Despair and Deliverance in the Day of the Lord The book of Joel bears witness to the rhetorical power of prophetic literature. Through its vivid imagery, this book guides its audience through visions of devastation and terror that lead to promises of restoration and hope. This journey also provides Joel with the opportunity to articulate elements of YHWH’s relationship with his people. Joel evokes a sense of threat through the imagery of a destructive locust plague, a drought,