“Return to Yahweh!
Your God!
He is gracious!
He is merciful!
He is slow to anger!
He is abounding
In steadfast love!
He relents
From punishing.
Who knows
Whether he will not turn?
Who knows
Whether he will not relent?
Leave a blessing
Behind him!
Leave a grain offering!
Leave a drink offering
For Yahweh!
Your God!”
Joel continued with the same theme. They should return to Yahweh. Joel used the ancient words about God as gracious and merciful, since Yahweh was slow to get angry. He was abounding in steadfast love. He did not punish easily. Will he return? Will he relent? Your best shot was to leave a blessing, like a grain or drink offering for Yahweh, their God. Clearly, Joel was tied to the Temple, since he considered the grain and drink offering as a blessing.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 