Joel 2:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just as a restless servant calms herself and regains her proper demeanor upon seeing her master, so too did the bodily nature, which had been unsettled and laid low, restore itself to its original grace and order when it beheld its Master approach. This transformation occurred in a single command, as these were not merely spoken words but the actions of God, who is described as ‘the mighty doer of His word’ (Joel 2:11). If He has the power to create a human being from nothing, then surely He can rehabilitate and restore the disturbed and weakened individual.

The Lord will raise His voice in the presence of His might; how immense is His army, how powerful are the works of His commands. For the day of the Lord is indeed great, and radiant. I have previously stated that the role of the prophet is to illustrate the intensity and severity of the disaster, so that those who have wronged the Lawgiver through their avoidance of the prophet may now turn towards a longing to do good and embrace wiser thoughts. The overwhelming trials can, in a way akin to force, guide some towards actions that please the One who is capable of saving and delivering.

Moses designated the beginning of time not simply as the first day but referred to it as one day (Gen. 1:5), implying that this day, through its very title, connects to the concept of eternity. It is fittingly categorized as one day, indicating a distinct character that sets it apart from all other days. While Scripture speaks of numerous ages, often referencing The age of ages and the ages of ages, it does not specify the first, second, or third age. This suggests that we can better appreciate the diversity of conditions and the variety of experiences rather than the constraints, conclusions, and unfolding of time. As it is proclaimed, Great is the day of the Lord (Joel 2:11), and splendid.

The Lord will raise His voice in the presence of His might. Through His prophets, the Lord will announce these judgments in advance so that people may turn back and avoid their consequences. Consider the greatness of His army, for the Assyrian forces were truly formidable, divinely prepared to discipline the obstinacy of His people.

In the beginning, as indicated in Genesis 1:5, the terms used for the second day, third day, and all subsequent days cannot be merely defined as such. Scripture acknowledges that the term ‘day’ encompasses both daytime and nighttime, implying that a day spans twenty-four hours. Just as the fruit born from seeds is initially gathered and organized by women and then tied into bundles, so too are the days accounted for, while the characteristics of the nights are assessed. The cycle of the sun is singular, making a day one complete entity. Likewise, some may refer to a week as one day since it is made up of seven days; thus, one day echoes back to itself seven times. A circle, in its very essence, is a shape that originates from itself and returns to itself.

It is quite plausible that this is the case. The Prophet refers to thunder as a voice, and we have witnessed solar and lunar eclipses on more than one occasion; the stars can occasionally be cloaked in darkness, and the earth may experience the fury of God. However, this can also be interpreted differently, as those who are afflicted by misfortunes seem to dwell in a sort of gloom. They remain unaware of the state of the heavens, do not assume that the earth is stationary, nor recognize that light signifies day and its absence indicates night; to them, all appears utterly contradictory. To this, the Prophet adds that the works of His words are exceedingly powerful, meaning that every word of God is fulfilled in reality; when God speaks, it is immediately brought to pass.

Our Lord and Redeemer, through His prophet, calls us and guides us on how we should approach Him after committing numerous wrongs. He invites us, saying, ‘Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker’ (Psalm 94:6) and further admonishes, ‘Return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning’ (Joel 2:12). As we reflect on the sacred days of the holy Quaternity, dear brethren, we recognize that they symbolize the essence of our existence, just as the day of Resurrection signifies everlasting joy.