The Nugget:
Joel 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
My Comment:
In this text God declares what he will do, to whom, and why.
God will gather all nations. God will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, a famous battle ground in Scripture.
God will plead with the nations there on behalf of his people and his heritage Israel.
Why will He do all this?
Because (1) the nations have scattered the Jews among the nations; and most significant for this present time, (2) God charges the nations for “parting my land.”
If you are familiar with the content of Bible prophecy, you will immediately understand what a precarious position any country takes who would dare to take part in “parting” God’s land, Israel.
If you are not familiar with Bible prophecy, it is imperative that you change course in your life and get to know the Bible. If enough people become knowledgeable about the Bible, they will wisely have positioned themselves to take the proper stance toward the nation of Israel. God promises to bless those who bless Abraham (Genesis 12:3), and curse those who curse Abraham. In Bible language this means those who work against Israel of today are guilty of cursing Abraham. The proper attitude for all Christians to take to the Jews and Israel the nation is clearly stated in Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”
Any so-called “Two-State Solution” is clearly directly contrary to the will of God plainly declared in the Bible. It is about time that more Christians spend less time on the frivolities of this life such as sports and entertainment and self-indulgence and use the time gained to reach out to win others to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. That alone would be a giant step forward in remedying many of the moral and spiritual ills of this society. We should use the time gained to develop a deeper knowledge of what the Bible itself actually teaches. That is what Real Bible Study is all about! The cross references I share below will lead any thoughtful reader to much material in the Bible that pertains to Bible prophecy as it may pertain to events unfolding in our day.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 950 for Joel 3:2.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 979 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Joel 3:2.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
Joel 3:2. also gather. ver. Joel 3:11, 14. 2 K 10:21. Is 66:18. Ezk 38:15. Mi 4:11. *Zp 3:8, 19. +*Zc 12:2. **Zc 14:2-4. Re 16:14, 16. 19:19-21. 20:8. all nations. FS171o3, Ge 41:57. All put by the Figure Synecdoche (of the Whole) for representatives or people from all nations. **Ps 83:1-8, 14-18. Je 25:31. 28:8. Zc 2:8. 14:3. **Mt 25:32. the valley of Jehoshaphat. i.e. Jehovah hath judged. Between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. Mentioned only here and ver. Joel 3:12; the event recorded in 2 Ch 20:21-26 being typical of this scene of future judgment of the nations (CB). ver. Joel 3:12. =2 Ch 20:21-26. *Ezk 39:11. *Zc 14:4. will plead with them. or, will judge them. The judgment of Mt 25 turns on how the nations had treated “My brethren,” and not upon the grounds of justification by faith (CB). Is 51:22. *Is 66:16. Je 25:31. *Ezk 38:22. Am 1:11. Ob 1:10-16. Mic 4:3. Zc 12:3, 4. Mt 22:7. **Mt 25:31-46. Re 11:18. 16:6. 18:20, 21. my people. +*Dt 32:43. Ho 2:23. Mt 25:31-46. my heritage. Dt 32:9. Je 12:7. Israel. Note this; not merely Judah, but the twelve-tribed nation. **Ezk 37:22. whom they have scattered. Je 50:17. and parted my land. +*Ge 12:2, 3, 7. +*Ge 13:15. +*Ge 17:7, 8. **Le 25:23. +**Dt 32:43. Je 12:14. 49:1. Ezk 25:8. 35:10. **Ezk 48:14. Da 11:39. Zp 2:8-10.