Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Joel

Joel 
Day 
Day 36

"Will you retaliate against Me"

Text: Joel 3:4

RETALIATION AGAINST GOD

Many were the enemies of Israel. In attacking the Lord’s people, they were in fact retaliating against God Himself!

“Indeed, what have you to do with Me,
O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia?
Will you retaliate against Me?
But if you retaliate against Me,
Swiftly and speedily
I will return your retaliation upon your own head.”
Joel 3:4

1. “O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia”

a) Tyre and Sidon
These were known as Phoenicians.
b) Philistia
These were the Philistines.
c) These were the traditional enemies of Israel.

2. “Will you retaliate against Me”

a) The enemies justified themselves by using the word “retaliation”.
b) They accused Israel of attacking them and they were merely “retaliating”.
c) God saw things differently!

3. “But if you retaliate against Me”

a) Truth had to be established first!
b) Hostility against God’s people was an attack against the LORD Himself.

4. “Swiftly and speedily I will return your retaliation upon your own head”

a) God will respond effectively.
b) He will battle against Phoenicia and Philistia.
c) He will respond “swiftly”. This was emphasised by the word “speedily”.

THE LAW OF RECOMPENSE

The Lord’s dealing with the enemies, Phoenicia and Philistia is known as “The law of recompense”.

1. “The recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.” Proverbs 12:14b

2. This is the basis for Imprecatory prayers.

“Happy the one who repays you as you have served us!”
Psalm 137:8b

3. Divine justice will see that the wicked would receive the punishment due to their crime.

4. The wicked deeds of Phoenicia and Philistia would not go unpunished. They were very cruel to Israel.