Joel

  After rereading the book of Joel. I tried to find a common theme. As difficult as it was I think I may have found one. In the beginning He is talking about different kinds of locusts. After reading and analyzing the book a little further in detail, I feel as though I am able to come to the conclusion that he is metaphorically speaking about all of these different nations that took Israel into slavery. In Chapter 2 he quotes the Lord having said, "Then I will make up to you for the years, that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust." Calling it His great army sent against them. And then in Charpter 3 he talks about "...Tyre, Sidon and all the regions of Philistia." and then later, " and sold the sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks..."

   This is the main theme I found through out the book, even though it is incredibly short. Death and destruction, then a reviving of the life that was lost. The locusts come and eat everything and completely decimate the land. Just as the neighboring countries would come in and destroy the land that they called home and take them captive, making a profit by selling them into slavery.

   Chapter one is describing the scene created in a metaphorical nature. Chapter two emphasizes redemption and God's power and it's potency. Chapter three, seems to elaborate on both of these things by using a little more literal language. As we talked about in class on Tuesday, the bible is literally poetry. Maybe not always the way it sounds but the way it's written definitely presents a prose and common theme. Truth, and justice. What else is important enough to write 66 books about?
  
   If you haven't read Joel or Any of the other minor prophets, I would encourage you to read at least one before the year is over.