The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 3

 

THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET

JOEL 

CHAPTER 

3

1. For then, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2. I will gather all the nations  and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgement with them there, on account of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations. They have divided my land, 3. and cast lots for my people, and traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine, and drunk it down.

(The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verses 1 to 3)

Oh God my Father You love me so much that You stand up in order to defend me against the forces of evil and pass judgement on them. You know that many of the sins that I do are not done freely but because of the temptations of the evil one, who day and night is always ready to strike me in my areas of weakness. But  this evil spirit is a loser and will one day face the final judgement which will mark the end of evil Amen.


4. What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads swiftly and speedily. 5. For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.


(The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verses 4 to 5)


Oh God my Father, I ask You the same question. What am I to You my God and Father, what have I done to You to love me so much? I greatly thank You God for loving me so much Amen.




6. You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, removing them far from their own border. 7. But now I will rouse them to leave the places to which you have sold them, and I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads. 8. I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away; for the Lord has spoken. 


(The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verses 6 to 8)


Oh GOD my Father even though You permit us to experience tribulations for our own good, You will only permit this period of trial up to the point that we can bear it and hopefully have learnt our lesson and repented from our sins, else we might need further testing! 


I thank You my GOD and Father for not giving us such an easy life, so that we can experience growth on many levels both as humans and as Christians or Roman Catholics Amen.




9. Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war, stir up the warriors. Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up. 10. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weakling say, " I am a warrior."


(The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verses 9 to 10)


Oh God now is the time to arm ourselves with the weapons of the Holy Spirit, now is the time to be grounded in the "Good News" for the forces of evil are launching one attack after another, and we need to be armed well against our greatest enemy Amen.


11. Come quickly, all you nations, gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD. 12. Let the nations rouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to Judge all the neighbouring nations.


(The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verses 11 to 12)



Oh all nations may we unite and rejoice, repent from our sinful ways and turn to You my God and Father and celebrate in joy and thanksgiving. I invite you to click on the following link and join me in this song of praise amen


Come on and Celebrate



13. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow for their wickedness is great.


(The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verse 13)


Oh God and brothers and sisters in God my Father this is the 'Year of Mercy', this is the time for us wake up from our dream world and turn back from our ways to God, This is the time to reach others and help them unite back to You my God and Father Amen. Let us pass on the message of Your mercy by showing our mercy to others. Amen.



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 the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.



(The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verses 14 to 15)



Oh God my Father I pray that I will always seek Your light, for even what seems to be light in me can in truth be darkness. I pray that You never cease to shine Your love care and faith one me, for I am like the moon that has not its own light, but that which it receives from the Sun Amen.



16. The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake. But the LORD is a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.


(The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verse 16)


Oh God indeed You are the 'Rock of my Salvation', only in You do I find refuge, love and consolation and not in people or in the ways of the world. Blessed be the Holy Name of God. In a spirit of prayer and praise I invite You to click on the following link and join me in praise and worship to God, the 'Rock of my Salvation'



God the Rock of My Salvation


17. So you shall know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it.


(The Book of Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verse 17)


Oh God I am sorry to say that at times even though we see the signs we do not obey them, they may be signs of the world or commandments. Today I violated a visible  traffic sign. I am still so weak in obedience  I pray that You remain close by me, for I cannot survive for one second without You. Amen. I wish to obey You by being holy, but I am still far away. Amen.



18. In that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, the hills shall flow with milk, and all the stream beds of Judah shall flow with water; a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Wadi Shittim.


(The Book of Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verse 18)


Oh God my Father You are my only source of love and life. Your presence is like fresh water that irrigates the dryness of my soul and gives new life to me. Amen.



19. Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they have shed innocent blood. 20. But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. 21. I will avenge their blood, and I will not clear the guilty for the LORD dwells in Zion.



(The Book of Prophets Joel Chapter 3 verses 19 to 21)



Oh God my Father as in the case of the people of Judah You will also avenge me from my enemies that are trying to keep me in exile in my personal sinful state which I call as Egypt. My sinful self keeps me in bondage, but as You said You will make my Egypt a desolation and pay it for all the discomfort it has been causing me throughout mt life. I thank You God my Father for treating me and my case as being a top priority Amen. Thank You God my Father.



I would like to end the third chapter of the book of the prophet Joel which brings us to the end of the book with the following prayer.



Oh God my Father there comes a time in life for one to make certain decisions, not all of them may have positive consequences, but if they are based on Your Word I consider them as being the fruit of prayer and not of rationality or deductive reasoning. I would again as I did many times offer You all my issues while still in the valley of decision so that You can pass the final judgement on me and my situations. I am ready to accept whatever outcome You consider as being the right one Amen.




I invite you to click on the following link which sends you to the first chapter of the book of the Prophet Amos:-

https://bibleanalysisbookssmallprophets.blogspot.com/2016/06/books-of-small-prophets-amos-chapter-1.html

The Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2

THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET

JOEL 

CHAPTER 

2

1. Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain!Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming,  it is near- 2. a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come.

(Book of Joel Chapter 2 verses 1 to 2)

Alert! Alert !to all Roman Catholics, Christians and all who believe in God, be aware, strengthen your roots in God, for the end of times may be closer than we may think it is. This terrorist group that is gradually advancing and increasing may mark the beginning of the final nuclear war among the nations that leads to the final war between the angels of God and the angels of the forces of evil, which then leads to God's restoration of both the heavens and the earth. Therefore, be prepared oh brothers and sisters be prepared, for we do not know the day or the hour!




3. Fire devours in front of them, and behind them, a flame burns. Before them is like the garden of Eden, but after them, a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them.


(Book of Joel Chapter 2 verse 3)




Oh God many times we are like your people. We are faced with the harsh dilemma of either choosing heaven and proceed towards it or look back and turn to the fires of death! The question is ours to make. Oh God may we all be worthy of choosing Heaven over hell Amen.




4. They have the appearance of horses, and like war-horses they charge. 5. As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle.


(Book of Joel Chapter 2 verses 4 to 5)



Oh God, our greatest enemy is our own self, which may take many different forms, ranging from our personal self to our social and intimate self. In truth we try to act as whole persons, but in reality, we behave differently in different settings, when exposed to different situations which may be both positive and negative, however only You oh God knows fully our real selves, we may on analyzing ourselves we may only realize a glimpse of our immense totality as human beings. Oh God may You continue to reveal ourselves to us every day of our lives so that by means of this awareness we will continue to claim victories against our greatest enemy, who at times can also appear to be our friend and in fact at  particular times is.



6. Before them peoples are in anguish, all faces grow pale. 7. Like warriors they charge, like soldiers they scale the wall. Each keeps to its own course, they do not swerve from their paths.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verses 6 to 7)




If humans oh God my Father are so scared of humans, what about their fear of You who is much more powerful and mighty than the forces of the world. As believers in You, we are also part of Your army. As in the case of the Assyrians whom, the prophet Joel, may be referring to, we are also to be steady when following You my God and Father. We are not to swerve in our faith according to the circumstances of our lives and follow You only when the going is good.




8. They do not jostle one another, each keeps to its own track; they burst through the weapons and are not halted. 9. They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls; they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verses 8 to 9)


Oh God, You are also able to break all the barriers that we may ever encounter that keep us apart from You. You are always victorious and forever glorious, Amen.




10. The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble. The sun and moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. 11. The LORD utters his voice at the head of his army; how vast is his host! Numberless are those who obey his command. Truly the day of the LORD is great; terrible indeed-who can endure it?


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verses 10 to 11)


Indeed oh God my Father there is none like You. I f the forces of evil are great Yours are greater and more powerful both in quality and in quantity. Nobody can withstand Your power and Your mercy, love and grace. You showed Your power to the Egyptians and to the inhabitants of Canaan, and You are able to show the same qualities in everybody's situation, no matter how difficult or life-threatening it may seem to be.




In order to sustain our faith and hope and courage in You my, God I invite all to click on the following link:-



There is non like You my God




12, Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13. rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, Your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verses 12 to 13)




Oh God, my Father I thank You for being so patient with me, for although I sincerely love You, but not more than You love me! You still bear with my shortcomings, for I have yet much to grow in my relationship with You. You still have not the first place in my life and that is a shame on me, for You are to have that special place and it can be shared with nothing and nobody. Amen




14. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD, your God?



(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verse 14)



Oh God although You call on us to repent from our ways it is ultimately our decision, however, whatever we choose we will reap the consequences of our decisions whether they be good or bad. Amen.




15. Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16. gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast, Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy.


(Book of Small Prophets Chapter 2 verses 15 to 16)


Oh my, God and Father, salvation is for all children and adults, therefore, let us all keep on teaching our children the message of the 'Good News' so that its message will keep on burning in their hearts and mind forever Amen. Let us all repent from our ways and celebrate our return back to the outstretched arms of our heavenly father who died in order to welcome us back home!




17. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep. Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples 'Where is their God?"


(Book of Small Prophets Chapter 2 verse 17)


Oh God my Father when the 'Twin Towers' terrorist attack took place there were some who asked the same question, "Where was God?", however in both cases, You were told to get lost and so You humbly departed from the situation however in the background God always remains at work even though by means of our negative actions we go against His will. Amen.




18. Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people.


(Book of Small Prophets Chapter 2 verse 18)




Oh God my Father, You love Your creation so much that You are jealous for its praise and worship, that is rightfully due to You and not to itself or to other humans. On the other hand, You are aware of what we are made of and You show Your sympathy and mercy on our fallen sinful state. I greatly thank You for putting up with my weak nature. Every second of my life I pray for Your Divine Mercy. Amen. Let us all join in this prayer to the 'Divine Mercy of God' by clicking on the following link:-



Prayer for Divine Mercy




19. In response to his people the LORD said; I am sending you grain, wine and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a mockery among the nations.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verse 19)


Oh God my Father, You are aware of our human condition that is limited by sin and the tendency t obe proud and selfish. Instead of punishing us with the same negative ways that we punish others, You bear with us and repay us with kindness instead of with fury and anger, even though at times for our own good at times You permit us to experience tribulations so that we grow in both mind body and spirit. Amen.




20. I will remove the northern army far from you, and drive it into a parched and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its rear into the western sea: its stench and foul smell will rise up. Surely he has done great things!


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verse 20)


Oh God, You are my fortress and my salvation, You are able to remove all the negative situations in our lives as if they were not even there in the first place, and turn the same situation into a positive one. You are able to take away the deadly venom from the fangs of the cobra and make it Your servant. Amen. Oh, how I wish oh God my Father that we all place our faith in You without any shred of doubt or reason to be afraid Amen.




21. Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! 22. Do not fear, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give their full yield.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verses 21 to 22)


Oh God my Father You are the Saviour of the whole world, meaning both humans and creatures. You are the God of all. When the time is right oh God You will lead us out of our Exodus or moments of crisis, however, I pray that You make us aware of the signs so that we can clearly follow them Amen.  



23. O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he gas given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verse 23)



Oh God my Father climate change global warming, or changing of the seasons, all the theories are insufficient for You are in control of the seasons, and all is under Your control even though humans meddle in the course of nature You have the final say. You have the ability to make the rain fall abundantly even before its ascribed time, and You also have the power to close the heavens and stop the rain from falling at all. Amen blessed be the Lord my God and Father.




24. The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25. I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. 26. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verses 24 to 26)


Oh God my Father, I thank You for not holding my sins against me. I also thank You for not denying me of Your abundance of providence as a consequence of my sins, but You repay me with love providence and kindness even though I do not deserve it Amen.




27. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verse 27)


Oh God my Father, even though You permit us to endure trials and tribulations that at times take a long time to pass and are the cause of much, grievance, You are always with us and therefore we are never alone. Amen. Oh God, my Father I thank You for always being by my side Amen.




28. Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verses 28 to 29)


Oh God my Father as much as You promise to pour Your Holy Spirit on Your people, I pray that You do the same even during our times, for we need You now more than ever before. I pray for a new boost of faith, that we all praise You and experience Your presence Amen.




30. I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.


(Book of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verses 30 to 31)


Oh my God, what a day it will be when You come again. I only hope that You will find the world worthy including my, self to be ready to be accepted to enter into our heavenly home, for even today I feel that I am not yet ready, for I am still persecuted by my sinful self Amen.




32. Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.




(Books of Small Prophets Joel Chapter 2 verse 32)




Oh God my Father unlike us humans You are so merciful and kind that even up to the last moment in time of existence on earth, You give us the opportunity to be saved without doing no extraordinary acts but to turn and call on You. This is what I call extreme generosity and love Amen.




Oh God my Father I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-




Oh God, You are so merciful, You are the only source of my love and my life and therefore, I cannot live without you. I thank You for bearing with my transgression and more for loving and forgiving me. I thank You for giving me one chance after another and for never giving up on me. Even if the world gives up on me, You remain faithful to the very end. Thank You, God. Love You God. Amen