What emotions and thoughts come to mind when you think about God’s judgment? Maybe you are surrounded by immense suffering or the prosperity of the wicked, so your heart longs for God’s judgment to come upon the earth. Or maybe you are beaten down by your own sinfulness and fear the day of the Lord. You question how you will ever stand before His holiness and receive eternal life. I think all people can long for the day when God’s judgement will be executed upon the earth. At the same time, they wonder if they personally are ready for that day. Joel 3 paints a sobering picture of this day of judgment while also showing the Lord as a refuge for those who trust in Him.
Judgment Through Exile
The immediate context of Joel 3 is the restoration of Judah and Jerusalem. The people had been taken into exile in Babylon back in 2 Kings 25 because they did not listen to the Lord over hundreds of years. Despite their sinfulness and the resulting exile, God remained faithful to His people. Through the judgment of the nations in Joel 3, the people were restored.
For years the Babylonians ruled as conquerors over the people of God, but after years of waiting Yahweh came to proclaim war (Joel 3:9). This is a theme that we see throughout the Bible, of God bringing forth salvation for those who trust in Him through judgment. According to Joel 3:16, those who belong to Yahweh will be safe in Him as He is their refuge and stronghold on the day of judgment. Contrasted with those who do not belong to God, they are not safe but will become a desolation and a wilderness (3:19).
God’s Coming Judgment
Zooming out, we see that the larger context of Joel 3 is a picture of the last days when the full and final judgment comes from heaven. All people will stand in the valley of decision (3:14) as the “LORD roars from Zion” (3:16) declaring judgment on all. God is glorified as His people take refuge in Him even as he perfectly executes justice on the whole world.
Psalm 2 parallels the language and imagery of Joel 3 as the psalmist shows the judgment of the Lord against the kings of the earth. The kings will be dashed into pieces “like a potter’s jar” while Christ, the King of Kings, receives the ends of the earth as his possession (Psalm 2:8-9). The psalmist warns those who are undecided about or opposed to God to submit themselves to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, that they might instead find refuge in the coming judgment.
Safe in the Midst of Judgment
If you have placed your faith in Christ, then the Lord is your refuge on the day of judgment. A more vivid picture of this judgment is seen in Revelation 18 as John depicts the ultimate fall of Babylon, the city of man. Here we see “the merchants of the earth weep and mourn,” for the great city will be laid to waste in a single day (Revelation 18:11). The good news is that those who are in Christ will cry out with a loud voice from heaven, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgments are true and just” (Revelation 19:1-2).
As we long for this day, what should we do? Turn to Jesus and take refuge in Him. When you struggle with sin, look to Christ, for He is your perfection. When you feel weary, take refuge in Christ, for He is your strength. When you receive undeserved blessings, hide yourself in Christ, for He is the giver of all good things. When you fear the day of judgment, look to Him, for He is your salvation. “The name of the LORD is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high” (Proverbs 18:10).
