Joel 3:8b-21
There is a Good Future for Yahweh’s People
This final message puts the three previous messages in perspective. The locusts do not get a mention! Their role was to feature as a lived-in metaphor about the trauma and suffering the people were going to endure – the topic in Messages 2 and 3. The future that has been hinted at comes into perspective in Message 4 but, as we would expect, is presented in metaphors. This is not ‘special knowledge’ of future history but glimpses and hints that were intended to inspire and encourage Yahweh’s people to live life in the ‘now‘ time with Yahweh’s perspective as their guide.
You may find it helpful to have an overview of the poetic layout of this message while reading through the following. Use the link to print (single A4 page) or view on a separate screen: Joel message 4 – overview.
| A | Yahweh has spoken. | Confirming Joel’s messages are from Yahweh |
| B | Yahweh’s assessment of his people’s aggressors | |
| a | 9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! | |
| b | Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. | |
| c | 10 Beat your ploughshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. | |
| b1 | Let the weakling say, ‘I am strong!’ | |
| a1 | 11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. | |
| C | Bring down your warriors, O Yahweh! | Joel’s cry of anticipation of the completion of Yahweh’s plans |
| D | Yahweh judges the rebels | |
| a | 12 ‘Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, | |
| b | for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. | |
| c | 13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. | |
| d | Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow. | |
| E | So great is their wickedness!’ | Yahweh’s judgement is deserved |
| D1 | Yahweh’s judgement affects all of creation | |
| a1 | 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! | |
| b1 | For the day of Yahweh is near in the valley of decision. | |
| c1 | 15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. | |
| d1 | 16 Yahweh will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. | |
| C1 | But Yahweh will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. | Yahweh’s plan includes the preservation of his people |
| B1 | Yahweh’s assessment of his people’s future | |
| a | 17 ‘Then you will know that I, Yahweh your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. | |
| b | 18 ‘In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. | |
| c | A fountain will flow out of Yahweh’s house and will water the valley of acacias. | |
| b1 | 19 But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood. | |
| a1 | 20 Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. 21 Their bloodguilt, which I have not pardoned, I will pardon.’ | |
| A1 | Yahweh dwells in Zion! | Confirming Yahweh’s commitment to his People |
Written: 4 March 2025
Published: 22 April 2025