Joel 3:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To assure us of this certainty, it is affirmed, ‘as the Lord has spoken,’ and what God declares will not be in vain. Thus, Christ also proclaimed: ‘my words do not pass away’ (Matt. 24:35). This reflects the historical interpretation of these words. However, for those who wish to delve into the spiritual significance and engage with the deeper meanings, consider the children of the Greeks, who are inflated with fictitious wisdom, and the heretics, who believe they can achieve something for themselves through deceitful lies, leading many simple believers away from the pure faith they had in God. They ensnare them in deceit, subjecting them to the fate of captives and driving them far from the path of truth. Yet, the Lord of Hosts renders their wickedness ineffective, freeing those who were misled, and returns the wayward children to the Jews. This can refer to the divine disciples and those who expound on the mystery of Christ. By liberating them from error, they guide them back into an admirable kind of servitude—namely, servitude to Christ—drawing them as if from captivity, shifting them into their own way of thinking and feeling, which stands in stark contrast to that of others. There is indeed a great divide between the mindset of the saints and that of those who are not. It is also said of Christ that those who turn from Hellenistic error to the true knowledge of God are taken as captives by Him; for David stated: ‘Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast taken captivity captive: thou hast received gifts in men’ (Ps. 67:19).

This region is known for its fragrant incense, as described by Virgil, who noted that its altars are filled with fragrant offerings, although some consider the Sabeans to be Arabs.

The Jewish people hold onto the hope that in the latter days, the Lord will gather them and restore them to Jerusalem. They dream not only of this joy but also believe that God Himself will hand over the sons and daughters of the Romans into their possession, asserting that they will not sell them to Persians, Ethiopians, or neighboring nations but rather to the Sabeans, a distant people, for the Lord has spoken, ensuring justice for what has been done against His people.

These Jews, along with others, anticipate a thousand-year reign within Judah, envisioning a splendid Jerusalem filled with sacrifices, abundance, and incredible joy, adorned with gates of precious stones. However, we assert that the Lord has both raised and continues to raise up those who have been led astray by various deceptions. The proclamation "I will raise up" implies that those who are cast down will be revived, allowing those entangled in errors to rise within the church. This involves fulfilling the desires of the heretics while restoring their sons and daughters—who have been misled by their false teachings—into the hands of the sons of Judah, represented by those who uphold the faith, donning the armor of the apostles and wielding the truths of the Old and New Testament.

By taking these sons and daughters, they will guide them into understanding, preparing them to adhere to the teachings of the church, facilitating their transformation as they depart from their previous confines.