MEDITATIONS FROM THE MINOR PROPHETS

 

November 22, 2006

Reading: Joel 3:18-21

“The mountains shall drip with new wine” Joel 3:18

The above quote is from a wonderful passage of one the more misunderstood books of scripture. There should be no doubt that these glorious prophecies were fulfilled in the life and death of Jesus Christ and the events of the early church. Peter applied portions of this prophecy to the event of the giving of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, and there is no stretch in applying the above words to the same part of church history. Joel pens a wonderful analogy to that which is the result of the death of Jesus:

 

“The mountains shall drip with new wine, the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; a fountain shall flow from the house of the LORD, and water the Valley of Acacius” Joel 3:18.

 

My soul, let this wonderful picture sink deep into your heart. While it speaks specifically of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, it also shows what occurs when you are given the Holy Spirit on the occasion of your new birth. At your new birth everything becomes new. You are made a new creature in Christ; you are given a new heart, a new song, made a new man, and given a new relationship to God. You are reconciled to God; you who were an enemy of God have been reconciled to Him with the guilt of every sin removed and replaced with the righteousness of Jesus Christ Himself. Yes, cries Joel, “The mountains shall drip with new wine, etc.” Just as Jesus performed the miracle of changing water into wine, so He changes the old stony heart into an heart of flesh:

 

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” Ezekiel 36:26-27.

 

Jesus, fill this cold, unfeeling heart

With the warmth of Your grace;

This heart, that without Your gracious touch

Would never see Your face.

 

As hard as stone, my heart would remain

Unaware of Your love;

By Your Spirit, soften this my heart,

In mercy, Master, move.

Dear Master, now that I am Your child,

A son of God, proclaimed;

Assist me to always yield my heart,

And remember my new name.

 

Thank You, Savior, for my new heart,

Thank You for saving my soul;

Thank You for placing within my heart

Your love, my All in All.