We saw in the previous verses how the enemies of God and His people, the
Gentiles, run into the LORD’s hand. What they have devised as evil against
God’s people will be reversed by the LORD. They will meet their Judge
and His righteous judgment.
So, we read in Joel 3:14, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision:
for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” The Hebrew
word used here for “multitude” also carries with it the idea of disturbance,
commotion, or tumult. Joel paints before our eyes a picture of a valley full
of troops. Twice in this verse, the valley is called the valley of decision.
After careful and thorough consideration, the LORD has reached His
decision, and the execution of judgment will soon be set in hand. The
nations decided against the LORD, the LORD now decides against them.
Joel continues, “The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars
shall withdraw their shining.” The whole earth and all its inhabitants are
involved in this decision and the righteous judgment that follows. The sun
and the moon withdraw their light. Previously the locusts were a harbinger
of this darkness and the coming Day of the LORD. In Joel 2:30-31, the
prophet prophesied about the coming Day of the LORD and announced,
“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, fire, and
pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.”
Then the time comes that the LORD speaks (Joel 3:16), “The LORD also
shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens
and the earth shall shake.” What a day this is... On this day, the LORD
executes his righteous judgment on the entire creation. Heaven and earth
will tremble because of His thundering voice. But at the same time, that day
is the moment of final deliverance for God’s people. As we read in Joel
2:32, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.”
That deliverance is in Mount Zion. In other words, the roaring voice of the
Lord is also a place of refuge. (Nahum 1:2 and 4).
We know how Jesus died outside the walls of Jerusalem. God poured out
His wrath over the sin of the world on His own Son. Those who call on His
name will be redeemed in the coming great day of the Lord. God will not
judge sin twice. Do we know that our sins are forgiven, and our sin is taken
away through Jesus Christ? Do we believe in Him? What a comfort, “but
the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of
Israel.”