A Final Vindication

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it. “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim. “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the LORD dwells in Zion.”
Joel 3:13–21
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A Final Vindication
In Joel’s day, God was with His people to deliver them from the plagues of locusts and the years of drought. And still today, God remains with His people, as Christ reminded the disciples and us, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus continues to be amongst us in His Word and Sacraments, delivering life-saving forgiveness. Joel promised a final vindication and everlasting abundance for God’s people. Knowing that God always keeps His promises, we know that the inevitability of judgment and dreadful punishments await those who reject God and His purposes. Therefore, we repent daily and strive continually to live according to God’s will. And in His abundance of love for His creation, we receive limitless grace from Christ Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Through Him, we will one day come home to our Father in heaven. And upon our Lord Jesus Christ’s return, He will judge the world in righteousness. Therefore, we pray He keeps us in the one true faith, and He remains our refuge and stronghold against all who hate us on account of Him and His Word.
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