Let the Weak Say, "I am a Mighty Man"
Scripture Passage: Joel 3:9-13 (NASB)
9 Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for holy war; stir up the warriors!
Have all the soldiers come forward, have them come up!
10 Beat your plowshares into swords,
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak man say, “I am a warrior.”
11 Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations,
And gather yourselves there.
Bring down, Lord, Your warriors.
12 Let the nations be awakened
And come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
For there I will sit to judge
All the surrounding nations.
13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
Come, tread the grapes, for the wine press is full;
The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.
SUMMARY
God has a message of preparation for war and victory for Israel. In times of wickedness, He tells His people to prepare themselves both mentally by telling the weak to proclaim "I am a mighty man" (vs 10) and also physically by making their "plowshares into swords" and to "prepare a war, rouse the mighty men!" (vs 10). After the preparation, they are to gather in Jehoshaphat and He will "sit to judge all the surrounding nations" (vs 12).
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
I was reflecting on the verse saying “Let the weak say, ‘I am a mighty man’” in verse 10, it gave me a lot of comfort that God recognizes that we are weak, yet He tells us to say we are "mighty". Most of the time when I am not feeling strong or do not have faith, I tend to give up on myself on making the situation better. It is hard for me to maintain a positive mindset when I am not feeling like it is true. However, God is so encouraging and speaks truth into us, even in our weakness because of His character, who He is and what He can do through us. The first part of this passage reminds me that I need to see myself and speak to myself the way that God speaks to me which gives life and strength. When I recognize that I am weak and circumstances are less than ideal, I can give Him more glory and have more faith in Him because I know that the victory is not my own doing, but through Him. In fact, the passage says that "the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great" (vs 13). The harvest is ripe when the situation is looking its worst, which goes against all my human logic. However, this shows that I need to put in even more work and do my best especially when the circumstances are not in my favor. God will show, that is when there is the most harvest and blessing in the end.
APPLICATION
Before gathering to the Lord and meeting with Him, I also need to make sure I am prepared both physically and mentally. I need to see myself the way He sees me as “mighty” and also need to prepare the tools I may need in order fight the battle. I must have faith that I will win the battle with God on my side and prepare accordingly. The preparation process is also an inward and outward proclamation that I have faith that God will win and have victory and that God will help me although I am weak.
One of the battles I struggle with is depending on money for security instead of trusting in God. When work is not going well, or business is slow, I often let my fear overtake me and I start focusing on the negatives instead of having faith in Him. Reading through this passage, I was reminded that it is in the times when I feel most weak and vulnerable that I should move forward with strength knowing that the "wine press is full; the vats overflow."
PRAYER
Dear God,
Thank you for being a God of constant, love, and compassion. Thank you for providing in times of my greatest need. Help me to have faith, prepare myself in prayer and reading your word and spending time with you, so that I can stand upon your truths and promises. I pray that I will go into each day with strength that you provide, not relying on my ability. Help me to put my trust in who you are, instead of the daily changing circumstances around me. I pray that you will give me the strength to do my best each day, instead of giving in to pressure and negative thoughts. Help me to give and be generous like you, instead of keeping my money as a form of security. I pray that I will continue to seek you in prayer and have confidence in knowing your will through scripture, so that I can have the peace and clarity from you instead of in the world.
Amen!
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