When a command states to turn or beat your plowshares into swords and pruninghooks into spears, this is another way of saying, get ready for war. In other words, turn your farming material and tools into weapons is what this verse is saying. To get a full comprehension of the verse, let’s look at the entire chapter.
These verses from the book of Joel describe a time when the Creator will gather all nations for judgment, particularly for how they treated His people and divided His land. He warns them to prepare for war, as He will sit in judgment and repay them for their actions.
Here is a rewording of the chapter:
1 In those days, when I restore the fortunes of Juda and Jerusalem, ending their captivity and oppression
2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my people, Akobe, my inheritance, whom they have scattered among the nations and divided up my land.
3 They have cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they have sold girls for wine, so they can drink.
4 Now, what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.
5 Because you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.
6 You sold the people of Juda and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.
7 Look, I will rouse them out of the places where you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done.
8 I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Juda, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away. The Almighty has spoken.
9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!”
11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, Almighty!
12 Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.
Here are headlines from recent:
Norway wants a ‘historic increase’ in defense spending of $56 billion over the next 12 years. They are not the only ones.
The United States spends the most on defense in the world, with $876.9 billion in 2023, which is almost 40% of the world’s total. The next largest military spenders are:
- China: $292 billion
- Russia: $86.4 billion
- India: $81 billion
- Saudi Arabia: $75 billion
- United Kingdom: $68 billion
Other countries with large military budgets include:
- Germany: $56 billion
- France: $54 billion
- South Korea: $46 billion
- Japan: $46 billion
- Ukraine: $44 billion
- Israel: $23 billion
- Spain: $20 billion
In 2022, the United States spent $877 billion on its military, which was 3.5% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). The U.S. has the third-largest military with 1.367 million members on active duty and another 1.037 million in the National Guard and reserves.
In most cases, people do not take in the scriptures indepth or with 100% confidence and belief because they have nothing to support or contrast it against. However, look at this comparison next to the verse at hand:
Cost of War
The US federal government spends around $10 billion a year on agriculture, including $50 billion in other spending that supports farmers and farms. In 2022, the federal government provided $15.6 billion in subsidies to farms, or direct farm program payments. The government also offers $500 million annually in incentives for farmers through the tax code.
- $900 Billion in defense
- $500 Billion in agriculture
We are living in amazing times; prophecy being fulfilled, but as I spoke with a colleague, most of the world are blind to the signs. Governments, media, educational institutions, including the “church” have assisted people to be oblivious of the things to come.
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I hope you know understand why this is important.
The world is spending at worst $10 to $1 on defense to agriculture or at best $2 to $1. This is at a time when the prophet Joel states these type of things would be the case.
The leaders of the world a spiritually immature. Immaturity breeds physical (military) escalation and not deescalation. In an events such as Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, escalation was sought. Younger men immature men who carry weapons do not do so with a mindset of defense, but intimidation. Defense budgets for the spiritually immature is more about intimidation.
So as we turn our plowshares into swords and pruninghooks into spears, modern-day B83s, are we living out prophecy or protecting our citizens.
Minister Koko
Consul General, AKOPPI-BSM
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