The text for this message is Joel 3:9-17. We have been nibbling away at this book for some time now. Let us briefly review what we have learned so far. There is no definite time period given. Joel may have been a contemporary of Elijah, some 870 years before the birth of Christ, or he may have been a contemporary of Nehemiah, 450 years before the birth of Christ, or he may have lived during some period in between. As concerns prophecy in general, it may be a fore-telling of future events or it may be a forth-telling of current events, relative to the time of the prophet. We find both in this short prophecy of Joel. In the first half of this book, it appears Joel is explaining current events to his original audience. Israel had been disobedient and walked away from God. We cannot pinpoint a time in Israel’s history when this was unique. It is a problem Israel dealt with continually. From as early as the Exodus from Egypt, to as late as the return from Babylon, Israel and Judah had a habit of wandering away from God. During Joel’s day, Israel was devastated by an all-consuming plague of locusts. Wave after wave of locusts had destroyed every green growing thing throughout the land. True desperation had set into the hearts and minds of all the people. No one was unaffected by these locusts which had left nothing but destruction in their wake. Even the flocks and the herds looked at the barren pasture lands wondering where they would graze. The bark of the fruit trees had been chewed to the white. The vines were destroyed. The grains had been consumed, and all the grass of the fields had been mowed down to the dirt. There would be no food for anyone. There would be no new wine. Worship would be interrupted because the priests would not have the elements necessary for the prescribed sacrifices. Joel reminded the people that it was God who had sent the locusts. He had done so to get their attention. He had done so to refocus them.
He had done so the remind them that they were forgetting Who He Was. As a loving Father of errant children, Jehovah had chastised Israel with His locusts. Joel spoke for the LORD, prescribing the conditions by which Israel must repent. From chapter one verse 13 to chapter two verse 17, Joel speaks Jehovah’s expectations to Israel. In one of the most piercing admonitions in all of Scripture, we read: "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So, rend your heart, and not your garments;”
Joel tells Israel that their repentance must be genuine. Their hearts should indeed be broken because of what they have done. If I might paraphrase what Joel was saying, “be broken-hearted over your sin. God does want to see you make an outward show of it. Let your disgust and disappointment over your disobedience drive you to make a real change in your behavior.
In the next section of chapter 2, verses 17 through 27, we see God restored what the locusts had destroyed. Importantly, we see that Jehovah did this for His own Name’s sake. He reminds them that He is the One, True, and Living God, and that they are His people.
In verse 28, we pick up on what most people most often view as prophecy. It is here that Joel begins to speak of future events. Again, I remind you that these events are future from Joel’s perspective. From our perspective, 2000 years after the first coming of Jesus, some of that prophetic word has been fulfilled and some is yet future. We cannot and must not blame Joel. Last week we used the illustration of standing on a mountain and seeing other mountains. This may give us some idea as to how Joel saw these future events. While standing on one mountain and seeing other mountains in the distance, we can see multiple peaks. We may be able to see that one mountain is behind another, but we cannot accurately gauge just how far apart the other mountains are. This may be how Joel understood the future events of which he spoke.
We know that the first part of Joel’s prophetic future began to be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. In Acts chapter two, Peter quotes Joel and tells those present that what they are witnessing is that which the prophet spoke. Unfortunately, too many people are satisfied with Peter’s explanation and assume that Joel’s prophecy is completely fulfilled. They never bother reading Joel for themselves. Little do they know that there is a third chapter, and that only a portion of Joel’s prophecy has come to pass. There is a latter portion that is still yet future even to us today. Chapter three begins to speak of end-times. What is to come is not like what came before. Previously, the people of God had strayed, and disobey, and God chastised them to bring them back to Himself. What is coming is not chastisement on wayward children, but rather God’s judgment on His enemies. The first three verses of chapter three are the basis for God’s judgment. This coming judgment is in direct response to what God’s enemies have done to God’s people. There is coming a day when all nations will be gathered by God into the Valley of Jehoshaphat for the purpose of God’s verdict. Two weeks ago, we noted that there had been a good king named Jehoshaphat who had ruled over Judah. However, there was not a geographical landmark on any map in antiquity that was named Jehoshaphat. We should understand that this valley is not named after that Judean king. The literal translation of the valley of Jehoshaphat is the valley where Jehovah will judge.
In the last installment of this series, we studied Joel chapter three, verses four through eight. In that lesson, we observed that this passage may be compared to a lawsuit. Verses four through six spells out the charges against the nations. Verses seven and eight are Jehovah’s judgment on the nations. One important principle that we noted was that God’s judgment always perfectly matches the sin. Some commentators have stated that the judgment of God is precisely matched to the nature of the sin against God. As the nations have done to God’s people, so will God repay them for what they have done. And while we are studying these things, let us remember these two key points:
1.It is God’s judgment, not man’s
2.God’s judgment is final. There will be no appeals. This is not chastisement; it is eternal punishment.
With these introductory thoughts in mind, I invite your attention to our text.
Joel 3:9-17
(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. (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.
Sometimes, our English translations make it unnecessarily difficult to know where the right break is. I think it wise to see verse 17 as the dividing line in this chapter.
There is one note of observation that may be helpful to our understanding of this passage. There is an interesting change of voice in these verses. At times, it appears that Joel is speaking the words of Jehovah that he has been given. At other times, it appears that Joel is providing some commentary on what Jehovah has said. I will do my best to make those distinctions as we move through this passage. Verses 9 and 10 appear to be Jehovah speaking. Verse 11 appears to be Joel speaking.
Joel has been given this message to proclaim to the nations: “Prepare for war!” The fight is about to be joined. God’s enemies have been trampling on God’s people, and there is about to be retaliation. Some may have understood that there was a war going on already. Some may have thought that there has already been much fighting. So far, we have read the charges against the nations. We have read Jehovah’s judgment against the nations. Now, we are about to see that Jehovah’s judgment will be carried out. It will be carried out in God’s time, according to His schedule, and on His terms. We may need to ask, “Who is it that should prepare for war?”
Bible commentator John Gill writes that this could be a challenge to Jehovah’s enemies, or it could be a call to service for Jehovah’s people. Some modern-day theologians believe it is both. We have seen times in the Old Testament when God has brought judgment on His enemies. In His promise of Canaan Land to Abraham, God said that the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet complete. 400 years later, the descendants of Abraham, under the leadership of Joshua, wage war against the inhabitants of the land. God used Israel as instruments of His judgment against the Amorites. So, it very well could mean that this warning to prepare for war is a general call to all, to include God’s enemies as well as God’s people.
O. Palmer Robertson takes the position that this summons is addressed to the nations who are the enemies of God’s people, and it is a summons for them to appear for judgment. It is called a holy war. It is ‘holy’ because Jehovah Himself instigates this war to demonstrate His holiness. If you recall from Joshua, when the army of Israel was used by God to purge the Promised Land, whole cities were devoted to destruction. That is the same sense of this coming war. No one, none of the enemies of Jehovah will be excused. No one will be to dodge this draft, as it were.
The initial call is to those who are familiar with fighting. Wake up the mighty men, Let all the men of war draw near, Let them come up. Those who have been instrumental in the fighting against God’s people are being called to muster. However, they are not the only ones who are guilty of sins against God. All the people of the nations are summoned to join in this battle. The farmers of the fields, the dressers of the vines, and those who would not be the first to fight are called to prepare for this war. Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, 'I am strong.' No one, none of the enemies of Jehovah will be excused. Dr. Robertson writes, “God does not summon people to judgment when they decide they are adequately prepared with a defense for their actions. The nations of the world are being mocked by this encouragement to arm themselves. Even the weak and sickly among them are not exempt. But their most valiant efforts will hardly be able to withstand the Lord’s judgments. His righteous assessments will prevail over all human resistance. Judgment comes when the Judge is ready. The rich fool in Jesus’ parable made a great mistake by failing to reckon with fact that ‘this very night’ the Lord might summon him to judgment. Men must stand ready at all times to appear before the Lord and receive justice from his hand.”
Verse 11 appears to be the voice of Joel, commenting on this call to war. Again, the call is given in imperative form. It is something that must be done. It is not optional. Assemble and come, all you nations, and gather together all around. And then there is the curious clause at the end. Joel says, “Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O LORD.” It seems as though Joel is calling upon Jehovah to send an army of angels. Our 20th and 21st century view of angels is not what the Bible describes. We often think of cherubs as winged babies in diapers. After all, certain advertisers have convinced us through Television commercials and product packaging that this is how angels appear. They are benevolent, cute, and even cuddly. That is a false idea.
Look at any appearance of angels in the Bible. How many times did angel messengers begin their message with, “Do not be afraid.” Why would they begin to speak that way? Because, an angel of the Lord in the presence of a mere mortal human being is a frightening event. Angels of the Lord are mighty and powerful beings. They exist in a different realm. They are sanctified in the presence of the throne of God. And they are warriors. Recall Daniel’s vision in Daniel 10:4-14.
"Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore, I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come."
Joel desires that God would send an overwhelming force to stand against Jehovah’s enemies in this holy war in the valley of decision. It occurs to me that Joel has been given a glimpse of what John saw. One commentator suggested that Joel is telling us that we should read Revelation. If Joel is calling on God to send an army of angels from heaven, who must lead them? In Revelation 19:11-16, John gives us his description of this yet future event:
"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS"
In the valley of decision on the Day of the LORD, it will be Jesus bringing the final judgment on the nations.
In verses 12 and 13 the prophet is not commenting on what he has seen or heard. Here Joel resumes speaking the words given to him from Jehovah, "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." A sickle is used to mow down stalks of wheat and barley. It is cut off at ground level so that only stubble remains in the field. The entire plant is cut down. But the harvest does not happen until the crop is ripe for the harvest. A full winepress is filled with ripened grapes. Again, they are harvested when the time is right. A winepress is just what it sounds like. Great weights are used to press down on the grapes to extract the juice to make wine. Sometimes, a mechanical press is used, and when a mechanical press is not available, people would walk on the grapes, stomping on them, breaking the skin and the pulp to extract all of the juice from them. This harvest speaks of a great abundance, because the vats used to catch the juice pressed from the grapes are overflowing. This imagery of harvest, and a complete harvest at that, is used to show: 1) the abundance of wickedness in the world, 2) God will address this problem of wickedness at the proper time, 3) there will be no escape for any of God’s enemies, 4) God will completely harvest all of them, such that there will be no more wickedness when His judgment is executed.
In verses 14 through 16, Joel is commenting on the things he has seen, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!” It is a scene of chaos. All of the enemies of Jehovah are gathered together. Not only Men of war, prepared for battle, but also the weak and feeble and frail who thought they would not be called to the fight. Joel cannot count them all. He understands that the number is great. They have been gathered from all nations, and throughout history, now assembled in this valley of decision to face the judgment of God. Please do not misunderstand. It is not called the valley of decision because it is where people will be given one final opportunity to make a decision about whom they will serve. No, they made their decisions long before this moment. A more accurate translation might be the valley of the verdict. This valley of decision is so called because the decision of the Lord will be announced here. The charges have been brought. The judgment has been decided. The sentence will now be announced. The decision will be heard. For a third time in this book of Joel, we encounter the phrase the Day of the LORD. The first was in verse 15 of chapter one, Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty. It is included in the call for Israel to repent. Israel knew the LORD. They were His special people, and He was their God. He had demonstrated His omnipotence in sending the locusts to call these wayward people back to Himself.
In verse one of chapter 2, we read Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: God once again calls Israel to pay attention and realize that there is no escape. His chastisement is upon all of them. These are different compared to verse 14 of chapter three. This day of the LORD is not chastisement day, but judgment day. The noise of the multitudes will be hushed by a great sign. The sun and moon will grow dark, And the stars will diminish their brightness. If there is no sun and no moon giving light and the stars grow dim, darkness will fall on the day of the LORD in the valley of decision. It will be a dark day when the final decision of Jehovah is announced. In three separate passages in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus spoke of those who would be cast into outer darkness, where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Let us return to our text, at verse 16, The LORD also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; The noise of the multitudes in the valley of decision will not overcome the voice of Jehovah. When Jehovah roars, it will be unmistakable. It will be inescapable. The voice of Jehovah roaring from Zion will be such that the ground beneath our feet and the skies above our heads will shake. The voice of God will reverberate throughout all of creation. All will hear, and tremble at the power of almighty God. The announcement of the final verdict will silence all dissent. No one will be able to stand against verdict, and no appeals will be heard. As if the roar of the voice of Jehovah from Jerusalem is not deafening enough, the silence that follows will also be deafening as the verdict of eternal damnation begins to settle into the minds of the guilty. The sickle will be put in, the wicked will be mowed down like grass, and they will be trampled like grapes in the winepress of God’s wrath. It will be a terrible scene. It is not anything we will want to see, except to know that our most Holy God executes His wrath with righteous judgment to the glory of His grace. Perhaps we will not see it at all. Perhaps God’s promise of protection will shield our eyes from that terrible scene. The last part of verse 16 says, But the LORD will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel. We who are saved by the grace of the God Father through faith in God the Son will be sheltered from the execution of His judgment against the nations.
The true Israel of God, the sheep of His pasture will be separated from the goats. The difference is Jesus. Those who have been bought by His blood are safe in the shelter of Jehovah. The judgment of God against the sins of His people has been satisfied on the cross of Calvary. The spotless Lamb of God absorbed the wrath that our sins deserve. He paid the price for our eternal souls, and we belong to Him. He will keep us in His strength and shelter us from the wrath that is to come.
Verse 17 assures us that there will be a great separation. When the final judgment has been announced and carried out, the children of God will never again be harassed by the wickedness of the enemies of God. It will be for our good. It will be for His glory. This word is given for our hope and assurance. Once again, Joel relents from comment, and the voice of Jehovah speaks, “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again.” We read an even clearer picture in chapter 22 of the Revelation, verse one through five:
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
There is coming a day, it is the Day of the LORD. Wars and striving will cease. Believers will meet Jesus face to face with joy and gladness. May the Lord bless us to live daily with anticipation for a brighter future, when there is no more violence, no more lying, no more theft, no more slavery, no more sin, and we will be in the presence of His glory forever.