Scripture Daily

Context No. 3185 of 4322 · Joel

Context · Reflection

Joel 3:17-21: in context

17“So you will know that I am the LORD, your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, and no strangers will pass through her any more. 18It will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters; and a fountain will flow out from the LORD’s house, and will water the valley of Shittim. 19Egypt will be a desolation and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed, for the LORD dwells in Zion.”

Joel ends with a vision of a restored, holy Jerusalem overflowing with life. In that day you will know the LORD dwells in Zion; the mountains will drip sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the streams of Judah will run with water, and a fountain will flow out from the house of the LORD. Judah will be inhabited forever, and God will cleanse the guilt he had not yet cleansed, for the LORD dwells in Zion.

The images are of superabundant blessing flowing from God's presence, mountains dripping wine, hills flowing with milk, a fountain from God's house watering even the dry valley. And the ground of it all, stated at the beginning and repeated at the very end, is this: the LORD dwells in Zion. The abundance, the holiness, the cleansing of guilt, all flow from the single central fact of God's presence with his people. Where God dwells, life overflows and guilt is washed away. It points forward to the final restoration, where God dwells with his people and a river of life flows from his throne.

Do I know that all true and lasting abundance, and the cleansing of my guilt, flow from the presence of God dwelling with his people?

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