Our Daily Scripture – 1/7/25 (Tuesday)

SCRIPTURE:  JOEL 3

THE NATIONS JUDGE (vs.1-21)

At the end times, God will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem.  He will be a refuge and a stronghold for the people of Israel. 

SINS OF TYRE, SIDON, ALL REGIOTNS OF PHILISTIA, EGYPT AND EDOM:

  1.  They scattered His people among the nations and divided up His land. (v. 2)
  2.  They cast lots for His people and traded boys for prostitutes and sold girls for wine to drink. (v. 3)
  3.  They took God’s silver and gold and carried off His finest treasures to their temples. (v. 5)
  4.  They sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks to send them far from their homeland. (v. 6)
  5.  They did violence to the people of Judah and shed innocent blood. (v. 19)

WHAT GOD WILL DO TO THE NATIONS:

  1.  He will return on the nations their own heads what they have done. (v. 4)
  2.  He will rouse them out of the place to which they sold the Israelites. (v. 7)
  3.  He will sell their sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans. (v. 8)
  4.  He will summon all the nations and judge them on every side. (v. 12)
  5.  He will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem and the earth and sky will tremble. (v. 16)

BLESSINGS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE:

  1.  The Lord will dwell in Zion, his holy hill (v. 17a)
  2.  Jerusalem will be holy, never again will foreigners invade her. (v. 17b)
  3.  The mountains will drip new wine and the hills will flow with milk. (v. 18a)
  4.  A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the valley of acacias. (v. 18b)
  5.  Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. (v. 20)
  6.  God will pardon their bloodguilt. (v. 21)

THOUGHTS:

The book of Joel pictures God’s future dealings with His people and all the nations:

  1.  God will summon the gentile nations and judge them for the sins they had committed against Israel.  They scattered them, divided the lands, treated them as salves and robbed their wealth.
  2.  God will uphold the cause of His people while calling the nations to conflict.
  3.  God’s wrath will be upon the nations but He will care and shelter His people with strength.
  4.  God will forgive His people and give them a new beginning.

The valley of Jehoshaphat means “The Lord Judges”.  It signifies the place where the Lord is to judge.  The world history is in God’s hands. Egypt and Edom were two of Israel’s most persistent enemies.  They represented all the evils that are hostile to God’s people.  God promised to destroy them.  This is also a promise that all evils in the world will one day be destroyed.

Joel began with a prophecy about the destruction of the land but ended with a prophecy about restoration.  He called on people to wake up and get rid of the complacency so that they would be aware of the dangers of living apart from God.  His message was also applicable to us to call on God’s name so that we can enjoy the blessings of God.  Those who refuse will face destruction.