be roused
Posted on by Barbara Lynn Seibel

BE ROUSED!

What does it mean to be roused?

Some synonyms for be roused include, be aroused, be awake, and be awakened. (See Merriam-Webster.)

  • Which way do you prefer to be roused from slumber?
  • With the rooster or other birds chattering or from an alarm clock of some sort as shown in the picture above?
  • Do you use an alarm type sound or some sort of musical tune?
  • Is it easy for you to be roused, meaning you get up before your alarm or immediately upon hearing it?
  • Is it hard for you to be roused, meaning you repeatedly ignore sounds intended to awaken you?
  • What does it truly take for you to be roused?
  • What does Joel 3:12 have to do with these questions?

Consider the following four translations of Joel 3:12:

ESV  Joel 3:12 Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

NAS  Joel 3:12 Let the nations be aroused And come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations.

NET  Joel 3:12 Let the nations be roused and let them go up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit in judgment on all the surrounding nations.

NIV  Joel 3:12 “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.

Technically these verses are not describing the nations being roused from slumber but rather being roused or stirred up to prepare for a battle. (See Joel 3:9-11.)

So why did I open today’s post with questions about your preferences for being roused or awakened?

Review the following verses from Joel directed specifically to the Israelites:

  • ESV  Joel 1:2 Hear this, you elders; give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers?
  • ESV  Joel 1:5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep, and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it is cut off from your mouth.
  • ESV  Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
  • ESV  Joel 2:1 Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near.
  • ESV  Joel 2:11 The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
  • ESV  Joel 2:12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.
  • ESV  Joel 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly.

Review the following verses the Israelites are instructed to share with the surrounding nations:

  • ESV  Joel 3:9 Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up.
  • ESV  Joel 3:11 Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD.
  • ESV  Joel 3:12 Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

Repeatedly throughout Joel, the Lord’s message is for the Israelites to wake up or be roused back to a wholehearted relationship of worship with Him.

In addition, the Lord’s instructions to the Israelites are not only to be roused themselves to who He is but to also wake up or rouse the surrounding nations as well.

The Lord promises the following to those who are roused to a renewed and faithful wholehearted relationship with Him:

ESV  Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.  

Our verse today also mentions the Valley of Jehoshaphat again.

We learned the following in our study of Joel 3:2:

We are told the Lord will judge in the Valley of Jehoshaphat.

The name of this valley is meant as a pun given the meaning of Jehoshaphat is “the Lord judges”.

It is also symbolic in that Jehoshaphat is an Old Testament King who was being threatened by foreign nations, gathered the community at the temple, prayed gave praise to the Lord before going into battle. The Lord blessed Jehoshaphat and the Judeans/Israelites with victory because of Jehoshaphat and the Judean’s faithfulness and reliance on Him at that time. (See 2 Chr 20:5-26.)

Can you think of reasons the Lord would instruct the Israelites to proclaim Joel 3:9-12 to the surrounding nations who have harmed them?

First, we must remember before the Israelites had uttered a word of the instructed proclamation to the surrounding nations the proclamation, they had to receive the words first.

The Lord is informing His followers that He will not only restore physical and spiritual sustenance beyond their previous experience but that He will hold accountable those who took advantage of them while they themselves were under His discipline.

Further, the Lord is instructing His followers to make this clear to those who refuse to acknowledge Him or cause harm to those who do that there will be a day to come where their actions will be judged by Him and Him alone. (see the verses above: Joel 3:9; 11, and 12).

Can you see how this would encourage the Israelites?

Does this encourage you?

Do you understand better why the Lord’s followers today should be prepared to always give an answer for their faith?

Consider Paul’s words to Timothy:

ESV  2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Remember,

ESV  Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.  

Consider again some of the questions from the beginning of this post but this time from a spiritual perspective:

  • Which way do you prefer to be roused from spiritual slumber?
  • Is it easy for you to be spiritually roused, meaning you act quickly when called upon?
  • Is it hard for you to be roused, meaning you repeatedly ignore the Lord’s calling?
  • What does it truly take for you to be roused by the Lord?

My prayer for us today is that we will be ready in season and out of season to the Lord’s calling so that we may be used to proclaim His deepest desire is to be in relationship with His creation.

What else do you see in this study today?

Leave a comment or email me!

Blessings,

Barbara Lynn

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