Joel 3:1-16

3:1 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. 4 “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the Lord has spoken.” 9 Proclaim this among the nations:Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men.Let all the men of war draw near;let them come up.10 Beat your plowshares into swords,and your pruning hooks into spears;let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” 11 Hasten and come,all you surrounding nations,and gather yourselves there.Bring down your warriors, O Lord.12 Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle,for the harvest is ripe.Go in, tread,for the wine press is full.The vats overflow,for their evil is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes,in the valley of decision!For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.15 The sun and the moon are darkened,and the stars withdraw their shining. 16 The Lord roars from Zion,and utters his voice from Jerusalem,and the heavens and the earth quake.But the Lord is a refuge to his people,a stronghold to the people of Israel.

The first nine verse of this passage are a wonderful for telling of the victory Christ will have over sin! The Israelites had hardened their hearts and giving themselves over to the sinful pleasures of the world. In love God allowed them to suffer and in love He brought them up and restored them. Just as they wanted nothing to do with God, we ourselves were the same. We had disobeyed God's perfect law and deserved to be given over to our enemies and death. Yet in rich mercy, He who knew NO sin, took our blame, so that we may enjoy His righteousness!!! Nothing or no one can stand against the mighty power of our God!

Verses 9-16: "Here is a challenge to all the enemies of God's people. There is no escaping God's judgments; hardened sinners, in that day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. Most of the prophets foretell the same final victory of the church of God over all that oppose it. To the wicked it will be a terrible day, but to the righteous it will be a joyful day. What cause have those who possess an interest in Christ, to glory in their Strength and their Redeemer! The acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour to some, will be a day of remarkable vengeance to others: let every one that is out of Christ awake, and flee from the wrath to come." - Matthew Henry

This section is a both a strong warning and a great encouragement. If you are not in Christ, there is wrath coming, awake and turn from your sins! If you in Christ rejoice in His strength and mercy, for you have been redeemed! This should also be an encouragement for believers to evangelize. How amazing it is that God placed His wrath on His Son so that His return may be a "remarkable day" for those who call on His name!