Joel 3

November 7, 2022

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in Joel? Here’s today’s reading:

Joel 3 (NIV)

The Nations Judged
1 “In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will gather all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat
There I will put them on trial
for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land.
3 They cast lots for my people
and traded boys for prostitutes;
they sold girls for wine to drink..........Continue Reading

Next: Amos 1
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Back: Joel 2

This Post Has 11 Comments

  1. While judgment comes to Judah and Jerusalem via the other nations around them per God’s plan, they are not free from judgment themselves. God will restore His people and then punish those same nations that He used to fulfil His punishment of His people.
    These nations were not free from the judgement of God even though He used them to fulfil another’s judgement. When we have people in our lives that harm us or seem to live sinful lives that still reap earthly gain we can be assured they are still accountable to God and they will face Him one day. This is why we pray for our enemies and share the love of God with the lost because we are all accountable to know what’s right, live what’s right, and disciple others to do the same.

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  3. It is interesting to me that Joel calls on everyone to repent in the crisis: old and young, drunkards, farmers and priests. Joel describes the day of the Lord as one of punishment of an unfaithful Israel. Restoration and blessing come only after judgement and repentance. But great it is:
    “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.”

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  7. I see a pattern of God in terms of how He deals with the nation of Israel: that even though, they are a stubborn people, God eventually protects them in the end and takes revenge against their attackers.

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  8. The Lord will judge the nations who have done evil against his chosen people. Grateful and thankful to be called a child of God. I pray for others to be saved and receive His blessing.

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  9. God is very consistent in blessing righteousness and judging sin. And yet His heart in doing both is to draw people to Himself. He shows His mercy and grace when He promises to restore Judah to the land and make things right for them. As much as things were wrong by His orchestration when they were disobedient, they will be blessed and provided for when God makes them right. In addition, His justice requires that He disciplines those nations who have taken advantage of His people. He will do to them what they did to the Jews. How fitting it is for us to learn from this that it is best to trust and follow Him. To allow Him to work in us, through us and for us, so His work toward us will always be toward our benefit rather to our harm because nothing escapes His purview.

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  10. Joel 3

    It must be quite a feeling of security to be living in Jerusalem even though they’re surrounded by enemies knowing how much God loves them and protects them. Doomed are nations who despise and turn their backs on Israel.

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  11. God calls the nations to meet Him in battle, in the Valley of decision.
    God wins.

    “Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
    For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
    Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
    Come, go down;
    For the winepress is full,
    The vats overflow—
    For their wickedness is great.”

    Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
    For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”

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