◄ Joel 3:18 ►
And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias.
Study Bible
And in that day

This phrase refers to a future time of divine intervention and blessing, often associated with the "Day of the Lord" in prophetic literature. It signifies a period when God will restore and bless His people, contrasting with previous judgments.

Isa 4:2 On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful…
Zec 12:8 On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem,…
Isa 2:11-12 The proud look of man will be humbled…

the mountains will drip with sweet wine,

Mountains symbolize stability and strength, and the imagery of them dripping with wine suggests abundant prosperity and joy. Wine is often a symbol of blessing and celebration in the Bible (Psalm 104:15). This abundance contrasts with earlier judgments and reflects a reversal of fortunes.

Amo 9:13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD,…
Pro 3:10 then your barns will be filled with plenty…
Gen 27:28 May God give to you the dew of heaven…

and the hills will flow with milk.

Milk represents nourishment and fertility, indicating a land of plenty. This imagery recalls the Promised Land described as "flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), symbolizing God's provision and care for His people.

Exo 3:8 I have come down to rescue them from the hand of Egyptians…
Num 13:27 And they gave this account to Moses: “We went…
Deu 32:14 with curds from the herd and milk from the flock,…

All the streams of Judah will run with water,

Water is a symbol of life and purification. In a land often plagued by drought, abundant water signifies divine blessing and restoration. This imagery connects to the promise of spiritual renewal and the outpouring of God's Spirit (Isaiah 44:3).

Isa 30:25 And from every high mountain and every raised hill,…
Isa 41:18 I will open rivers on the barren heights,…
Psa 65:9-10 You attend to the earth and water it; with abundance…

and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD

The house of the LORD refers to the temple, the center of worship and God's presence among His people. A spring flowing from the temple symbolizes spiritual life and blessing emanating from God's presence. This imagery is echoed in Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Revelation 22:1, where water flows from the temple, bringing life and healing.

Ezk 47:1-12 Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple,…
Zec 14:8 And on that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem,…
Jhn 7:38-39 Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said:…

to water the Valley of Acacias.

The Valley of Acacias, or the Valley of Shittim, is a location associated with Israel's journey to the Promised Land (Numbers 25:1). It represents a place of transition and preparation. The watering of this valley signifies transformation and renewal, turning a barren place into a fertile one, symbolizing God's power to bring life and restoration.

Psa 107:35 He turns a desert into pools of water…
Isa 35:6-7 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue…
Isa 43:19-20 Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming.…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Mountains and Hills
Symbolic of abundance and prosperity, often representing the high places of the land where God's blessings are poured out.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, representing God's chosen people and the land of promise.

3. House of the LORD
Refers to the temple in Jerusalem, symbolizing God's presence and the source of spiritual blessings.

4. Valley of Acacias
A location that may symbolize a place of transformation and renewal, as acacias are hardy trees that thrive in arid conditions.

5. The Day of the LORD
A prophetic time of divine intervention, judgment, and restoration.
Teaching Points
Abundance from God
God's blessings are abundant and overflowing, symbolized by the wine, milk, and water. Believers can trust in God's provision and care.

Spiritual Renewal
Just as the physical land is renewed, God offers spiritual renewal and transformation to His people. Seek His presence for personal revival.

Source of Blessing
The blessings flow from the house of the LORD, emphasizing the importance of staying connected to God and His church as the source of spiritual life.

Hope in Restoration
The prophecy points to a future hope where God will restore and bless His people. This encourages believers to remain faithful amidst trials.

Living Water
The imagery of water flowing from the temple reminds us of Jesus as the living water, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of mountains dripping with sweet wine and hills flowing with milk speak to God's provision in your life today?

2. In what ways can you seek spiritual renewal and transformation, drawing from the "spring" that issues from the house of the LORD?

3. How does the concept of "The Day of the LORD" challenge you to live with an eternal perspective in your daily life?

4. What connections can you draw between the blessings described in Joel 3:18 and the promises of abundance found in other parts of Scripture?

5. How can you be a conduit of God's blessings to others, much like the water flowing from the temple brings life to the Valley of Acacias?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Amos 9:13
This verse also speaks of a time of great abundance and blessing, where the land will be so fruitful that the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman.

Ezekiel 47:1-12
Describes a vision of water flowing from the temple, bringing life and healing wherever it goes, similar to the spring issuing from the house of the LORD in Joel 3:18.

Revelation 22:1-2
The imagery of a river flowing from the throne of God parallels the life-giving water from the house of the LORD, symbolizing eternal life and healing.
Sermons
Spiritual ProsperityJ.R. Thomson Joel 3:18
A Happy ChurchJoel 3:18-21
God and the ChurchCaleb Morris.Joel 3:18-21
PurifiedJames Wells.Joel 3:18-21
The Golden AgeJ. S. Exell, M. A.Joel 3:18-21
The Millennium EraD. Thomas Joel 3:18-21
People
Grecians, Javan, Jehoshaphat, Joel, Zidon
Places
Edom, Egypt, Jerusalem, Philistia, Sidon, Tyre, Valley of Jehoshaphat, Valley of Shittim, Zion
Topics
Acacias, Acacia-trees, Beds, Brooks, Drip, Drop, Dropping, Flow, Flowing, Forth, Fountain, Hills, Judah, Juice, Lord's, Milk, Mountains, Pass, Ravines, Rivers, Run, Shittim, Spring, Stream, Streams, Sweet, Valley, Water-courses, Watered, Watering, Waters, Wine
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Joel 3:18

     4236   fountain
     4260   rivers and streams
     4435   drinking
     4480   milk
     4544   wine
     5478   property, houses

Joel 3:16-18

     9145   Messianic age

Joel 3:17-18

     4245   hills

Library
The Gospel Day Seen in Prophecy.
Upon reading the account of man's creation in the first chapters of Genesis we conclude that he enjoyed perfect peace and happiness. From the beautiful description given there of the garden of Eden--man's abode--we understand that God was interested in his felicity. In the nature of created things he could retain this happiness only by obedience to the Creator's laws. By a subtle foe he was induced to transgress those laws and thus became acquainted with sin and sorrow. After the transgression he …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

Whether the Judgment Will Take Place in the Valley of Josaphat?
Objection 1: It would seem that the judgment will not take place in the valley of Josaphat or in the surrounding locality. For at least it will be necessary for those to be judged to stand on the ground, and those alone to be raised aloft whose business it will be to judge. But the whole land of promise would not be able to contain the multitude of those who are to be judged. Therefore it is impossible for the judgment to take place in the neighborhood of that valley. Objection 2: Further, to Christ …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Post-Millennialism Refuted.
The post-millennial position rests largely upon a mis-translation. In Matt. 13:39 we read "The harvest is the end of the world," and again in Matt. 24:3--"And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Now the Greek word which is used in the above passages is entirely different from the one found in John 3:16--"God so loved the Kosmos." In the verses …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

The Battle of Armageddon.
The Battle of Armageddon! What extravagant speculations have been indulged concerning it! What unscriptural theories have been entertained respecting it! To begin with; this appears from the term employed. Nowhere in the Bible do we read of "The Battle of Armageddon." The Scriptural expression is "The Battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14). This Battle of the great day of God Almighty will bring the Tribulation period to a close and will witness the return of Christ to the earth to …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

The Valley of Hinnom.
A great part of the valley of Kedron was called also the 'Valley of Hinnom.' Jeremiah, going forth into the valley of Hinnom, went out by the gate "Hacharsith, the Sun-gate," Jeremiah 19:2; that is, the Rabbins and others being interpreters, 'by the East-gate.' For thence was the beginning of the valley of Hinnom, which, after some space, bending itself westward, ran out along the south side of the city. There is no need to repeat those very many things, which are related of this place in the Old …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Prophecy of Obadiah.
We need not enter into details regarding the question as to the time when the prophet wrote. By a thorough argumentation, Caspari has proved, that he occupies his right position in the Canon, and hence belongs to the earliest age of written prophecy, i.e., to the time of Jeroboam II. and Uzziah. As bearing conclusively against those who would assign to him a far later date, viz., the time of the exile, there is not only the indirect testimony borne by the place which this prophecy occupies in …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Exposition of Chap. Iii. (ii. 28-32. )
Ver. 1. "And it shall come to pass, afterwards, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." The communication of the Spirit of God was the constant prerogative of the Covenant-people. Indeed, the very idea of such a people necessarily requires it. For the Spirit of God is the only inward bond betwixt Him and that which is created; a Covenant-people, therefore, without such an inward …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Great Assize
[i.e., The Last Judgment -- GL] [21] "We shall all stand before the judgement-seat of Christ." Rom. 14:10. 1. How many circumstances concur to raise the awfulness of the present solemnity! -- The general concourse of people of every age, sex, rank, and condition of life, willingly or unwillingly gathered together, not only from the neighboring, but from distant, parts; criminals, speedily to be brought forth and having no way to escape; officers, waiting in their various posts, to execute the orders …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
1. When the psalmist says: "The Lord God is a sun and shield" (Psa. 84:11), he means that God is to all his creatures the source of life and blessedness, and their almighty protector; but this meaning he conveys under the figure of a sun and a shield. When, again, the apostle James says that Moses is read in the synagogues every Sabbath-day (Acts 15:21), he signifies the writings of Moses under the figure of his name. In these examples the figure lies in particular words. But it may be embodied …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

On the Various Names and Titles
Man is the total human or the mind; in Genesis: God made man after His own image and likeness. And in a bad part of the psalm: arise, o Lord, let not man prevail, here is flesh or the devil. [Gen. 1:27; Ps. 9:20(19)] The man is the spirit, that is, the mind; in the apostle: man is the head of woman. Man is the same in a bad part of Genesis: the virgin was fair of face and not known to any man, that is, the devil, who corrupts the mind greatly with imagining. [I Cor. 11:3; Gen. 24:16-18] The woman …
St. Eucherius of Lyons—The Formulae of St. Eucherius of Lyons

Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the Mother of all the Godly.
1. The church now to be considered. With her God has deposited whatever is necessary to faith and good order. A summary of what is contained in this Book. Why it begins with the Church. 2. In what sense the article of the Creed concerning the Church is to be understood. Why we should say, "I believe the Church," not "I believe in the Church." The purport of this article. Why the Church is called Catholic or Universal. 3. What meant by the Communion of Saints. Whether it is inconsistent with various …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Gospel Feast
"When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"--John vi. 5. After these words the Evangelist adds, "And this He said to prove him, for He Himself knew what He would do." Thus, you see, our Lord had secret meanings when He spoke, and did not bring forth openly all His divine sense at once. He knew what He was about to do from the first, but He wished to lead forward His disciples, and to arrest and …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Discourse on Spiritual Food and True Discipleship. Peter's Confession.
(at the Synagogue in Capernaum.) ^D John VI. 22-71. ^d 22 On the morrow [the morrow after Jesus fed the five thousand] the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea [on the east side, opposite Capernaum] saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone 23 (howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after that the Lord had given thanks): 24 when the multitude …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

On Earthly Things
The earth is man himself; in the gospel: another has fallen into the good earth. The same in a bad part about the sinner: you devour the earth all the days of your life. [Mark 4:18; Genesis 3:14] The dry lands are the flesh of a fruitless man; in Ecclesiastes, to work in a dry land with evil and sorrow. [Ecclesiastes 37:3] The dust is a sinner or the vanity of the flesh; in the psalm: like the dust, which the wind blows about. [Ps. 1:4 Vulgate] The mud is the gluttony of sinners; in the psalm: tear …
St. Eucherius of Lyons—The Formulae of St. Eucherius of Lyons

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of the Exceeding Mercy of God in Christ, to his Poor Servant, John Bunyan
In this my relation of the merciful working of God upon my soul, it will not be amiss, if in the first place, I do in a few words give you a hint of my pedigree, and manner of bringing up; that thereby the goodness and bounty of God towards me, may be the more advanced and magnified before the sons of men. 2. For my descent then, it was, as is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation; my father's house being of that rank that is meanest, and most despised of all the families in …
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

Interpretation of Prophecy.
1. The scriptural idea of prophecy is widely removed from that of human foresight and presentiment. It is that of a revelation made by the Holy Spirit respecting the future, always in the interest of God's kingdom. It is no part of the plan of prophecy to gratify vain curiosity respecting "the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power." Acts 1:7. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God"--this is its key-note. In its form it is carefully adapted to this great end. …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
CLEARLY EXPLAINED, AND LARGELY IMPROVED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. 1 John 2:1--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." By JOHN BUNYAN, Author of "The Pilgrim's Progress." London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms, in the Poultry, 1689. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of the most interesting of Bunyan's treatises, to edit which required the Bible at my right hand, and a law dictionary on my left. It was very frequently republished; …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Memoir of John Bunyan
THE FIRST PERIOD. THIS GREAT MAN DESCENDED FROM IGNOBLE PARENTS--BORN IN POVERTY--HIS EDUCATION AND EVIL HABITS--FOLLOWS HIS FATHER'S BUSINESS AS A BRAZIER--ENLISTS FOR A SOLDIER--RETURNS FROM THE WARS AND OBTAINS AN AMIABLE, RELIGIOUS WIFE--HER DOWER. 'We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.'--2 Cor 4:7 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.'--Isaiah 55:8. 'Though ye have lien among the …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Joel
The book of Joel admirably illustrates the intimate connection which subsisted for the prophetic mind between the sorrows and disasters of the present and the coming day of Jehovah: the one is the immediate harbinger of the other. In an unusually devastating plague of locusts, which, like an army of the Lord,[1] has stripped the land bare and brought misery alike upon city and country, man and beast--"for the beasts of the field look up sighing unto Thee," i. 20--the prophet sees the forerunner of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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