Great destruction has come upon God’s land and the people are swallowed up by the enemy, who ruthlessly and violently strips and devours, frothing at its lips in hysterical sadistic pleasure.
The temple is desolate; the fields are a wasteland. There is no growth, no grain totend, thresh, or harvest for the nourishment of the children because the seeds shrivel out in the ground and dry out before they can begin to germinate. There are no grapes that blossom in season and to be treaded for the rejoicing of the people. There are no olives budding on the trees, no plucking and pressing of olives to make the fragrant oil. The herds of once flourishing cattle and sheep now starve for want of food in restless groaning. Everywhere you turn, you see broken-down barns, homes in ruins, the people restless, wandering, hungry, and bereaved.
It’s a sign from God. Everywhere that everyone goes, the message is there, from the farmer to the priest, from the vinedresser to the merchant, from the prophet to the mother at home – life has come to a dreadful standstill and the future is torn from their grasp.
“Sure joy has withered away from the sons of men”. (Joel 1:12c)
God has withheld even the offerings of the temple. The priests, the ministers, what ought they to do?
And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him: 'I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for a house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; if My people, upon whom My name is called, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’ (2Ch 7:12-14 JPS)
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