“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!  For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14).

“The valley of decision” is the equivalent to the “the valley of Jehoshaphat” (Joel 3:14 cf. 3:2, 12). Terry Varner commented “Joel calls for the nations to ‘assemble,…come,…gather’ (3:11b). They are come to ‘the valley of Jehoshaphat’ (3:12), meaning ‘Jehovah judges,’ as ‘I sit to judge all the heather’ (3:12)” (Editors Thomas Warren and Garland Elkins, The Minor Prophets, Power Lectureship, p.81). Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown comments “As Jehoshaphat overthrew the confederate foes of Judah, viz., Ammon, Moab, etc. (Psalms 83:6-8), in this valley, so God was to overthrow the Tyrians, Zidonians, Philistines. Edom, and Egypt, with a simular utter overthrow (vss. 4,19)” (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, Commentary On The Whole Bible, p. 787). The decision, the judgment, is Jehovah’s.  He will sit and judge.  Homer Hailey comments, “The judgment is indicated as universal, on all nations that had had a part in scattering His people” (Hailey, A Commentary on The Minor Prophets, p. 57).

There is a judgment day to come (John 12:48; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27).  His judgment will be the only judgment that will matter on that day.  Human opinions will not matter.  Subjective thoughts will have no authority.

However, our decisions do now count.  We are in “the valley of decision” in this life.  What will we choose?  Will we choose to submit ourselves to the Lord or not?  Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

What Then?

When all the great plants of our cities have turned out their last finished work;          When our merchants have sold their last yard of silk, and dismissed the tired, weary                clerk;                                                                                                                                           When our banks have taken in their last dollar and declared their last dividend;       When the Judge of the World says, ‘closed for the night,’ and ask for a balance-           What then?

When the people have sung their last anthem, and the preacher has said his last prayer; When the Bible lies closed on the pulpit, and the pews are all empty of men,               When all stand facing the record, and the Great Book is opened, –                                   What then?

When the actor has played his last drama, and the mimic has made his last fun;        When the film has flashed its last picture, and the billboard displayed its last run.    When the crowds seeking pleasure have vanished, and gone out in the darkness again, When the trumpet of all ages is sounded, and we stand before God, –                             What then?

When the bugle’s last call sinks in silences, and the long, marching columns stand still; When the captain has given his last orders, and they’ve captured the last fort and hill; When the flag has been hauled from the masthead, and the wounded soldiers have all              checked in;  When a world that rejects its Savior is ask for a reason, –                     What then?

~ Author unknown