Albert Barnes Commentary Joel 1:16

"Is not the food cut off before our eyes, [yea], joy and gladness from the house of our God?" — Joel 1:16 (ASV)

Is not the meat cut off before our eyes? The prophet presents the immediate judgment as if it were already actually fulfilled. He sets it in detail before their eyes: when the fruits of the earth were ripe, the grain calling for the reaper, and the grapes fully ripe and ready to be pressed, they were taken away when set before their eyes for them to enjoy. Indeed, joy and gladness from the house of our God. The joy in the abundant harvest was expressed in universal thanksgiving to God by heads of families, sons, daughters, male servants, female servants, with the priest and Levite. All this was to be cut off together. The courts of God’s house were to be desolate and silent, or joy and gladness were to be turned into sorrow and wailing.

So it happened to those who rejected and insulted Christ. The Bread of life Which came down from heaven and gave life to the world (John 6:48, 51), the grain of wheat, which fell into the ground and died, and brought forth much fruit (John 12:24), that spiritual wine which knows how to gladden the heart of man, was already in a way before their eyes. But when they did not cease to insult Him in unbelief, He, so to speak, disappeared from their eyes, and they lost all spiritual sustenance. All share in all good is gone from them.

Joy and gladness have also gone from the House which they had. For they are given up to desolation, and abide without king or prince or sacrifice (Hosea 3:4). Again, the Lord said, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which comes forth out of the Mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

The word of God then is food. This has been taken away from the Jews, for they did not understand the writings of Moses, but to this day the veil is upon their heart (2 Corinthians 3:15). For they hate the oracles of Christ.

All spiritual food has perished, not in itself but to them. To them, it is as if it were not. But the Lord Himself imparts to those who believe in Him a right to all exuberance of joy in the good things from above.

For it is written, The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; but He thrusts away the desire of the wicked (Proverbs 10:3).