The book of Joel and the prophetic process

“Though divine discipline and human repentance are key to Joel’s vision of remedying sin, it is ultimately an appeal to God’s favor that encourages the people to repent. It is this appeal to God’s character that shows that the call to repentance is distinct from the call to communal lamentation: “It is motivated not by a reference to the calamity, but first by a reference to Yahweh’s character and will (v 13b), and second by the prospect of his future action (v 14)” (Wolff 1977: 40). God’s response is true to form as his zeal is aroused to spare his people from their present predicament and proclaim his plan to pour forth his Spirit on his people and bring judgment on the nations. Joel presents the proper function of the prophetic process.”—A Severe Mercy, pages 309