As a young person growing up in church I gave very little attention to the Old Testament prophets. They seemed confusing and irrelevant, but as I matured I began to wade into the waters of those mysterious books, captivated by their insightful metaphors, warnings, and promised restoration. From them, I grew a stronger sense of the heart and truth of God and His justice.

One of those minor prophets presents us with what has become a familiar and frequently used metaphor to depict loss, suffering, restoration, and celebration: ”I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.” (Joel 2:25) The prophet Joel served at a time when the people of God had returned from exile and life was being lived without an appointed king. In the first half of the book, Joel sets the stage with a metaphor of locust swarms destroying everything. Bleakness, death and dying were all around. Joel calls the people of God to learn from their past mistakes, repent, and come back to the Lord.

Focusing on what repentance should look like he calls out: “Rend your heart and not your garment. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:13) Joel wanted to impress on the people that merely going through the motions of repentance was not going to set anyone on the right path. However, if people are willing to exhibit heart-rendering sincere repentance, God “may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing.” (Joel 2:14). 

God’s holistic restoration and blessing moves beyond individual physical needs and includes spiritual, mental, emotional, social, and systemic brokenness. Moving his people to full restoration where brokenness is no longer present, God will deliver his people from injustice; he will be a refuge and stronghold, and his peace will reign.

As we step into this Advent season where we take time to remember & celebrate the arrival of the Light of Christ breaking forth in darkness so long ago, we are met with the reality that darkness is still very present today. Christ who is our peace, the one who joins together that which is broken, invites us to join him in his ongoing reconciliation of all things. (Col. 1:20) Even in our joining, we long for true peace, everlasting peace that comes from a just world. 

Coming to the understanding that we live in the mystery of a kingdom that has come, just not fully yet is challenging. We are so very hungry and thirsty for justice. (Matt 5:6) Yet, it is in this mysterious tension that we do the ongoing, life-giving work of justice and peace in the here and now, holding to the hope of a returning Christ who will end all darkness with His glorious Light. His justice will restore and redeem that which has been lost and we will see how His peace not only restores “the years the locusts have eaten” but together we will celebrate as he makes all things new. (Rev. 21:5)

Michelle Ferrigno Warren