The Gathering of the Nations Joel 3:2

Joel the prophet shared how the LORD was to “bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem”, and in chapter three and verse two of his prophesy, Joel shared how the LORD will “gather all nations” where we read:

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

The verse begins, “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat,...” Joel began with the phrase, “I will also gather” or “assemble and collect” “all nations” which means “people who are usually non-Hebrew”, “and will bring them down” or “descend, decline, march and sink down” “into the valley” which refers to “the vale, lowland and open country” “of Jehoshaphat” which means “Jehovah has judged” and was “symbolical name of a valley near Jerusalem which is the place of ultimate judgment; maybe the deep ravine which separates Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives through which the Kidron flowed”. At this point in time, the LORD will “assemble” the people who are non-Hebrew into the valley which is named “Jehovah has judged”.

The verse continues, “...and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” Joel added, “and will plead” or “judge, govern, vindicate and punish” “with them there for my people” which means “nation, persons, members of one's people, compatriots, countrymen, kinsman and kindred” “and for my heritage” or “possession, property, inheritance, portion and property” “Israel” which means “God prevails” and is “the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “whom they have scattered” or “dispersed” “among the nations” which means “people who are usually non-Hebrew”, “and parted” or “divided, shared, plundered, allotted, apportioned and assigned” “my land” which refers to “the earth, territory, district, region, piece of ground and surface of the earth”. Not only will the LORD “gather the nations” into this “valley” of judgment, but he will “vindicate and punish” them because they “dispersed” the people of “Israel” and divided God's land.

When we meditate upon these words of Joel, we begin to see the judgment of God upon the enemies of “Israel”. Though it may appear the “enemy nations” are escaping God's mighty hand, His judgment is sure, and His reasons are certain. Let us not be deceived. If we are “friends of the world”, we are “enemies of God”. Those who refuse to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will receive their just recompense for their rejection. May all who read these words take heed and receive the LORD Jesus before His judgment falls.

Next time Joel shares more about how the nations treated God's people, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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