JOEL CHAPTER 3: ALL ABOUT FLOWING IN TWO VALLEYS
Joel 1: God will judge
Joel 2: God will judge & God will give hope
Joel 3: God will judge & God will give hope
Joel 3 is a little more complicated than the other chapters because he writes how things will end (glorious), but then backs up and explains what will happen in getting to the glorious, blessed days. It is a little confusing.
In chapters 1-2 in Joel, the prophet speaks and ultimately leads to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the fact that His people (both Israel and Judah) will not be ashamed and will be set apart. They will be a different kind of people. The Spirit will mark them (for one thing). God will give the Gospel to the nations and anyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. The Gospel begins with Israel. It doesn’t begin with all the other nations, but it begins with Israel and the Gospel flows from there. They are His people, but they ultimately fail and ultimately will be judged.
Judgment comes and then the Gospel comes.
The Gospel flows out and then judgment comes.
For the unique people who belong to God, judgment is not the end. The people of God (Israel) failed, but God is faithful and works His will and plan anyway. In those days, in the midst of their failure, Jesus Christ makes all the difference.
God fights for Israel.
God fights for Israel by sending Jesus.
God fights for Israel by pouring out His Spirit.
A place mentioned in this chapter, the Valley of Jehoshaphat, was a real valley where physical historical battles took place. This battlefield became a symbol of judgment and annihilation. Joel is speaking about dealing with the nation of Israel and uses the collective memory of the Valley of Jehoshaphat to indicate what God will do… judgment.
Another place is mentioned, the Valley of Decision (not a real place), is a place in which people must choose God or not. They must choose Jesus or not. The Gospel goes out and will force a decision from all peoples in all nations and those who answer His call will be gathered to Him in Zion.
The ultimate fate of Israel (and all God’s people) begins in verse 16 with the roaring thunder of God’s voice. Holiness will extend to the people of God because they are His people. It is significant to note that God uses both ‘Israel’ and ‘Judah’ because He will gather His people by way of the Gospel.
Zion (Jerusalem) will be a refuge for all people who are called by God. All the disasters and judgments will be reversed, and God’s favor will rest on all who call to Him. This fulfillment is ultimately seen in the Book of Revelation when the city of God and the new earth combine to form what we commonly call ‘Heaven’ (Revelation 21).
There is a flowing metaphor in chapter 3 towards the end. It is interesting that God and His blessings are symbolized by fertility and crops and sweet wine and flowing water and not being part of God’s Kingdom is characterized by desolation, wilderness, and flowing blood (much violence). The Promised Land (Old Testament) is always characterized by ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ and here Heaven is seen flowing with more than that.
ULTIMATE MESSAGES OF JOEL
God will judge, but He leaves room for repentance.
God gives mercy through judgment, but there is a limit.
Respond properly in repentance to sin and God will show mercy.
God does what He says He will do cosmically and in our personal lives.
BMD & TMB
Dwelling In Scripture 