Joel has to go even further. Apparently, no priest or elder comes up with the idea of coming together with all to go to God in this distress. Joel needs to take the leaders by the hand and, as children of faith,
begin to teach them the ABCs of life with God again. More and more it becomes clear why God has come with his judgments. It will become even clearer in the rest of this book, but here the sin of the people already shines through the words of Joel, without him naming them specifically.
14 Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.