Bible Reading

Joel Chapter 3 - Judgment in the Valley, Shelter in the Mountain

Rely on God to walk through the valleys and climb up the mountain of faith.

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5 min read

In Joel chapters 1 and 2, God pronounces judgment on Judah and calls on them to repent. Joel chapter 2 features two trumpets, a call for judgment (Joel 2:1), followed by a call for repentance (Joel 2:15).

From Joel 2:18 onwards, we see that their repentance brings about restoration from God.

Joel chapter 3 then turns to focus on the surrounding nations. With the return of God's people back to Him, the time has now come for God to judge the nations.

Judgment in the Valley

"Valley" appears in Joel 3:2, 12, 14, 18, often referring to the place where God's judgment against the nations will take place. Joel 3:2 tells us that God intends to gather all nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat to judge them there, for the sake of His people.

In Joel 3:4,7, we see a repetition of the words "retaliate" and "retaliation". If the nations tried to retaliate against God, God will return their retaliation back upon their heads. While the nations cast lots for God's people, selling His people off, removing them far from their borders (Joel 3:3, 5-6), God says He will sell the nations far off in return (Joel 3:7-8).

Our God is a God of justice, who will by no means let the guilty go free (Ex 34:7), and will execute justice for the oppressed (Psa 103:6; 146:7). Our God is also an Almighty God, where no nation or king is able to out-smart or overthrow His plans (Psa 2:1-12).

Interestingly, the mention of the sun and moon growing dark and the stars growing dim (Joel 3:15) first appears in Joel 2:10, when God is pronouncing judgment on Zion His holy mountain. Yet, after the people of God repent and returns to Him, this same description is now used when God pronounces judgment on the surrounding nations.

While God does punish and chastise His people, the true eternal punishment is reserved for His enemies. God chastises us with the heart of a Father (Heb 12:3-11), hoping for us to truly rend our hearts and return to Him (Joel 2:12-14).

Joel 3:13 describes a harvest as well as a winepress. This reminds us of the two harvests in Revelation 14:14-20 - harvesting the earth, and gathering the vine of the earth. Often, we say that the first refers to a positive and good outcome, while the latter refers to a negative outcome. In Joel 3, we do see these two contrasting ends - salvation for God's people, condemnation for others.

Here we see God's love and faithfulness to His people, as well as the righteousness of God. Though He punishes His people for their sins, He still preserves a remnant (Joel 2:32). Though God uses foreign nations as tools to execute His judgment, He still punishes them for their wrong.

Shelter in the Mountain

While God gathers the nations to the valley, He gathers His people to the mountain. This mountain is Zion, God's holy mountain, where God dwells in (Joel 3:17, Zech 8:3). God has specially chosen Zion as His dwelling place forever (Psa 132:13-14).

Often times, Zion in the Old Testament refer to the church established by Jesus Christ in the New Testament era (Heb 12:22-23). This means that all these prophetic messages have to do with us today!

This is a mountain that will endure forever, and be acquitted of bloodshed (Joel 3:20-21). Isaiah 4:3-4 describes how the remnant left in Zion will be holy. Through the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, the filth of Zion is washed away, and the blood of Jerusalem is purged.

Today, in the church we can all be holy, only because of the blood of Jesus washing away our sins in water baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16), and because of the work of the Holy Spirit in cleansing and sanctifying us (Rom 8:13, 2 Thess 2:13).

God promises to bless this mountain, causing it to drip with new wine (Joel 2:24; 3:18), something often associated with the blessing of God, and also to flow with milk, reminding us about God's promise of bringing them into a land flowing with milk and honey in the time of the Exodus.

A fountain flowing from the house of the Lord in Joel 3:18 reminds us of passages like Psalm 46:4, Ezekiel 47:1, Zechariah 14:8, and Revelation 22:1. This water that flows from the house of the Lord encourages us that the church and us members should be bringing benefit and life to others around us, especially when we are all led and guided by the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).

While physical mount Zion is far from the tallest on earth, spiritually this mountain is higher than all other mountains (Isa 2:2-4, Mic 4:1-3). Interestingly, while Joel 3:10 speaks of the nations beating their plowshares into swords, and pruning hooks into spears, Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3 say the opposite. On God's holy mountain, God's people shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. While there's increasing wars and violence in this world, there should be increasing peace and love in the mountain of God (1 Thess 3:12-13).

This mountain is the place where God roars, proclaiming judgment upon the surrounding nations (Amos 1:2), while offering refuge to His own people (Joel 3:16). Indeed, this is what we have seen so far in Joel 3. As a mighty King, God shelters His people from the world, while rendering judgment on the surrounding nations.

Final Reflections

We often face with ups and downs in our journey of faith. At times, we feel like we are on the peak of a mountain, while at other times, it seems as though we are down in the valley.

The Book of Joel tells us that though the people of God are punished and chastised, what God desires is true repentance. And God will restore us accordingly. He brings us out of the valley, and reserving it for those who have hardened their hearts against God and rebel against Him.

"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."
Psalms 23:4 NKJV

"Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah"
Psalms 24:3-6 NKJV

As we continue on life's journey, may we rely on God to walk through the valleys, and strive to climb up the mountain.

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See Also

Daniel Chapter 4 - Let the Most High God Reign in Your Life

Daniel Chapter 4 - Let the Most High God Reign in Your Life

The story in Daniel Chapter 4 is perhaps not unfamiliar to many of us. King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the great Babylonian empire, the king of kings, being turned into a beast, how spectacular is that? It's not until we read through this chapter for ourselves that we realise something even more spectacular: this whole chapter is told by King Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel Chapter 4 is King Nebuchadnezzar's own personal testimony! Isn't King Nebuchadnezzar the infamous evil king? How is it that in this chapter he gives praise to the almighty God? Perhaps the first thing that should catch our attention from today's chapter is the repeated phrase in verses 17 and 32. The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He wills. This phrase can even be said to be the theme of the whole Book of Daniel. This book is mostly set in the time of exile, when there seemingly was no longer any king over the people of God. Yet, in the Book of Daniel we see that though there was no earthly king ruling over Israel, God made it clear to these foreign kings that He is the almighty God. He was still the one who was truly the King. The outcome of this is that the evil king Nebuchadnezzar, probably the greatest and most powerful man during his time, writes this testimony for all peoples, nations, and languages to hear (Daniel 4:1-3). Imagine being a subject in the Babylonian empire, and receiving this declaration from king Nebuchadnezzar praising and glorifying the God of Israel. Though God's people sin against Him and are punished by being taken into exile, the name of God is still magnified. God is not put to shame. Today through baptism we have entered into the Kingdom of God. Yet, it is key for us to consider whether God truly is the King of our lives. It's natural to make many plans for our future, out of a desire to lead our dream lives. But for us Christians, the sovereignty and authority of God is something that we must be well-aware of and fully willing to submit to. If God doesn't let me get that job, are we able to accept it? If God closes the path towards our dreams, are we will to say "Let Thy will be done"? If God takes away all that we have, are we able to be like Job and say "Blessed be the name of the Lord"? If all this is causing us to struggle, remember this: God loves us. He knows what's best for us, He knows what we need. He has already given His life for us, and given us His precious Spirit to dwell within us. Having faith in God's love towards us gives us strength to submit to our King with full assurance that this is the best path for us, this is the way to blessing and to eternal life. Since our God is the highest and rules over the kingdom of man, what then should our response ought to be? Nebuchadnezzar begins and ends his testimony by praising and glorifying God. Giving praises to God is something that we have been often taught but perhaps we have not given enough thought to or taken seriously enough. Yet, throughout the Bible, it's clear that praises are a key part of our worship to God (just read the Book of Psalms). What might we praise God for? Like Nebuchadnezzar, we can praise God for His greatness and His almightiness. Just consider the stars, or the intricacies of the human body. We can praise God for His love and wisdom as seen in His creation as well as in His word. The more we study into the holy scriptures, the more we are filled with awe at how complete, connected, and wonderful these life-giving words are. We can also glorify God for His salvation which He has so freely given to us. Imagine how different our lives might be today if not for His grace and mercy! It's when we decide to finally take the importance of praising God seriously and intentionally set aside some time in our daily prayers to praise God, that we truly experience the blessing that comes along with it. We go through life being filled with joy and gratitude, knowing that we have such a great and powerful Heavenly Father who loves us. In fact, it was when Nebuchadnezzar took the glory for Himself rather than giving all glory to God, that the infamous transformation into a beast took place. This brings us nicely to the final point of reflection for this devotional. Pride - when we take glory for ourselves rather than giving glory to God. Nebuchadnezzar's testimony serves as a stark warning for us. Even just a sentence or thought of pride can greatly displease God. How often have we unknowingly taken credit for ourselves for any achievements we have, or for any divine work that we do? Being puffed up with pride and not keeping to one's proper domain is precisely the sin of satan (1 Tim 3:6, Jude 6-7). If we are filled with pride, what difference is there between us and satan? In fact, while satan exalted himself, God on the contrary lowered Himself, coming in the likeness of man and humbling Himself even to the point of death (Phil 2:5-8). Whose example do we want to follow, that of God or of satan? Let us take warning from the story of Nebuchadnezzar and carefully consider who's example we want to follow. Indeed, God opposes the proud while giving grace to the humble. He blesses the meek, that they might inherit the earth .

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