What is the main theme of this text?

 

What does it mean to “rend your garments”?  What does it mean to “rend your heart”?  Why does Joel commend the latter over the former?

 

How in your life are you tempted to toward shallow, surface-level repentance? What can you do to ensure that your efforts at repentance are deep, and from the heart?

 

Joel 2:13 describes God as gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Do you find this easy to believe? Or difficult to believe? Why?

 

How can Joel’s words in this text serve to comfort those who are afflicted?

 

How can Joel’s words serve to afflict those who have become too comfortable?

 

According to the prayer that Joel instructs the priests to pray in 2:17, what is the ultimate reason why God saves His people? Why is this so important?