God Blesses His People
December 14, 2019
Commentary
Joel lists four significant events toward which history has long been pointing: (1) The assembling of troops (vv. 9-11). Tools are turned into weapons as the nations assemble for battle (v. 10). The Lord destroys his enemies like a farmer harvesting his grain. (2) The judgment of the nations (vv. 12-14). The time for mercy has passed. Those to be judged will be almost numberless but the judgment given out will be precise and complete. (3) The signs in nature (v. 15). The sun moon and stars will withdraw their light and darkness will cover the earth. Something momentous is about to happen. (4) The returning Deliverer (v.16). Like a roaring lion the Lord will come out of Zion and will bring judgment upon His enemies. He will bring hope and strength to His people.
Billions of people have lived on earth, and every one of them, dead, living and yet to be born will face God’s judgment unless they have trusted Christ as their savior. After this awesome display of divine power all of Israel will know (1) Jehovah is God, (2) He is in their midst, (3) Jerusalem will never again be defiled, and (4) foreigners will never again invade Jerusalem (v. 17). The soil will become fertile, the rivers will be replenished with water, and a fountain springing from the renewed temple will irrigate the earth. This stream will be a constant reminder that the Lord is the source of the land’s fertility (Ezekiel 47:8-10). It will seem like wine is dripping from the mountains and milk will be just as plentiful (v. 18). In contrast, the land of Judah’s enemies will become desolate, because of their mistreatment of Judah (v. 19). The Lord will purify the people with whom He will abide and remove the blood stains of their suffering (v. 20). He will dwell forever in Zion (v. 21). Joel was trying to convince the people to wake up, get rid of their complacency and realize the danger of living apart from God. Those who turn to God will enjoy the blessings.
Application
The Lord wants to show His power in my life the same as He did in Joel’s day. He is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. No matter what circumstances may come into my life He is in our midst and will never allow me to have more severe trials than I can bear. (Proverbs 3:5-6). I need to pray for His power to be manifest in my life daily.
Joel 3:9– 21 (NET)
9 Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for a holy war! Call out the warriors! Let all these fighting men approach and attack!
10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I too am a warrior!’
11 Lend your aid and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves to that place.” Bring down, O Lord, your warriors!
12 “Let the nations be roused and let them go up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit in judgment on all the surrounding nations.
13 Rush forth with the sickle, for the harvest is ripe! Come, stomp the grapes, for the winepress is full! The vats overflow. Indeed, their evil is great!”
14 Crowds, great crowds are in the Valley of Decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Decision!
15 The sun and moon are darkened; the stars withhold their brightness.
16 The Lord roars from Zion; from Jerusalem his voice bellows out. The heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge for his people; he is a stronghold for the citizens of Israel.
17 “You will be convinced that I the Lord am your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy— conquering armies will no longer pass through it.
18 “On that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the dry stream beds of Judah will flow with water. A spring will flow out from the temple of the Lord, watering the Valley of Acacia Trees.
19 Egypt will be desolate and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, because of the violence they did to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20 But Judah will reside securely forever, and Jerusalem will be secure from one generation to the next.
21 I will avenge their blood that I had not previously acquitted. It is the Lord who dwells in Zion!
Illustration: Three Boys Bragging on How Powerful Their Fathers Are
Three boys at school were bragging about how powerful their fathers are. The first boy said, “My Dad scribbles a few words on a sheet of paper, he calls it a poem and they give him $100 for it. The second boy said, “That’s nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a sheet of paper, he calls it a song, and they give him $1000 for it.” The third boy said, “My Dad does better than that. He scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a sermon, and it takes six men just to collect all the money!” (Source Unknown, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).