Exposition by Max A Forsythe
The
Reformer's Fire
Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Hardly a week goes by that I don't field some question regarding the end of the world within the context of the upcoming millennial crossing which will happen the first of January in 2001! Of course, conventional wisdom is a year off from the technical truth of our current calendar, and if the true truth be known, the real millennial crossing was between a year and five years ago, since that is the probable amount by which our calendar is off! If I really tried, I suppose I could make a strong case for an enjoyable fictional scenario tied into recent politics, economics and the ongoing general spiritual apathy. But I won't, because I would enjoy the prospect too much and the biblical texts do not lend themselves to such a specific time table anyway.
In spite of the calendar specifics of this decade, let us carefully consider the text of Joel as we look for the teaching laid out before us about the last days, the last battle and the last judgment. We may divide our scripture portion into three. Verses one to eight of Joel Three set the scene for the great ingathering of tribes, peoples and nations. Verses nine to seventeen highlight the Divine summons for battle and judgment. Verses eighteen through twenty-one show the promise of restoration, mercy and salvation for those whom the Lord our God will call from every tribe and nation. Like all prophecy, there are immediate events laid out here as well as a symbolic understanding of the final Great Day of the Lord which will indeed come at the end of the age.
Our first division of the text is in the first eight verses. The Valley of Jehoshaphat figures prominently in this section. Translated, the name of the valley means: "the valley where the Lord will judge." Now in the history of Israel, there were two occasions for which that specific valley was remembered. In 1st Kings 22, King Jehoshaphat of Judah and King Ahab of Israel are on their way to make war together. Ahab's death is predicted by a prophet of the Lord, and in spite of special precautions, Ahab meets his final end in the battle that results. King Jehoshaphat learns well this judgment of the Lord.
The second possibility for the naming of this valley is reported in 2nd Chronicles 20 where we read of a great multitude of allied armies stealing a march on King Jehoshaphat. They camped in a valley at En-Gedi which was within a day's march of Jerusalem. Since the king of Judah was caught unmobilized and unawares, he pleads his case before the Lord of heaven: "12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."
Providentially, the Lord turns the invading alliance against themselves. And by the time, the infighting is complete, there are not enough invaders to remain any threat to God's people. These nations suffered a timely judgment from the Lord for doing all those terrible things listed in the first eight verses! In this way were the enemies of God's people weakened and prepared for further judgment when larger, stronger kingdoms came to carry away the human spoils The valley where the Lord will judge became known as the valley of blessing. How is this so? Obviously, in the historic context the people of Judah were saved and the prophet would teach us that the last days will be like this former campaigna
However, we might add to the general history of Palestine, that by the time of Christ, even remnants of all the former enemies of Israel had been absorbed into the Jewish nation, so in the long run a remnant of those being destroyed were added to the number of those who called on the Name of our Lord.
In the second portion of our text today, verses nine through seventeen we see the enemies of our Lord invited to another valley campaign. How does the pathetic anti-war protest song of the sixties go? "When will they ever learn?" As Psalm Two well declares, the God of heaven laughs when the nations plot against Him and His Son! Consider well all of the assorted enemies of Christ our Lord. The unnumbered hosts are invited to arm themselves and gather around Zion, the city of our God - wherever His Bride, the Church is ministering until the end of time.
Unlike the cultic Mohammedans, the Christian "states" do not declare holy wars to eradicate the enemies of the church. But, in effect, this is the declaration of the Lord to be His intent when the last battle comes to pass. He will wage a Holy War against those who oppose Himself. The great Thanksgiving Hymn Come, Ye Thankful People, Come is more about our text today than it is about giving thanks for the annual croppage prepared for our material needs. The text here in Joel looks forward to that of Revelation 14: 15-19 where the harvest sickles and the wine press are prepared for a greater multitude than ever gathered against little Judah.
Just as the Lord God decided when to bring judgment upon the Canaanite nations, so does He have a time and place reserved for the whole of mankind. Yes, when the great event comes, we too will be there because this invitation is a general invitation for all of mankind. And the invitation is not a voluntary one, this invitation is like a summons to court. "The Lord also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and the earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel." In the midst of the terrible Day of the Lord when all mankind will be judged in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, the people of God will be blessed because of the shelter they have under the wings of Christ crucified, Christ risen and Christ triumphant. Remember, like all of mankind we will be found guilty of sin against our righteous and holy God. But unlike the vast majority, we will find favor, we will find mercy and salvation.
From our last scene in verses eighteen to twenty-one we gain a picture of our final harvest home. The key word in these verses is found in the last verse. It is the verb "acquit". Here we have it, centuries before the coming of Christ, and the prophet reveals the way out of the final judgment. It is God's wonderful plan of salvation. Even though the church must go through the last days and perhaps even suffer in the infighting of the last battle, once the last judgment is announced - we will realize the wonderful bounty of God's great mercy. See the apt description of heaven in verse eighteen? A land of milk and honey as the Israelites looked forward to it. This land, this blessed heaven is prepared for the Bride of Christ - all of those who have been called into the Old and New Covenant Churches.
Every time a mad man in the region rattles his saber, there are those who say that these are the end times. Every time American troops are dispatched to the mid-east there are some who read a final battle. And yet the last judgment has not happened yet. In spite of the increased interest in last things in the coming year, let us keep our heads on straight and prepare our hearts for heaven's home every day. Not by speculation, fear and trembling, but in a solid strengthening confidence that we belong to the Lord and that there is plenty of work for us to be about until He comes. If we have our souls already prepared, we shall have no surprises if He comes tomorrow or delays another thousand years.
Just as we enjoy the sabbath rest in our Lord's house week by week, and then go on to do the work of His kingdom day by day, so we shall be with Him forever and ever. Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly.
Resources Used:
Boice, James M. The Minor Prophets: An Expositional Commentary.
Hubbard, David A. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Joel & Amos.
Robertson, O Palmer. Welwyn Commentary Series: Prophet of the Coming Day of the Lord.
Places Preached:
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America)
Box 13926 -- Columbus, OH 43213
Joel03a 28 February 99
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