CHAPTER 3

Chapter three of Joel presents a special and very significant viewpoint of futuristic historical action. It has been interpreted in many and various ways. However, again I point out, that the purpose of this Bible study is to find what is applicable to Christians TODAY. Therefore, (for you scholars out there) while some ecclesiological views are displayed, the MAIN purpose of our study here is to make it useful for the church today.

1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Prior to this statement, God had been calling His people to repentance toward Him and away from the world(See Joel 2). It seems God is ALWAYS having to call His people to repentance, for we are "all" sinners by choice and do constantly stray as sheep.((See Galatians 5:17, Romans 7:18-21))

For me, it seems that God is using Joel 3 to focus our attention on the PURPOSE of living a life of repentance. For in the future there is a "day" and a "time" appointed when God will do two things:
First, He will "deliver" those who have surrendered to Him.
Secondly, He will "judge" those who have opposed Him.

Joel 3:1 proposes these two events in simultaneous action. The first action is described in verse 1, while the second is described in verse 2.

God has actually been calling people to repentance since Adam and Eve, and will continue to do so until the final judgment day.

Why should a person want to be included in the first action and not the second? Mainly, because the place of eternal existence is determined by whether we have surrendered to or opposed the Lord in our daily existence!

Might I suggest here a reading of Romans 9? God's MERCY is shown to those who live a life of repentance toward Him. But His WRATH is shown to them who oppose Him.

The "valley of Jehoshaphat" may be significant here because of the story related in 2Chronicles 20. The combined efforts of Ammon, Moab and Edom had come to destroy Jehoshaphat. But he cried out to God asking for deliverance. And God told him, "..the battle is not yours but God's" (2Chronicles 20:15). ((NOTE: This "valley of Jehoshaphat" is not necessarily the same as the one currently named so. The reference is more spiritual than physical.))

It is only when we repent DAILY that we allow God to have control over our lives and thus HE shall fight, win and concude the battle FOR us!

The "valley of Jehoshaphat" is also significant because according to Joel 3:14, it is also the "valley of DECISION." It is not where man makes decisions about God, but where God makes decisions about man! That's why verse 2 tells us that God will "plead" with them there. He will JUDGE!

3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

In all of history, God's people have generally been considered WORTHLESS by the majority of nations. They have been persecuted, brought into captivity, and sold as slaves. This verse depicts the majority view of the world upon Jews and Christians alike today.

4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompence me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; 5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: 6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. 7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: 8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Prejudice is generally an inbred malicious attitude toward a certain people. The inclusion of Tyre, Zidon and "all the coasts of Palestine" are a reference to the harassment of God's people by the world in general.

Might I suggest here the REASON for such malicious intent against God's people? God's people have always stood for righteousness in a world of unrighteous intent. For instance, Noah was considered crazy, and Jesus Himself was considered a blasphemer. Christians today stand for one God, one faith, one baptism, and one Savior Who is Christ the Lord. This tells the world that there ARE NO other ways to eternal salvation! People in general want to hear that they can devise their own view of eternal salvation. Therefore they rebel against a One and only Savior, especiall when that One and only Savior is not born out of their imagination.

Thus the world has generally treated believers with a malicious prejudicial attitude. Is there any other way of salvation but by the grace of God through Christ Jesus? Will the world be able to "recompense" God for the prejudicial manner in which His people have been treated? NO!

God promises here that He will raise His people up (save them), and at the same time the reward of prejudicial treatment shall be placed on the heads of the world!

9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

God had said in verse 2 there would come a time when He would "call all nations" to meet Him in judgment. Now He tells them they can prepare their worst to meet Him. They can prepare weaponry of war, but it will be to no avail. God is OMNIPOTENT. He is ALL POWERFUL. All of the war weaponry of the world can be assembled against Him at one time and He will still stand in victory!

Humanity is certainly "weak" (verse 10) when compared to God; and none can effectively say "I am strong."

In the final day, it will be God who will "sit to judge all the heathen" (verse 12)!

Stephen was stoned for speaking out about one God and one Savior. Paul was persecuted for the same. And our Lord tells us that ALL of us who are Christians will suffer persecution in this world.

But TAKE HEART dear Christian! God will win in the end! And you shall be vindicated by His power over the enemy! If you have surrendered to Jesus as Lord, you have been washed in His blood, sealed in His Spirit, and your name is written down in the "book of life." And you will be raised up to stand at the last day and see the victory of God over the malicious prejudicial enemies under whom you have lived!

13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

The day when God will "gather all nations" (verse 2) is here referred to as "the harvest." It will be a harvest of two kinds of people. God will first harvest those who have believed in Him. He will "raise them up."

Then God will harvest all those who live in the world that do NOT believe in Him. There He will "plead" (or judge) them (verse 2). There will be "multitudes" there in the valley of God's decision (verse 14). And it will be a DARK DAY indeed for nonbelievers (verse 15).

When God speaks in that day, His voice will roar as a lion who has taken His prey (verse 16). His voice shall be so strong it will literally shake the heavens and the earth.

And the Lord Himself will be the "HOPE" of His people! They will see the eternal God has ALWAYS been dwelling in the midst of His people. After the judgment of all mankind living who oppose God, His people will see a new consecration of Jerusalem such as has never happened before. God, in personal power and glory, will consecrate that holy place, and no "stranger" shall enter there again (verse 17).

Then the millenium will begin.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

God will begin a new reign of personal presence upon the earth(Revelation 20:1-5). His saints will be with him to rule and reign for 1,000 years (Revelation 5:10, 20:6).

"Judah" (verse 20) referse to God's "chosen people." Those who by grace have been called and have surrendered to His Lordship and servantship are His "chosen people."

Yes! TAKE HEART my Christian friend! You may suffer persecution through malicious prejudicial attitudes today; but when the Great God and Savior appears, you shall be brought to hold part in His majestic victory over the world!

Praise the Lord!
LIVE FOR HIS GLORY!
PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.