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Daily Devotions

Joel

Joel 
Day 
Day 43

"The harvest is ripe"

Text: Joel 3:13

PAINFUL IMAGERIES

The imagery of war took on a more painful nuance. This was no longer just another war. This would be the ultimate war!

“Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
Come, go down;
For the winepress is full,
The vats overflow-
For their wickedness is great.”
Joel 3:13

1. “Put in the sickle”

a) The sickle was used widely in the ancient days.
b) It was a very sharp instrument.
c) It was used to cut down stalks of grain.
d) The strokes of the sickles are final.
e) This was used to describe the finality of this war.

2. “For the harvest is ripe”

a) The seeds had grown.
b) They were no longer seeds but full-grown stalks of grain.
c) The harvest had come and the grain-stalks had to be cut down!
d) This was another sobering description of the finality of this war.
e) Men would be cut down as stalks of grain in a harvest field.

3. “Come, go down”

a) The Master sends forth His workers.
b) The work of harvesting the grain had begun.
c) There would be no let-up!

4. “For the winepress is full, the vats overflow”

a) The imagery of the harvest of grapes was now utilised.
b) The grapes had been gathered and stomped on to bring out the vintage wine.
c) This was another grim imagery of this final war.

5. “For their wickedness is great”

a) The judgment of the Lord would be carried out.
b) The wickedness of the people would now be judged!
c) Many would perish in this great war!