Joel 3 Divine Judgment: know justice, know peace

Let’s Review Joel 1:1-18 and 2:2-11 a recent Locust plague points to God’s future judgement

Word images from appearances of God in Exodus used to describe this day: Darkness Fire Earthquake Heavens tremble and darken

Joel 2:12-14 reminder of God’s compassionate love and His call to repent Joel 2:18-27 the future day of the Lord will radically change all things Removal of evil and suffering Abundance beyond measure Presence of God with His people Creation as a whole will be blessed

The Kingdom of God is Already, but Not Yet This is accomplished at the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and initiated at Pentecost with the arrival of the Holy Spirit to indwell all God’s new covenant people and all of this will be finalized at the Return of Christ. We are in what biblical scholars refer to as the Already, but Not Yet era of the Kingdom of God.

Joel Overview: The Day of the Lord brings Disaster and Blessing Locust Plague is Immediate Disaster from God 1:2-20 Summons to Fasting and Prayer to God 1:13-14 Locust Plague as Impending Disaster from God 2:1-17 Call to Repentance 2:12-14 God will Respond 2:18-32 Removal of the Threat 2:18-20 Healing in the Land 2:21-34 Restoration of Blessing 2:25-27 Salvation for all who call upon the Lord 2:28-32 Spirit upon all God’s people 2:28-29 God’s judgment upon all people who live in opposition 3:1-16 Reversal of fortune = Slavers will be enslaved 1-8 Retribution for sin = enemies of God summoned 10-16

Let’s quick walk thru Joel 3:1-16

Verse 1 “At the time of those event…I will restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem” context 2:28 “Then, after doing all these things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people”.

Verse 2 “I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehosophat” =

Divine Judgment presented as a Lawsuit against the nations 3:1-8 The accused are summoned 1-2 The accusations are read 2-3 The accused are cross examined 4 The verdict is announced 4-8

Compare Isaiah 22:1/ Jeremiah 7:32/ Ezekiel 39:11/ Zechariah 14:4-5

Verses 2-3 “I will enter into judgment with them there, on account of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations. They have divided my land, and cast lots for my people, and traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine…”

Divine Judgment has God as defender of the weak and oppressed Proverbs 22:22-23 “Don’t rob the poor because you can, or exploit the needy in court. For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.”

Divine Judgment flips the script we only want to hear Verse 10 “Hammer your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears.”

Isaiah 2:4 “They will hammer their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.”

Can God be both loving and just? “The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.” Psalm 145:17-20

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:21

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom” 2Timothy 4:1

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.” Revelation 19:11

“And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.” Revelation 20:11-12

When on earth is there total justice?

Cross of Christ

Return of Christ