Book of Joel Chapter 1 Vs. 14

 A Call to Repentance

Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, Joel 1:14

Sanctify ye a fast] Sanctify—used three times in Joel:

1. Sanctify a fast (Joel 1:14).

2. Sanctify a fast (Joel 2:15).

3. Sanctify the congregation (Joe 2:16).

The use of the word here, as in all other places in Scripture, indicates setting something apart for a sacred use. Removing what is sometimes called "the old man" is not the idea, as can be seen, for fasts and many other things mentioned in the Bible as being sanctified do not have such to be "taken out." The prophet called the priest to take action, first by example (verse 13), and then by proclamation (verse 14). As the official leaders, it was their duty to proclaim a public fast so that the entire nation could repent and petition the Lord to forgive and restore. Here they were admonished to “consecrate” a fast, denoting its urgent, sacred character.

a solemn assembly... A solemn assembly was a day of restraint, a religious and political gathering of a serious nature (Joel 2:15; 2Ki. 10:20; 2Ch. 7:9; Neh. 8:18; Isa. 1:13). Here it was a call to cry to God for mercy and deliverance. Directives for calling an assembly, generally for uncontrollable purposes (2Chr. 7:9; Neh. 8:18), are given (in Num. 10:3). Parallel in thought to “consecrate a fast,” no work was permitted on such days (Lev. 23:36; Num. 29:35; Deut. 16:8).

The fast was used to show the LORD the sincerity of the prayer being prayed. The assembly was not to be one of joy, but sorrow. This is a call of prayer by all of the inhabitants of the land to reach God. The leaders and the ministers were probably, remembering the following Scripture.

2Chr. 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

A call to repentance

The priests were told not only to mourn (Joel 1:13) but also to call a sacred assembly at the temple for all the people. The nation was to fast and cry out to the Lord. Fasting was often associated with repentance (cf. 1Sam. 7:6; Neh. 9:1-2; Jon. 3:5). The attitude that was to accompany this outward act is emphasized in Joel 2:12-17.