Joel 3

Our God reigns

Overview

• How should we understand this chapter

• The Lord will restore His people• The nations will oppose the Lord• The last battle• The blessings for God’s people• So what?

Joel 3

• How should we understand this chapter?• Very difficult to interpret• Not difficult to understand• Links to Joel 2:28-32• Multi-layered prophesy• Various suggestions of fulfilment• Possibly various past fulfilments• Ultimate fulfilment at Jesus return

The Lord will restore His people

• Days of hardship and persecution

• The Lord judges sin starting with His people• The Lord’s people will not remain under judgement• The Lord will gather His enemies together• The valley of Jehoshaphat not a literal place

– Should be understood symbolically– 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

• God will contend with and judge the nations

The nations will oppose the Lord

• The nations feel aggrieved– Perhaps because he used them for judgement but then overturned them

• The nations gather together against the Lord

• Who is the true God?• God is sovereign• It is they who have wronged God• God will restore His people• His enemies’ actions will be returned on them

The last battle

• The nations raise a great army against God

• Even “peaceable people” join the army• The weak convince themselves they are strong• Even this is part of God’s plan• The nations advance against the Lord• The nations believe they are in control• The “Day of the Lord” is revealed

Blessings for God’s people

• God will be seen for who He is

• The new Jerusalem will be Holy• The new Jerusalem will be pure eternally• Abundant and bountiful provision• Waters of life from God’s house

– See Ezekiel 47 & Revelation 22

• The land of the Lord’s enemies will be desolate• All men will be judged• The Lord’s redeemed will be fully pardoned

So what?• The Lord judges all men; starting with His people• The Lord’s judgements stand for eternity• The Lord’s people will experience hardship• The Lord’s people should cry out for relief• The Lord’s intention is repentance and restoration• The battle is the Lord’s • It is the Lord who calls the nations to judgement• The wicked feel wronged by God• The Lord is sovereign• God will be seen and worshipped for who He is• All who are not for God are against Him• We have a sure, certain and eternal hope