Joel 3

The Explanation

Joel 3 is the last chapter of the little book of Joel. God is speaking, and He speaks about a special time that will come. He calls it "that time" and "the day of Yahweh." In that time, God is going to set things right.

First, God says something that sounds like good news for His people: "I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem." That means: I am going to fix what was broken. The people of Israel had been through terrible things. Enemy nations had invaded their country, dragged people away, and even sold Israelite boys and girls as slaves. God saw all of it. He did not forget a single child.

Then God speaks to those enemy nations, especially Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia. He says: you stole My silver and gold, you took My people's children and sold them far away. Now I will call you to account. God gathers all the nations in a place called "the valley of Jehoshaphat." That name means "The Lord judges." There God will hold court, like a judge in a courtroom.

The picture that Joel paints is heavy. Beat your plowshares into swords, God says, as if He is challenging the nations: come then, if you dare. But no army can win against God. Verse 14 says: "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!" The sun grows dark, the moon too, the stars stop shining. Yahweh roars like a lion from Zion. Heaven and earth shake.

And right in the middle of that thunder comes a beautiful sentence: "Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel." A refuge is a hiding place. While everything shakes, God's people stand safe with Him.

After the judgment comes a picture that almost sounds like a dream. The mountains drip with sweet wine. The hills flow with milk. Streams full of water run through the land. From God's house a fountain flows out. And God says: "I dwell in Zion." He lives with His people. Forever.

What Does This Mean?

This chapter shows two sides of God that belong together. God is a judge who does not let injustice pass by, and God is a refuge who protects His people.

Sometimes children ask: why doesn't God do something about all the bad things in the world? Joel 3 gives an honest answer: God will do something about it. Not always right away, but the day is coming when He sets everything straight. Every child who was sold, every drop of innocent blood, God has seen it all. He remembers.

That is scary and comforting at the same time. Scary, because nobody can hide from God. Comforting, because evil will not have the last word.

The Common Thread

Joel points forward. The valley of decision, the roaring of God from Zion, the fountain from God's house, all of this reaches its fulfillment in Jesus. Jesus said that a day would come when He returns, and then the sun and moon will be darkened (that sounds exactly like Joel). Jesus is the Judge who is coming.

But there is something more. In the book of Revelation, John sees a river of living water flowing from God's throne. That is the same fountain that Joel saw. And Jesus once said to a woman at a well: whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. The fountain of Joel 3 has a name, and His name is Jesus.

For You

You do not need to be afraid of God's judgment if you belong to Jesus. He is your refuge. But Joel does teach you to take injustice seriously. When you see someone being bullied, when something is not fair, you do not have to shrug your shoulders. God cares about it, so you may care about it too.

And when you feel small or scared, remember verse 16. God roars, heaven shakes, and yet He is a hiding place for His children. You can crawl close to Him in prayer, even when the world feels wobbly.

Talk About It

Why do you think God gets angry about children being sold and innocent blood being shed? What does that tell you about who God is?

Joel says God is both a Judge and a refuge. Can those two go together? How?

Praying Together

Lord, thank You that You see everything, also the things that are not fair. Thank You that You are a hiding place for anyone who comes to You. Help me not to be afraid of that great day, because Jesus is my Savior. Amen.