Introduction
This prophecy looks forward to the day of the LORD.
and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat;
and I will execute judgement on them there for my people,
and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered amongst the nations.
They have divided my land,
and have given a boy for a prostitute,
and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
and all the regions of Philistia?
Will you repay me?
And if you repay me,
I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head.
and have carried my finest treasures into your temples,
that you may remove them far from their border.
and will return your repayment on your own head;
and they will sell them to the men of Sheba,
to a faraway nation,
for the LORD has spoken it.”
“Prepare for war!
Stir up the mighty men.
Let all the warriors draw near.
Let them come up.
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’
and gather yourselves together.”
Cause your mighty ones to come down there, LORD.
and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat;
for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
for the harvest is ripe.
Come, tread, for the wine press is full,
the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.”
For the day of the LORD is near, in the valley of decision.
and thunder from Jerusalem;
and the heavens and the earth will shake;
but the LORD will be a refuge to his people,
and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain.
Then Jerusalem will be holy,
and no strangers will pass through her any more.
that the mountains will drop down sweet wine,
the hills will flow with milk,
all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters,
and a fountain will flow out from the LORD’s house,
and will water the valley of Shittim.
and Edom will be a desolate wilderness,
for the violence done to the children of Judah,
because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
Questions
1. What will God do in those days and in that time?
v 1 and 2 “For, behold, in those days,
and in that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will gather all nations,
and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat;
and I will execute judgement on them there for my people,
and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered amongst the nations. ...
2. What will God's people know when he is a refuge to them?
v 16 and 17 ... but the LORD will be a refuge to his people,
and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
“So you will know that I am the LORD, your God,
dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain.
Then Jerusalem will be holy,
and no strangers will pass through her any more.
3. What will finally happen to Judah and Jerusalem?
v 20 But Judah will be inhabited forever,
and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 8 The LORD will judge all nations that have fought against Israel and punish them for the way they have treated his people
- v 9 to 16 Joel predicts a battle when the LORD will defend Israel
- v 17 to 21 After this Israel and specifically Jerusalem will have a glorious future