Joel.

        While reading the book of Joel I was struck with the realization that what I was reading was essentially poetry. Whenever I read the bible I normally never consider it artistic, or creative. I normally think of it as the book of rules, or the book of creation. When I read it this time I paid close attention to the way it sounded. I looked for rhythms in the scripture. I paid close attention to the repetition of words and the poetic symbolism. The text was stuffed with symbolic metaphors, and descriptive facts. While rereading the text, I highlighted any of the phrases that stuck out to me.

        The words and phrases I liked the most, purely based off of the sounds these words made when I read them aloud, were:

“What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; And what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten; And what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten.“

         This stuck out to me in particular because of the way it pours out of one’s mouth in repetition. I love the word locust. This may be odd to many, however I love the way that word is somehow sweet sounding. However, the meaning of the word is disgusting and dirty. Locusts are, and were considered one of the worst insects that existed. But the word locust somehow brings joy to my ears.

The other word that stuck out to me was the word “zealous.” But why? I can’t necessarily place my finger on why I love this word so much. I think just the way the word rolls off one’s tongue; it’s intriguing and beautiful. As I was reading this over and over again in the passage I thought to myself “what exactly does it mean?”

        After extensive research (google), I realized that zealous means: filled with or inspired by intense enthusiasm or zeal; ardent; fervent. So I read the phrase again inserting the definition into the place where the word was used.

        “Then the LORD will be [filled with intense enthusiasm] for his land and will have pity on his

         people.” 

This definition makes the phrase more exciting. The Lord will be FILLED with INTENSE enthusiasm for his land. This is moving to me.