Joel chapter 3

vs 1

So we're really talking never, aren't we? No, that's not true. I mean we're either talking about 1948 (which doesn't really seem to fit the mould), we're talking about a future time when Israel gets it's act together (in which you would have to be more patient than God to wait for that), or Jerusalem and Judah are figurative in a heavenly, God's people, Christianly sense (in which case plenty of patience is still suggested).

vs 2

This isn't sounding quite so happy as one would hope, especially if you're a gentile. So where do we fit in this mass judgment in the valley of judgment fit in with the verse before? I think we're pretty much looking at end of days stuff here, in which case us Gentiles have been grafted into the tree of Israel, so we're all right. I hope.

vs 3

Obviously the nations are in need of a bit of judgment, because they really have acted quite despicably. So perhaps we shouldn't feel so bad.

Now here's the thing - are these charges current? Are the future? Are they historical? Or are they metaphorical?

We assume they're not current. We don't want them to be metaphorical (and wouldn't that make Joel's prophecy a bit lame to the people hearing it?). So we think possible either past or future, or both.

If they are in the future, then all is well - we can expect these things to happen to Israel.

If they are in the past (and we're talking possibly 2500 years or more past), then why will the nations of the future pay punishment for the actions of nations they probably had very little linkage with, even historically? I didn't think God punished the sins of the people to their 9th or 10th generation. Or does God treat nations like an entity, and therefore punishes them for their actions, rather than just the people responsible? Does that mean that God will also punish corporations as entities? I wonder.

vs 4

This sounds all too much like an Israel-Palestine conflict: "You started it!" "Did not!" "Yeah, well you did that thing last, so now we have to retaliate!" "But that was in relatiation for something you did!" "Yeah, but you deserved that!" and so each side goes on happily killing each other.

The only difference here is that God is actually always right, and going against him is sin, so he's justified in this argument.

vs 5

That's pretty much as close to an attack against God directly as you can get, if you ask me. Philistia must have a memory short enough that they don't remember what happens when they messed with God directly last time (the whole tabernacle incident).

vs 6

Well, someone obviously did this. It sounds kinda exile-y to me. But that sort of thing happened all the time in the old days. No doubt if Israel had done it (no doubt they did) then it would be righteous punishment for people going against God.

vs 7

It's not difficult to see why people would see the 1948 Israel as a culmination of this promise. However, if you think this is an end of days thing, then I am guessing this is going to hold true for Christians too - that means they'll be sold into slavery before they get to come back. Not all flowers and sunshine.

vs 8

Eye for an eye sort of thing.

vs 9

Now, see, this is just one more example of God posturing like Bruce Lee. I feel all my kung fu analogies hold here. Here is God licking the blood of his metaphorical fingers after being attacked by the nations, and then tearing his shirt off, flexing his muscles and making the quintessential Bruce Lee "come get some" hand gesture.

vs 10

So basically everyone is to come and attack God. God thinks he can take them all on.

What will happen? Can God possibly succeed against all these odds? Find out next time!