For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Joel 3:1-6

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.

4 ‘Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. 5 For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.

A. Find Out:

1. What does the Lord also say He is going to do then? v.1
2. Who will He gather to where? v.2a
3. What will He do there? v.2b
4. Why? v.2c,3
5. Who also is the Lord against? v.4
6. Why? v.5,6

B. Think:

1. What event is being referred to here?
2. Read 2 Chron 20:22-30. What had God done for Jehoshaphat?
3. Why was God bringing this destruction again?

C. Comment:

The Lord has just been speaking about the end-times and He now declares that these will be times of restoration of Israel (v.1). Now whether we are living in those times, with Israel having been restored in the middle of the 20th century to the land, or whether this is still yet in the future, only time will tell. Alongside this, possibly after the restoration, is coming a judgement on the nations of the world, (v.2) reminiscent of the destruction that the Lord brought on Jehoshaphat’s enemies.

There is a reason for this particular judgement; it is because of all that has been done to Israel through the centuries. Israel were the Lord’s people, and when nations rise against Israel they are rising against God. In AD70 Jerusalem was destroyed again and Israel scattered to the nations. Whether it happened then or at the earlier destruction in 586BC we don’t know, but at the earlier destruction at least, the people of Jerusalem (v.2c,3) were sold off as slaves (see Ob 11) and treated as chattels. They were the Lord’s people!

     Then the Lord holds Tyre, Sidon and Philistia to account for they too over the centuries had been a thorn in Israel ‘s side as they had time and time again plundered Israel . They too carried people off into slavery and for that they will have to give an account to the Lord. The curse of this judgement goes with the land, even to the end.

D. Application:

1. Even if we discipline at God’s bidding, will we exercise mercy?
2. All nations will have to account for how they dealt with God’s people.

Passage: Joel 3:7-16

7 ‘See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. 8 I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.’ The Lord has spoken.

9 Proclaim this among the nations:
    Prepare for war!
Rouse the warriors!
    Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10 Beat your ploughshares into swords
    and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say,
    ‘I am strong!’
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
    and assemble there.

Bring down your warriors, Lord!

12 ‘Let the nations be roused;
    let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for there I will sit
    to judge all the nations on every side.
13 Swing the sickle,
    for the harvest is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes,
    for the winepress is full
    and the vats overflow –
so great is their wickedness!’

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 moon will be darkened,
    and the stars no longer shine.
16 The Lord will roar from Zion
    and thunder from Jerusalem;
    the earth and the heavens will tremble.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
    a stronghold for the people of Israel.

A. Find Out:

1. How is the Lord going to judge these other places? v.7,8
2. What is the Lord telling the nations to do? v.9-11
3. Where are they to come and for why? v.12
4. What imagery is used? v.13
5. What physical things will occur? v.15,16a
6. Yet what assurance is given? v.16b

B. Think:

1. How were verses 7 & 8 very specific?
2. How were the following verses far more wide reaching?
3. What is the Lord describing in verses 9 to 16?

C. Comment:

The subject of this chapter is primarily judgement. The first seven verses are in respect of specific nations who have dealt badly with Israel when God had been using them to bring discipline or judgement on Israel . That had been no excuse to treat them so badly. This is judgement on the surrounding nations.

When we come to verse 9 we find what seems a much wider call to the nations of the world, to gather together before the Lord to face His judgement. Will the nations realise what is happening? Probably not! It would seem that the Lord is stirring up the nations to rise up in war against Israel , to come intent on destruction until they reach the valley of Jehoshaphat. There, whether they realise it or not, they will encounter the Lord and His judgement.

The reference to the sun and moon and stars could perhaps refer to a tremendous destructive storm that the Lord will bring upon these armies. It could be some other destructive force. Whatever it is, it will bring great destruction for all those who would oppose the Lord. That is the clear implication of these verses.

But then come words of assurance for God’s people. All of this may be taking place but the Lord will still protect His people. He will guard them, protect them and keep them safe.

D. Application:

1. Do we understand the world’s folly that speaks against God.
2. Do we realise that all such people will be held accountable.

Passage: Joel 3:17-21

17 ‘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.

18 ‘In that day the mountains will drip new wine,
    and the hills will flow with milk;
    all the ravines of Judah will run with water.
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house
    and will water the valley of acacias.
19 But Egypt will be desolate,
    Edom a desert waste,
because of violence done to the people of Judah,
    in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20 Judah will be inhabited for ever
    and Jerusalem through all generations.
21 Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?
    No, I will not.’

The Lord dwells in Zion!

A. Find Out:

1. What will be the end outcome of all this? v.17
2. What signs of following blessing are given? v.18
3. Yet where will be desolate and why? v.19
4. What about Judah and Jerusalem? v.20
5. What will the Lord do for them? v.21

B. Think:

1. What is the end state of Jerusalem shown to be?
2. What is the picture given of Judah at this time?

C. Comment:

Whenever this takes place, the outcome will be clear: the nations that had come against Israel will be destroyed at this particular location and the outcome will be so clear that everyone will know that this was a work of God. They will know that Jerusalem is special and that the Lord protects it.

The picture of end-time Judah and Jerusalem is one of great blessing. The picture in v.18 referring to wine, milk and water in abundance shows a land that is receiving the blessing of God. Whether it is literal or figurative, there is coming a supply from God’s presence that will transform the desert (v.18c).

In stark contrast to the blessing of Judah and Jerusalem, Egypt and Edom, two nations that had previously been against Israel, will be desolate as a result of the judgement of God.

Note three aspects of the end picture of the land. First, the future of Judah and Jerusalem (v.20) is assured and future generations will dwell there secure. Second, the Lord will pardon the past guilt of the Land. Even their guilt, as the guilt of all men’s sin, will come under the Cross. Finally, the Lord Himself will dwell there, His place with His people being restored. The final picture is of the Lord dwelling with His people. No wonder there is blessing, no wonder there is a new security, no wonder there will be future generations. It is all because God is in the midst of His people.

D. Application:

1. Where God is with His people, there is blessing.
2. There is no more secure place than with the Lord.