November 18, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Lord Dwells in Zion

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Opening Prayer

Sovereign God, I make a highway for You through the wilderness of my life. Yes, I clear a way for You.

Read Joel 3:1-21

[1] “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, [2] I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. [3] They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink. [4] “Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. [5] For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. [6] You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland. [7] “See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. [8] I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.” The LORD has spoken. [9] Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. [10] Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!” [11] Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, LORD! [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. [13] 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!” [14] Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. [15] The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. [16] The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. [17] “Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. [18] “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house and will water the valley of acacias. [19] But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood. [20] Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. [21] Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not.” The LORD dwells in Zion!

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

It is a great feeling to know we are secure in the hand of God, rather than caught in the grip of circumstances.

Why would God trouble himself to discipline his people? Why all the devastating locust and military attacks, the ups and downs of history? The answer lies in a key idea in Joel, “The Lord dwells in Zion!” (21). It is the grand conclusion of the book. God made a covenant with his people. They were unfaithful and failed often, but God patiently disciplined them, and in all the good and bad times he was keen to demonstrate to Judah and the world that he dwelled in the midst of his people. This will be his final point (Ezek. 48:35).

God’s actions will conclude with the restoration of the fortunes of his people (1). God will put a decisive end to all the enemies of his people in a final battle where God will judge (12) all nations (see Rev. 19:11-21). All those who attacked God’s people are themselves sinful; they were only instruments in the hands of God, who was disciplining and perfecting his people. Like a mighty lion, the Lord will roar from Zion (16), and it will be more terrifying than any locust or military attack or any disaster the world has ever seen. It will be judgment time, and it will be a totally terrifying day (see Heb. 10:31).

Everyone stands in the “valley of decision” (14)–referring to God’s final judgment based on their choice on what their position would be on the day of the Lord (see Dan. 12:2: Matt. 25:31-46). For those who turn (or return) to God in Christ, “the Lord will be a refuge … a stronghold” (16). The others will be exposed to unimaginable danger and judgment. The choice is ours. God’s people will discover that God dwells in Zion, and therefore it will be a safe place (Psa. 46:11). God offers forgiveness (21), salvation, safety and blessing. The choice is ours.

Apply

Think of the “multitudes in the valley of decision.” How many of them come into contact with you regularly? What will you do about it?

Closing prayer

Father, I admit that often I forget the big picture and get overwhelmed by the present. I thank You for this reminder that You are in charge of history and my history.

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