Exposition on Joel -27- Verse 18

     Like the young children of a home broken apart by the adulterous acts of their parents, the innocent beasts and sheep are both are affected by the nation’s adulterous nature. They neither brought this curse on themselves by their disobedience, nor do they benefit from God’s blessing by their obedience, but they too feel the devastation brought on the land by the invader inflicting God’s justice. Calvin is sharp to point out that the prophet likely intends to make an insulting comparison. Joel has made a great effort to call the calloused people of God to cry out for mercy, and though he persists, it was the beasts of the field and the sheep who cried out, and Joel uses them as an example. The people, in Joel’s view, are too dense to see their folly or they are too proud to admit it even if they are convinced. With groaning, wandering and desolation the animals, given to the people who were stewards over them, suffer the pain and death due to the sin of their masters. Like an unruly monarch or a negligent governing body, with every poor decision they ask the people they rule or serve to suffer the consequences of their actions. Most likely, the people would have cried out about the injustices of the ruling class before their leaders would have repented.