Blessing Follows the Judgment: After this severe judgment of the nations, Judah will enjoy the fullness of God’s blessing as the surrounding nations remain barren. 

Joel 3:18 – A final message by the prophet to focus all good toward God and His Christ.  All the places of the wicked are desolate and a wasteland.   All life and peace is found in Zion where God dwells.

Great restoration and prosperity accompany that great day and during the Millenium.  Water from “the fountain” to cool and refresh the soul and spirit, flow from the Lord’s house.   This is the water of life.  Compare to Jer. 2:13 … As we receive from the Lord and stay in Him, we are sustained by Him with fresh water. 

We need to know a little about the land of Judah to appreciate how the people viewed this promised blessing.  Judah is on a  limestone bed of rock and only barely sustained the people in crops.  The stream beds dried up during the drought season and water was rationed out carefully.  Now, they will experience fertility and the mountains and hills will flow with milk and wine.  Water will continuously run forth from the fountain from the house of the Lord.  He uses earthly examples of things they can relate to and desire to show them the spiritual satisfaction of desires in Him.   These blessings are a continuation of a Holy Spirit era in the future like Joel mentions in 2:28-32. See John 7:37-38 … The Holy Spirit is the living water within us.  We are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), and out of the “temple” of the Lord will flow a fountain of water.

The acacias are the trees used to make the Ark of the Covenant and the items found in the temple.  The strong and durable people of God were sustained and watered by Him.  The Ark was lined with gold to show Christ’s diety and made of acacia wood to show His humanity.

Joel 3:19 – Edom became a generalization of all un-Godly people in opposition to Israel with Esau as the founding father and model.  These areas are totally destroyed and cursed by God because they attacked God’s people.  God will never leave the guilty unpunished (Pr. 11:21).  The Lord promises to wipe out Edom in Ezekiel 25:12 & 35:15 and in other places. 

Joel 3:20-21 – Israel is gathered and restored forever according to the covenant.  Dod will deal with the enemies of Israil, His Personal property, through His perfect Justice.  “The Lord dwells in Zion” is the permanent future of Israel.  Christ controls history and Israel’s future history has already been written and assured.  Christ is the One being called Faithful and True.  The people of Israel have and everlasting future in Zion. 

A promise of God’s future plan to provide forgiveness to all who believe in Him.  If we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are adopted as God’s family and grafted into the tree of Israel (Rom. 11:13-24).  Then we are part of this forgiveness of “crimes not yet pardoned.”