Joel 3:12-16 - In the valley of decision

3:12

The nations will advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the valley of judgement, and there they will be judged. So let’s see what is going on here. The nations are in rebellion against God and against His people. It is in their hearts to rebel, to be full of their own plans and ideas. God lets them, indeed calls them, to seek to fulfil these plans, and there they will be judged by God. To put this in a modern context, the nations of the West are in rebellion against God, seeking to go their own way. God will call them to a place of judgement.

3:13,14

This judgement will be terrible, for the full guilt of the nations will be exposed for what it is. There is a recurrent idea in Scripture that God allows sin to reach a certain level, then judgement is executed. Hence the harvest analogy, both here and elsewhere.

Many nations are called into the valley of decision, many nations in rebellion. They have made their decision, but now the day of the Lord is near, and the nations will learn of His decision.

3:15,16

Verse 15 is using the language of eclipses which were thought be portents of doom. The nations will be covered by doom. The Lord will roar from Zion. We should remember that Israel is still central to God’s plans. We may look at Israel and ask how can this be, not just because the size of Israel, but because of its unrighteousness. But we forget that the source of the plans is God. He will lead Israel to repent and believe. Then righteousness will shine from Israel, and the earth will tremble. Moreover, the Lord will be a refuge for His people.