Joel 3

Division that Follows

For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

It's good indeed how that God is there for his people and so too how he turns around all things in his hands. What once was a spoil of his people has now become the nations all gathered together though it looks at first like a bargain or trade regardless wherever the Lord in his fury had sent them off to then as at first. I notice the text refers to the valley of Jehoshaphat almost as though it's one of Hosea's children but how many of you know of the valley except as a place to consider. For as the Psalmist would've said 'yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.' Nor does he do as do some of us and do not much more but indeed here he's the God who pleads with his people. It might not look like it at first with the very much scattering of the few and so also their having forgotten who they once were and also the goodness of God in the land of the living. Also as David would've said it best, he's not a do nothing God but rather the good Father to all of his people or at least all who him but simply seek and also then come to him in prayer. 'Your rod and your staff they comfort me' too is considering of the Lord's goodness to them as a people once more and a nation. He's the God isn't he who calls out of nothing these things as visible which once did appear and so too by his power he does this in making them see and know and as with all things consider. Then too he's the God who mends all things that were broken on over again. The pleading though it must be seen comes just before the restoration and the gathering unto or perhaps it's all at the same time for the which our God is undeterred by the ways of all men as we'd seen here in the text no matter time and time again. So that no matter the own personal story, he's given his people by his grace and for his own glory and so too does he leads all that would on back home to his Son. Though for certain there's some straightening yet to be done for his people since his heritage is scattered and parted as lots as with Christ and his clothes. You know how that Scripture had told it was for his venture that they'd cast lots on down at the foot of the cross. When it's a captivity certainly won't nothing do but the Lord in his glory. Only he then could right the wrongs and bring the whole house on back out of bondage into the light of his glorious Son.

Taken Possession

3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;

5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:

6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:

8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Indeed, at a time such as this, it's almost up to the Father again. See, as with all things really there's all sorts of good things to be found with him then. Yet how often do we not percieve it really all due to our own sorts of opinions and while we're at it, my hhow man has a way of getting it twisted. There's lots for the people indeed and what of them sold into slavery that his land should be taken possession and his chosen indeed given over just for inheritance. Such a thing that we see and how strange that it be. There's a giving over indeed of that of his people as though off into slavery, off into rebellion, off into sin, and even on off as did the prodigal son. You know, there's always an issue here when it comes to interpreting Scripture. There's difficulties and uncertainty of meaning time and again especially when considering just what the Lord was making for then and whether he'll apply it again in our day or just that he's done. How many of you know though when it comes to his people the story is far from over and the book far from won that is not until it comes before him on his throne up again. It just so happens too that Tyre and Zidon were destroyed hadn't they from being a nation and Palestinia too scheduled for dissolution then later. It's awful strange isn't it that he calls into being from what was not there in particular and he makes what is as naught that no flesh might glory in his presence cause else what was our starting for then. Thus it would seem that he's called these as forgotten and long since left desolate just to rejoice in him then once more. The Palestinia with all it's troubles in general isn't far off or nigh from his being. Indeed, as the Lord so often would say time and again is that will a man rob God here in the text. Though they might've robbed him for sure in tithes in offerings then proper or just that of some others once more, it remains to be seen that the Lord won't outgive his person. So often famous theologins have said you can't out give God here at all, yet I wonder if they've ever tried it for sure. Nor can God be paid off as though bartered from danger. He isn't very much as some have once said of owing debt to his person for indeed, these peoples here whether forgotten, having ceased from the function or merely in need of it then as those that are somehow remembered instead, have found silver and gold on their hands and some goodly pleasant things around on their lands. It's almost a robbery for sure this taking as of all things as unto the Lord. Then too will he not suffer the harlotry or robbery or excessive wine-drinking to go on no matter how long. He's not the God of the flesh or a false idol temple, that much for certain just as he once had promised to Abram.

A Turning Unto Decision

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.

So then the story of our redemption goes something like this as at first. The Gentiles had come up against all his people. Well, perhaps they weren't against them really only God knows for thus has he broken and so grafted them in as at times though the fig tree itself is reserved for his keeping. I mean, if there's anyone like our Master pruner and planter, it's reflected in these here from being a people. Indeed as prophesied before how that in his name would the Gentiles trust and so too a light to his people. It seems to no reason that God is so now calling the Gentiles in to reckon with him, even as men drawn near and approaching for battle. When speaking of the prophecy section there's Armageddon in terms of famous battles whatever that means. It sure would be nice to spiritualize such things rather than to just prepare for their keeping then later. It's God hasn't it of whom they've been kept all along. So that if they're there at all present and accounted for at this particular junction it's only of him there in their midst. Surely how the Lord delightest to do good to his people. He wants not that any should perish but that all should come to repentance whether the goodness sof God leads us or no at this particular juncture. Then again how could you have forgotten in general that of the Lord's calling on out to his people. Should then the day of the Lord be catching us unawares, it's enough to make the strong weak again much rather were it not then but for the Lord. So shall it be that the swords and spears are then seen as though almost the farming tools turned into something that's just fit for the Lord, a rightly division and also a reaping then of all men as these have turned back to him instead. Though should they chose another way much rather, to be warlike and so to fight against him as though his goodness and mercy led not towards their repentance. Just as he'd promised in that all situations there soon would be seen naught but the hand of the Lord. Though you might not have known him of yet, there's still a reckoning with him that's been coming for all of his people. Though you might be heathen of sorts and have not much knowledge of thus, the Lord here is about to start his own service instead a calling out of these as unto himself then in purpose, a hope of the people, and a holiness as unto the Lord then in full.

Days Been Appointed

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.

Then on after this one comes the harvest at last for the wrath of the Lord is at hand and who will be able to stand before in even. Suffice to say, thank God for his mercy and grace that though the nations have drunken, though the people are reeling, though the harvest is come, though the winepress of his fury is full to overflowing God in his mercy has not forsaken his people. He hasn't left them alone, fresh for the taking, or just the wolves of our own doctrinal making. Indeed, the sickle is mentioned for his harvest time has been a long time in coming. Just as Jesus spoke in his ministry of the fields being white already to harvest and that the Lord thereof rather ought to be prayed to send reapers instead. So too is there a day that's appointed unto judgement much rather and a long awaited time for all of his children. The harvest is ripe certainly though not to the devouring army that you'd once seen. Now it's entirely been left as unto the Lord for it's his way that you're standing in now isn't it once again. So often we like to complain that it's taking so long and God doesn't seem to be doing much about down here way so high up on his throne. Rest assured in all of this he's working, busy ordering the steps of the people and the way they should go. Indeed, he's already prepared a get you down to those who would listen and simply do his good will. Then again, if he should send his angels to separate the wheat from the tares, there's some stuff he'll be dealing with himself now that he's there. So that ther'es a press isn't there and some fats prepared as in good things poured forth as unto the Lord. Whether in offerings or no or just merely provided his people, there's sufficient still for his grace and his glory there in the midst. Nor does the Desolation causeless come as Scripture would say then for there's great wickedness for which it's drawn forth his glory. So that if multitudes have come in the valley it's say only of him. Then again, there's a time of decision in the which our Lord is near to his children. Isn't it more than just a choosing whom you will serve rather but just a giving over of our hearts and our lives. It's his way or no way at all I'm afraid very much surely for you know that the goodness and mercy of God has come to walk with his children. He's making a home with them isn't he, preparing his mansions for them, just a place that we'd see.

Unto a Reckoning

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.

Perhaps now that you've heard how that to save us he's got to bring a mighty big sword. For the foundation of his throne is judgement and mercy most certainly and a day appointed in the which he'll be judging the wicked. Remember too how that before the sun and moon's darkness and blood had affected the heavens. Nor has this affect come down to anything really but that the Lord protecteth his children. Then too the stars begin to dim, go out, or lose their trust in him. It's a powers of the Heaven shall be shaken sort of text isn't it so as only then unto Him. As Job would've put it indeed, with the wisdom of his friends who'd been observing the times, the sun, moon, and stars faced judgement for unrighteousness within and too that their need for a Savior as what should've been the faithful servants of him. Though lacking light in themselves as cometh the dawning or the light of his own glorious morning, these rather have begun to lose focus and grow weakened in the his power and his glory. He's the son of righteousness arising with healing in his wings but to do that, he's first got to settle things right with the sky. See, the Master had come to the house and of it his servants had to give an account. Surely with them standing in need of a Savior again, the same would be extended to these also, that of the come now and let us reason together final of offers. Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white like snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool. There's but an opportunity to put on as unto Christ there in the midst, a doing unto others at the first as unto him in particular. Then it'll be seen the shaken all things in that what might be removed is now making way for his heavenly kingdom to come and dwell down here and so as to reign. Though if there's some hope or some strength come forth from him just know that he's done this now and again to strength and stablish his people both now and forevermore, the hope of their salvation and their mighty stretched out in arm. At times like these you've got to consider that our God is the only one visible, the one with power from on high, with wisdom much rather, at whose rebuke the whole earth trembled, settler of disputes rather, and the bringer of all things right with his Son.

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.

18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.