The LORD also shall roar out of Zion • Deshen Daily

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, And utter his voice from Jerusalem; And the heavens and the earth shall shake: But the LORD will be the hope of his people, And the strength of the children of Israel (Joel 3:16 KJV)

Many of us remember the book of Joel principally because Joel 2:28 prophesied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. However, the prophet Joel also declared a similar, yet little known, prophetic utterance in the verse above. He said the LORD would roar out of Zion. What does this mean?

In this verse, the Lord uses the word “roar” figuratively to compare His voice with the roaring of a lion. Since the lion’s roar is full of majesty and dominion, fear spreads across the forest as the other animals listen to the sound. Similarly, the Lord roars when His Word commands the same dominion over the environment as the roar of a lion. Joel shows us in the same verse what the roar of God is: “utter His voice.”

Therefore, the roaring of the Lord is the Word of God exercising dominion through His people. It does not mean the entire world will hear some roaring sound, but His people will receive His Word, grow in it, and use it to prevail over the issues of life. Moreover, we find an excellent parallel description in Psalms 10:2 to explain the roaring of the Lord further.

“The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies,” (Psalm 110:2, KJV).

What does it mean that the Lord will roar out of Zion? How will He roar? Is this roaring expected to be an event only at the second coming of Christ?

The Lord has poured out His Spirit (Joel 2:28). In addition, the Lion of Judah is now roaring (Joel 3:16)! Therefore, take hold of the Word because the Spirit is now stirring the Church in this direction! He will rule over His enemies as His people take hold of His Word, grow to maturity and use it as a rod to reign in life.

Ask the Father to help you become established in the Word as He roars in these days.