Remember from our
post two days ago the purposes of the day
of the LORD. Joel 2:1-17 spoke of
God’s chastening of Israel. Joel 2:18-32
spoke of God’s salvation for Israel at the time of the outpouring of His
Spirit. Joel 3 speaks of God’s judgment
upon the nations which is called the day
of the LORD (3:14).
Joel 3 is as
comprehensive at the Old Testament can be on this subject of the judgment of the nations. It is certainly an essential passage for
study concerning God’s promise to His Son to give Him the nations as an
inheritance (Ps. 2:6-9; the mystery of
God, Eph. 1:11).
·
The general timeframe for this judgment is in those days and at that time, when I bring
back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem (3:1). The regathering is happening now but won’t be
completed except by God’s hand.
·
When the judgment is complete Messiah is in
Jerusalem (v17) and following the judgment His kingdom is established
(v18-21). Daniel 2:34-35 spoke of a
stone, cut out without hands, crushing the nations and then becoming a mountain
(kingdom) that fills the whole earth.
The stone is Christ and Joel 3 speaks of the time when this
happens. Revelation 19:11-21 speaks of
the return of Christ when He makes war against all the kings of the earth. Again, this is that time (3:9: Proclaim this among the nations: ‘Prepare
for war!”).
·
The judgment takes place in the valley of Jehoshaphat (3:2).
Some think this refers to Armageddon.
Jehoshaphat means God has judged so to consider the name
of this valley as symbolic of Megiddo as
the valley of decision (3:14) could
fit. That valley is critical to the end
times and the gathering of the nations.
But the valley in mind here seems to have more of a connection to
Jerusalem. The story in 2 Chron. 20 of
Jehoshaphat seeking God’s help against three nations (Ammon, Moab and Edom)
involves a valley, perhaps the Kidron, whose creek empties into the Dead Sea,
as the Brook Kidron does. This has been
the traditional view of the valley of
Jehoshaphat since the early centuries of the Church (also called Valley of Berachah or Blessing, 2 Chr.
20:26). It fits the picture of the
Messiah in His blood stained robe entering Jerusalem from Edom (Isa. 63:1-6) where
He says He has trodden the winepress alone.
The Kidron was also the place where the broken idols were thrown and
burned in the revivals under Hezekiah and Josiah.
·
The issue for the nations is their treatment of
Israel (v2-8). Injustice towards God’s
people is actually against God (v4). As
always God’s judgment is according the law of the harvest (v13: put in the sickle for the harvest is ripe). What the nations have done will be returned
on their own heads.
·
It is God who will gather the nations (v9-11)
and He will be the Judge. Note that, as
in the salvation of Israel, so with the judgment of the nations: there are
ominous signs in the sky (2:31; 3:15).
These signs are always said to accompany the day of the LORD. This judgment
will bring to an end the times of the
Gentiles then they rule Israel and trample Jerusalem underfoot (3:17). As God judges the nations He protects Israel
(v16).
God will acquit Israel of sin (3:21). Sometimes this word is translated cleanse but it is not a word used of,
for example, cleansing or washing the body.
The emphasis of the term is to pronounce
innocent, to free someone from guilt (Barnes Notes, p220). This anticipates justification by the blood of Christ. In 3:19-21 the nations are not acquitted of
innocent bloodshed but Judah and Jerusalem are.
How can this be? The answer is to
remember Paul’s great words in Rom. 4:5: But
to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his
faith is accounted for righteousness.
God’s people, at that time, will finally look on Him whom they pierced
and will mourn their sin, and God will pour out His grace on them (Zech.
12:10). This is a call to all people,
from Israel or any nation, to believe in Christ! The day is today when whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall
be saved (Joel 2:32).
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