August 16, Tuesday Devotion

August 16, Tuesday Devotion

Joel 3:9-17

9 Say to the nations far and wide: “Get ready for war! Call out your best warriors. Let all your fighting men advance for the attack. 10 Hammer your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Train even your weaklings to be warriors. 11 Come quickly, all you nations everywhere. Gather together in the valley.”

And now, O Lord, call out your warriors!

12 “Let the nations be called to arms. Let them march to the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I, the Lord, will sit to pronounce judgment on them all. 13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread the grapes, for the winepress is full. The storage vats are overflowing with the wickedness of these people.”

14 Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. There the day of the Lord will soon arrive. 15 The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine. 16 The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.

17 “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, live in Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy forever, and foreign armies will never conquer her again.

Quick Notes/Questions

This passage seems to be a reverse from some of the other things we read about God and his peace.  The scripture clearly states here that God is calling for war.  But this war is not against just anyone.  It is a war against the build up of sin and wickedness of the people for years on end.  It is a war against the constant willful disobedience of people who are very aware of who God is yet still do evil.  How long does God wait before he declares war?  I do not know.  How long should we be willful in our disobedience?

Quick Prayer

Jesus, I wish to renounce all of the evil that overflows from me.  Fill me up with your Spirit that I might spill love and grace.  Amen.