There was this man named Joel...

 Eight hundred and fifty years before the Messiah was born in Bethlehem to identify with us in our human state, there was this man named Joel. He was a prophet in Israel and other than knowing his father's name, we know nothing of him.

 In this book of the Old Testament appropriately named Joel, his writing emphasized what his people had long forgotten. The people of this land known as Israel had long abandoned the written commandments of their God. They simply did not recognize the old and supposedly outdated laws. With the absence of His laws, this Jewish nation no longer sought after their God for direction. Federal laws, foreign policy, and plans for the future were not dependent on any blessings from above. Besides, they had forgotten the value of doing so.
 A drought existed in this land. It had been so long since the rains had come the crops were weak and producing little. If this was not enough of a threat to their economy and food for the inhabitants, the locusts came and destroyed the minimal crops that had survived. As a result, staples like grain and barley had to be purchased from neighboring countries, some of these were enemies to the nation of Israel. 

 Yet, this was only the beginning of sorrows for Israel and her people.

 Joel's mission in life was to remind his people to learn the ways of the Lord. If they would return to study and give respect to the Law of Moses and God's Mighty Commands, it would not be too late to turn this time of desperation around...and receive God's blessings once again.
 Joel also spoke of "The Day of the Lord", a time when if his people didn't make the necessary changes, God would remove His guard over them and leave them alone...until this day arrived.
 In the early verses of chapter two, Joel makes it clear God does not want his people to act like a bunch of "drama queens." He didn't want to see them simply ripping their clothes in sorrow. The reason being their sorrow was not because they were in repentance of rejecting God's Mighty Commands, they were only feeling sorry for themselves and the current conditions they were living in. Joel goes on to explain God was not after their torn clothing, He wanted their hearts!

                                                        A Gleaning from Joel 3: 28-32

" I will pour My Spirit on every nationality that opens their hearts to Me. You will then hear your sons and daughters speaking of things I will do for them in the future, the elders of the land will dream dreams I give to them, and the young men will have visions of My plans.
 Even the men and women who serve in menial lifestyles will find themselves made alive by My Spirit.

 Wonders in the skies will appear and violent scenes on earth. There will be blood and fire along with large billows and tall columns of smoke. The sun will become dark and the moon will cast a blood-red color. All this will be seen before this great and terrible "Day of the Lord" arrives.
 Yet, everyone who calls to the Lord for help...will get the help they need. The areas of Mount Zion and Jerusalem will experience a great rescue, among them the survivors whom the Lord has called. "

Note: Although this book is written by a man we know nothing about, it has been referenced in various circles for both warnings and outpourings of God's Spirit.  Joel's message was a message of hope amidst a national calamity. I personally think Joel was excited for his people to receive His Spirit if they gave their hearts to Him. The "Day of the Lord" is mentioned throughout the Sacred Scriptures. Judgment will always follow repentance. If Joel were alive today, I think he would read aloud the very words he had written centuries before.