Joel 3

Redemption for the people of God (vs. 1-8)—Keep in mind there were no chapter breaks when Joel wrote his book. So verse 1 follows directly after 2:28-32 without the psychological break that is in our mind due to the chapter divisions. “For behold, in those days and at that time”—notice the dual emphasis: “In those days and at that time.” What days and times is he talking about? The ones he had just been discussing in 2:28-32, which, as we saw, refer to the Christian dispensation. Thus, the material in chapter 3 must be understood in a figurative way. Great spiritual truths must be conveyed in ways that humans can understand them; heaven is described with “pearly gates” and a “street of gold.” Hell is eternal fire. These things are not literal, but they communicate, to us, the beauty, or horror, of the location mentioned. Joel 3:1-8 describes a captive people being released: “I [will] bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem” (v. 1). Ancient enemies, Tyre and Sidon, are mentioned (v. 4), condemned for selling the “people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem…to the Greeks” (v. 6). We have absolutely no indication, anywhere in history, that Philistines sold Jews to Greeks. It’s a figurative description of God’s enemies harassing and enslaving His people—just as sin does, from which the Lord delivers us from captivity. “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive” (Eph. 4:7). In Joel 3:2, we read, “I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.” There is no “Valley of Jehoshaphat”; the latter word means “Jehovah judges,” which, of course, is what He does best with sinners and those who oppress His people. The viciousness and cruelty of sin is illustrated in verse 5: “They have cast lots for My people, have given a boy as payment for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.” The bitterness, callousness, and hatred that the wicked have for the righteous is manifestly seen. But, the Lord “will raise them out of the place to which you have sold them, and will return your retaliation upon your own head” (v. 7). “’Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’" says the Lord” (Rom. 12:9). All of the material in this chapter can be understood in a figurative way to describe the attitude of the wicked towards the godly in the world today, and the deliverance that God will give to His people. But this material does need to be understood spiritually. Keep the first statement of verse 1 always in mind.

God wars against His enemies (vs. 9-17)—“Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near” (v. 9). The figure of a spiritual battle between the forces of God and the forces of evil is found all through the New Testament, and Jehovah in this section is calling out His enemies for battle in “the Valley of Jehoshaphat” (v. 12)—again, the Valley of God’s judgment. “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” (v. 14). People must make their choice. “The LORD will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel,” (v. 16), which is a comforting thought in this miserable, sin-sick world. And His habitation will be pure: “Jerusalem shall be holy, and no aliens shall ever pass through her again” (v. 17). The church is the home of the holy, not “aliens.” The Lord will be ever victorious.

Great blessings plus the destruction of the enemies of God’s people (vs. 18-21)—Notice how verse 18 begins: “And it will come to pass in that day…” For the third time in this chapter the Lord has emphasized that the events described here will take place in the days Joel discussed in 2:28-32—the Christian era. There will be great blessings: “The mountains shall drip with new wine, the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water” (v. 18). Obviously, mountains don’t literally drip with wine any more than hills flow with milk. But the idea—spiritually—is there: the Lord provides for us the richest of blessings. And the destruction of our enemies: “Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a desolate wilderness” (v. 19). “But Judah shall abide forever and Jerusalem from generation to generation” (v. 20). The people of God have an everlasting abode with Him. And for one reason only: the forgiveness of sins—“For I will acquit them of the guilt of bloodshed, whom I had not acquitted; for the LORD dwells in Zion" (v. 21).

Not understanding the spiritual nature of much of the language of the prophets is what has caused frequent misunderstanding of their message. But in Joel, we have a clear statement, confirmed by the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, that Joel 2:28-3:21 refers not to physical Israel, but to spiritual Israel, the church. We must let the Bible interpret itself, and in this case it does so without ambiguity.


Next: Amos, the unprofessional prophet.