Joel 3:17-21: a reflection

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.”

In a vision of restoration, the prophet Joel pictures the abundance and blessing that flow from God dwelling among his people. In that day, he says, 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 the reason for all this abundance is given: for the LORD dwells in Zion. Where God dwells among his people, abundance and blessing flow; the land overflows with good things, a fountain flows from his house, because he is present there. The presence of God among his people is pictured as a source of overflowing abundance, life, and blessing. This is the fruit of God's dwelling with his people: not scarcity but abundance, not barrenness but overflowing life, a fountain flowing from his house to water the land. Where God dwells, blessing and abundance flow; his presence is a wellspring of good. The dwelling of God among his people brings overflowing abundance and blessing. His presence is the source of the abundance that flows.

Notice the source of the abundance Joel pictures: God dwelling among his people. The mountains dripping sweet wine, the hills flowing with milk, the fountain from the Lord's house, all of this abundance is tied to one thing: the LORD dwells in Zion. God's presence among his people is the wellspring of the blessing and abundance pictured here. This tells us something about God's presence: it is not barren or empty, but a source of overflowing life and good. Where God dwells, abundance and blessing flow; his presence is a fountain of good things. This is a picture of the richness that comes from God being present with his people, a richness that overflows like wine and milk and flowing water. The nearness of God is not a threat or a burden but a wellspring of abundance and life. To have God dwelling with us is to have the source of every good and overflowing blessing. God's presence is the fountain from which abundance flows. Where he dwells, life and blessing overflow.

That is worth resting in, for abundance and blessing flow from God dwelling among his people; his presence is a wellspring of good. We can think of God's presence as a demand or a burden, or fail to see it as the source of our good; but Joel pictures overflowing abundance, wine and milk and flowing water, all flowing because the LORD dwells among his people. God's presence is the fountain from which blessing and abundance flow. To have God with us is to have the source of every good. When you long for abundance and life, remember that they flow from God's presence, as Joel pictured the land overflowing because the LORD dwells in Zion. Rest in the truth that abundance and blessing flow from God dwelling among his people, his presence a wellspring of overflowing good, as Joel pictured the mountains dripping sweet wine and a fountain flowing from the Lord's house because the LORD dwells in Zion; for God's presence among his people is not barren or a burden but the source of overflowing life and blessing, a fountain from which abundance flows, so that to have God dwelling with us is to have the wellspring of every good, and the abundance we long for flows finally from his presence.

Lord, in a vision of restoration, the prophet Joel pictures the abundance and blessing that flow from you dwelling among your people. In that day, he says, 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 the reason for all this abundance is given: for the LORD dwells in Zion. Where you dwell among your people, abundance and blessing flow; the land overflows with good things, because you are present there. Your presence among your people is pictured as a source of overflowing abundance, life, and blessing. Show me the source of the abundance Joel pictures: you dwelling among your people. The mountains dripping sweet wine, the hills flowing with milk, the fountain from your house, all of this abundance is tied to one thing: the LORD dwells in Zion. Your presence among your people is the wellspring of the blessing pictured here. This tells me something about your presence: it is not barren or empty, but a source of overflowing life and good. Where you dwell, abundance and blessing flow. The nearness of you is not a threat or a burden but a wellspring of abundance and life. To have you dwelling with me is to have the source of every good. Let me rest in that, for abundance and blessing flow from you dwelling among your people; your presence is a wellspring of good. I can think of your presence as a demand or a burden, or fail to see it as the source of my good; but Joel pictures overflowing abundance flowing because you dwell among your people. When I long for abundance and life, help me remember that they flow from your presence, Lord, as Joel pictured the land overflowing because the LORD dwells in Zion, and rest in you as the wellspring of every good.