The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Joel 3:12,
"Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit
to judge all the nations on every side."
to judge all the nations on every side."
In Joel's prophecy, the Lord speaks of a harvesting of the nations. Specifically, he speaks of judgment against nations for their treatment of his chosen people Israel. He says of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, "There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine that they might drink."
This speaks to me of a judgment the Scriptures foretell of the nations of the earth, a judgment that brings to an end the current age. As in Joel's prophecy, the judgment is seen as a harvesting of the nations of the earth. In Joel 3:13-16 we read, "'Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!' Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel."
This reminds me of the judgment we read of concerning Jesus Christ in the last days, also seen as a harvesting of the earth, "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16.
We read of the Lord on his throne in Matthew 25:31-41, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world' ... Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'"
This being the case of things, prudence and wisdom dictate we avail ourselves of all possible means to find ourselves on the right side of the Lord's judgment. Woe to the man who ignores the reality of the Lord's judgment headed our way! Herein is measured our fear of the Lord. As we read in Proverbs 1:29-33, "Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
Today I thank God that I have escaped the Lord's judgment because he has credited my account with his payment for sin he made on that cross!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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