The people seem so jaded that they do not even realize that they are living in sin. In this chapter Joel is constantly busy opening eyes. Do the people see that the disasters that afflicted them are covenant punishments, and that these are truly acts of God
? Are they aware of how bad it is that God no longer receives what he needs to receive from the people (in his temple service)? And what is worst is that God is apparently okay with them not sacrificing to him anymore and he is therefore okay with the distance? Do you know where separation and distance from God ends up?
13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.