Joel 3:4

"and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink."

Key Reflection

Joel 3:4 paints a stark picture of the economic exploitation and moral degradation experienced by God's people during a time of great distress. In this verse, the prophet uses vivid imagery to depict practices such as casting lots for people and selling girls for wine as a means to fuel alcohol consumption. This cultural context highlights how societal values had been corrupted, with individuals being treated as commodities rather than valued members of society, all in service to personal or collective indulgence.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Yea, and what have ye to do with Me? -Literally, “and also, what are ye to Me?” The words, “And also,” show that this is something additional to the deeds of those before spoken of. Those, instanced before, were great oppressors, such as dispersed the former people of God and “divided their land.” In addition to these, God condemns here another class, those who, without having power to destroy, harass and vex His heritage. The words, “what are ye to Me?” are like that other phrase, “what is there to thee and me?” (Joshua 22:24, etc;Matthew 8:29, ...), i. e., what have we in common? These words, “what are ye to Me?” also declare, that those nations had no part in God.

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