come to God's people, but only after judgment and repentance.
