The word of YHWH is rich and powerful. There is something to learn every time you open the Bible. I spent the majority of my childhood and adult life studying the New Testament. I thought the Old Testament was…well, just that…OLD, as in there is no need to really study it. After all, Jesus (Yeshua) did away with all of that. It was all about him now and me getting to heaven at the end of my life.
Oh! How wrong I was. I’ve learned more from the Old Testament than I thought possible. It actually helps establishes a foundation for the New Testament. Now I can’t get enough of studying the beginning of life, actions, reactions, wars, love, hope and everything else that goes on today.
With that said, today’s passage, Joel 3, is about the Day of YHWH and what will happen. The end will be like the beginning – full of life, hope, love, health and every other good thing. But like everything in scripture it can apply to us now – physically and spiritually. Why? Because YHWH’s words are life and are forever established.
In the following passage YHWH is in the Valley of Decision with many, many people. The sun, moon and stars are no longer shining. Everything shakes because of YHWH’s roar and thunder. This will frighten people, but God said He will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold from the enemies of Egypt and Edom. These nations represent the world and all they have to offer. However, when it is all said and done, His people will survive and flourish.
Such enormous crowds in the Valley of Decision! For the Day of YHWH is upon us in the Valley of Decision! The sun and moon have grown black, and the stars have stopped shining. YHWH will roar from Tziyon; he will thunder from Yerushalayim; the sky and the earth will shake. But YHWH will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
“You will know that I am YHWH your God, living on Tziyon my holy mountain.”Then Yerushalayim will be holy, and foreigners will pass through her no more. Then, when that time comes, the mountains will drip with sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the streambeds of Y’hudah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of YHWH to water the Sheetim Valley.
But Egypt will be desolate and Edom a desert waste, because of the violence done to the people of Y’hudah, because they shed innocent blood in their land.
Y’hudah will be inhabited forever, Yerushalayim through all generations.
“I will cleanse them of bloodguilt which I have not yet cleansed,” for YHWH is living in Tziyon. (Joel 3:14-21 CJB)
Joel 3 Tells Us What God Will Do For Us
The good thing about God’s word is that it can apply to us today. It’s not an ancient document that belongs only to the past. His word is like Him and it applies to the past, the present and the future. There is more wisdom in this book alone than all the other books in the world combined – in my humble opinion.
Joel lets us know those who come against God’s people will become desolate. They will be like a waste land with nothing growing, just death, starvation and thirst running rampant. There will be nowhere to turn for relief because the whole land they are in is desolate, physically and spiritually.
Mountains Drip Down Sweet Wine
However, God’s people will be taken care of. They will be in a place where sweet wine will be in abundance, dropping down from the mountains. Sweet wine is the goodness of life. Some sweet wines include dark berries and grapes. These fruits carry great health benefits. Wine also calms the nerves and gives us an easy going feeling.
The mountains are always where God sits or abides. So in essence He is giving us abundance from His own place. All that we want will come from Him. To drop down means there is no hard work on our part. We might have to collect it from the base of the mountain, but we don’t have to climb it to gather anything. We don’t have to risk our lives. We just have to go get it.
Drop down can also apply to prophecy. In a spiritual sense, God will give us new understanding, new knowledge and the right directions to follow. He’ll make sure we have what we need.
Milk flowing from the Hills
Milk will flow from the hills. Flow means it’s easy and continuous. Once again, there’s no hard work involved. God will do this for us. We don’t have to labor and beg for it. He will do it because He loves us. We don’t have to worry about what we need to eat to survive. He’s got that covered.
Animals who give milk graze the hillsides so there will be an abundance of food and milk to drink. There will be no lack, no starvation like for our enemies. We won’t wander through a desert waste land trying to find nourishment for our bodies or our souls because YHWH will give us what we need. He will feed us physically and spiritually.
In a spiritual sense, we are to desire the sincere milk of the word. We are to desire the foundation of what God wants to teach us. Milk is what is given to babies. We feed them what they can digest until they are old enough and mature enough to start solid food. It’s the same way with us. He wants to teach us the right things instead of the traditions of men that we have learned. He wants us to be like Him. Then we can grow up, teach others and help them through their difficulties. Let’s receive the milk flowing continuously from the hills, which comes our help. Let’s drink the milk so we can eat the meat.
Water Everywhere
There will be water everywhere so no one will be thirsty physically or spiritually because streams in the land will flow and a spring, which gives life, will flow from YHWH’s house to the valley. Yah’s spring will provide spiritual food for His people. There will be no lack inside or outside. Fullness will abound.
How Joel 3 Applies to Us Today
Yah can do everything He said for us now! We don’t have to wait until the end. He said He will be with us always, even now. All we have to do is draw close to Him and He’ll draw close to us. How do we do that? We seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We learn what He really wants from us. We show love and compassion, even to our enemies and those who use us. We honor Him in how we live our lives. HE IS ALWAYS FOR US! Don’t forget that.
If there is a difficult situation you are going through, just ask Yah for help. He will help you through it. When people mistreat you or use you ask God to help you love them anyway because that’s what He requires. Then step out of His way because He will take care of the situation for you. He will bless you when others try to curse you. He will give you a higher position and fire the person who tried to get you fired. He will allow the truth to come out when you thought it would never happen. He will cause people to bless you when they don’t even know why they are doing it. TRUST Yah. Do what He says (it’s in the scriptures). You’ll see Joel 3 come alive in your life and you’ll be amazed at the results.
What is one thing you can do personally to draw closer to YHWH? What has YHWH told you to let go and then He’s blessed you for it? Leave your answer in the comments below.