KBM The LORD Roars From Zion

I hope everyone had been doing well this week and hope you are ready to dive into our next study in our series on “Impact 3:16.” We left off last week looking at Daniel 3:16 and the next chapter three verse sixteen we come to is in the book of Joel. Joel is one of the books that is hard to nail down when it comes to when it was written but what it teaches is not hard to understand, “The LORD Roars From Zion.” This book describes God using a locus plague to bring both Judah and the surrounding nations to repentance. In our text specifically, Joel 3:16, we find God demanding a reaping for what the nations around Judah have sown.

Joel 3:1–3 ESV

1 “For behold, 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 judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.

It’s within this call for war against the surrounding people of Israel that we find our text in Joel 3:16.

Joel 3:16 ESV

16 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.

If history has taught one thing conclusively it is that if you mistreat God’s children he will respond. It’s one thing to be raised up by God to teach his people a lesson but if you abuse that privilege God has granted he will sentence you to destruction, whether you are Assyria, Rome, or America you will fall it you degrade his people, because the “LORD roars from Zion and the heavens and earth quake.” But here is the kicker for the righteous, he is a refuge for his people. Yes God disciplines those he loves (Hebrews 12:7-11) but for those that listen and learn from the discipline God is their “refuge and stronghold.” That means God is the place of safety and protection for his righteous people and he has the strength and might to keep us safe. It’s no wonder the psalmist would say in Psalm 5:11…

Psalm 5:11 ESV

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

God the Father, Son, and Spirit who created each of us, love us, want us to take refuge in them and when we find ourselves suffering for the cause of Christ let us remember “Our LORD Roars From Zion.”