Sapate Tisema 10, 2023
Kibbutz of Judgment
‘Oku-fai-fakamaau ‘a Sihova
JOEL 3:2
"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."
SIOELI 3:2
te u toki tānaki ‘a e ngaahi kakai ko ē kotoa, pea te u ‘ohifo kinautolu ki he Tele‘a ‘o Sihosafate (‘Oku-fai-fakamaau ‘a Sihova); pea te u hopo mo kinautolu ‘i ai koe‘uhi ko hoku kakai, mo hoku tofi‘a ko ‘Isileli, ‘a ia kuo nau fakamovetevete ‘i he ngaahi pule‘anga, pea kuo nau tufa hoku fonua.
A kibbutz is a collective community in modern Israel. The name is derived from the verb kabatz (also written qavatz), which means "collect, gather, assemble." Joel foresees, however, a very different kind of kibbutz: God will "qavatz all the nations" for judgment. Making a pun, he says this judging will happen in a valley called "Jehoshaphat," a name that means "the Lord [Jehol judges [shaphat)." The prophecy of a final, decisive "day of the Lord" is common in the OT. There will be a kibbutz where all humanity will be present for the Lord to judge.
This day has already happened; and it has not already happened. In Christ, God has already qarziz all humanity and judged them. Jesus was all people in one person. His resurrection was the Father's declaration of "not guilty" for the world. But another day is also coming. All those who refused to believe in this verdict will be judged of their own guilt. But for those in Jesus, this final judgment will be joyful, for "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).
"Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise" (Ps. 106:47).
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