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Joel 3:1-3 (JDV)

Joel 3:1 Watch, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

Joel 3:2 I will gather all the nations and take them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment with them there because of my people, my inheritance Israel. The nations have scattered the Israelites in foreign countries and divided up my land.

Joel 3:3 They cast lots for my people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.

all lives matter

Joel looks ahead to a bleak future when his nation will be scattered, and young lives will be ripped from their homeland and traded like loose change as if their hopes and dreams did not matter.

The prophet gives his nation a truth to sustain them during these dark generations. That truth is that this long period of injustice will come to an end, and those nations who do this will be held accountable. There will be judgment. They might think that the lives of these boys and girls do not matter. They do. All lives matter to our creator, and he will hold accountable those who exploit and destroy them.

Father of all, show us how to respect the lives that matter to you – all lives.