Take Two: Joel 3, Proverbs 11

As we wrap up this third chapter, we see the restoration of the Nation of Israel. This is the period of judgment yet to come in human history when God will judge the enemies of His people and will restore His people to their land.

Just to lay my cards on the table: I hold to a pretty literal reading of this text. I do not find a lot of allegory or symbolism. I see no need to substitute the church (spiritual Israel) for Israel (national/ethnic Israel). In fact, it is because of passages like this (and others) that my eschatology (end-times beliefs) is as it is. If you had to put a label on me, you could say that I am "dispensational" in my thinking, however I do not hold to many of the tenets of classical dispensationalism as many define it today. I am also what one would call "pre-tribulation" (pre-trib) and "pre-millenial" (pre-mil) in my thinking. This means, in essence, that I believe that there will be a literal, physical rapture of the church (believers) prior to the start of a literal 7 year period of tribulation...the significance of which this world has never seen. The tribulation will be concluded with the literal return of Christ and the establishment of the literal Millenial Kingdom (1000 year reign)...which I believe this passage refers to.

Now...do you have to understand or agree with everything I just said? No. I lay the comments out there because there are people who get into this type of bible study...and they will try to assign labels to me if I don't take one for myself now. However they have come down on the issues of the "end times" affects how they read this passage. Rather than answer a 40 page blog response as to why I am wrong (in their view), I thought I would preface my comments in this way.

Joel 3:1-2 gives the theme of the "Day of the Lord" again. This is not to say that the judgments of the locust and drought were not also parts of the Day of the Lord...but the attention here is focused on restoring God's people and the judgment is turned against the enemies of God's people. All of the "nations" will be gathered in the "valley of Jehoshaphat." This literally means "Yahweh (God) judges" and, while the location is specifically unknown, is typically understood to be the referring to the location and events of the battle of Armageddon.

God will bring judgment against the nations on behalf of His people. The charges: They scattered the people (exile), took their land, and sold God's people into slavery for their own profit or benefit (Joel 3:3). Specifically, the people of Tyre, Sidon, and the regions of Philistia are mentioned (Joel 3:4), but all of the nations are in view.

A call to arms goes out to the nations to tell them to prepare for war and come fight against God (Joel 3:9-11). A call to God also goes up for the Lord to lead his mighty ones into battle. (I understand this to refer in part to the events of Rev 19:11-21).

The evil of the nations is abundant before God (Joel 3:13) and the time is upon them for the judgment of God (Joel 3:14-16). God speaks, and the nations are destroyed, while His people find refuge. Now all of the world will know of the power of God and no enemies will trample this new Jerusalem which boasts of blessing and provision...and perfect peace (Joel 3:17-21). This peace comes...only because the Lord Himself dwells among His people (Joel 3:21).

Now I shared how I came to my conclusions on what these events refer to. One is entitled to have different views...but each view should be substantiated. If one chooses to discount this interpretation, that's fine...but on what basis? Have you worked out and established all of the parameters of your interpretative position? Having studied some of the best guys out there on many different views of how understand the "end times," I have come to be convinced that my position (while not always the most popular) carries with it the strength of treating the OT as literally as is required of biblical text...while at the same time giving due consideration to the "church age" and the events of our contemporary world.

What is the big picture? It is simply that God is at work bringing His people into fellowship with Him. Our rebellion has separated us from God at times (Is 59:1-2) and He has judged this rebellion. At times we feel the consequence of that judgment when God uses circumstances to draw us back to Him. Further, none of what occurs extends beyond God's control. None of His enemies ever get a free pass. There is a day of reckoning to come when God will destroy all evil and establish a throne of perfect righteousness...in this world, as it is in heaven. Evil will resist and even war against it, but the Day of the Lord is coming. Count on it.

Proverbs 11:22 is the takeaway today. What a picture! Like a beautiful piece of jewelry in the nose of a pig is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion. The ring is valuable and desired and precious (just as the woman of beauty), but the pig just ruins it (just as the indiscretion). What does it mean to be indiscreet? It could be that this is a reference to promiscuous behavior. It may mean that the woman "cussed like a sailor" or gossipped or wasted possessions, etc. Either way...the application is the same. No matter how good we look on the outside, if our inside (heart) doesn't appear consistent...it is of no value. In other words, we cannot take pleasure in looking like a wonderful committed Christ-follower on Sunday...while being an insolent, rebellious, mean person on Monday. This applies both to men and women. We must endeavor to be consistient...inside and out.

(Tomorrow, we go back to the New Testament. See you in the Book of Hebrews!)
Grace,