This week we read Prophets 2, 3 & 4 out of the series of 12 minor prophets:
* Weekend: Joel
* Monday: Amos 1 - 2
* Tuesday: Amos 3 - 5
* Wednesday: Amos 6 - 7
* Thursday: Amos 8 - 9
* Friday: Obadiah
Joel is the 2nd prophet from the collection of minor prophets. There is very little known about the prophet himself. Because of his concern for Judah and Jerusalem, it is generally accepted that that's the area he lived and prophesied. Dating the book is difficult too because of lack of historical references, but most scholars date the book in the 6th century BC, either right before the Babylonian captivity or afterward (586BC).
Joel prophesies about the "great and dreadful day of the LORD" (2:31). The massive locust plague and severe drought devastating Judah are all signs of that day. Confronted with crisis, he calls on everyone to repent: old and young (1:2-3), drunkards (1:5), farmers (1:11) and priests (1:13). The locusts are described as the LORD's army and he sees in their coming a reminder that the day of the LORD is near.
Chapter 3 is famous because the apostle Peter quotes it in one of the most famous sermons of the Bible in Acts chapter 2:14-47 (apart from Jesus' sermons). This chapter in Acts shows an interesting aspect about prophesies, namely that many prophesies are partly fulfilled at some point in time, but still wait for their complete fulfillment at a later point in time. In this particular case, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as prophesied by Joel 600 years earlier (!), had its fulfillment in Acts chapter 2, however, the 'blood and fire and billows of smoke, the sun turning to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful (or glorious) day of the LORD' has not been completely fulfilled yet. The great day of the LORD that brings judgment over all who rejected God, is still coming, and vividly described in the book of Revelation. The prophet Joel saw it all in one vision, and laid it out for us in one paragraph, but the actual fulfillment is happening at different moments in time.
Amos was a shepherd in Tekoa, a small town about 6 miles south of Bethlehem. He was not from the elite of Israel (like Isaiah who was a man of the court, or Jeremiah who was a priest). He earned his living from the flock and the sycamore-fig grove (1:1, 7:14-15). He probably ministered for the most part at Bethel (7:10-13), Israel's main religious sanctuary. His prophesies are well organized, however, it is hard to find a chronological order in his prophesies. He prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah over Judah (792-740BC) and Jerobeam II over Israel (793-753).
The main theme of the book of Amos is probably captured in chapter 5:24:
"But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"
Whereas Hosea emphasized God's love, grace, mercy and forgiveness, Amos was a vigorous spokesman for God's justice and righteousness. Amos declared that God was going to judge his unfaithful, disobedient, covenant-breaking people. And we need to hear both messages too! We need to fully grasp God's love, grace and mercy, but then we also need to understand God's justice and righteousness, not just for ourselves, but also to stir in us a compassion for all those who are still lost and need to hear God's message of love, grace and mercy, lest they will not come under His judgment.
The book of Obadiah is just one chapter! His name means "servant (or worshipper) of the LORD". The prophesy is about Edom (Edom are the offspring from Esau, Jacob's (=Israel's) brother. God is upset with Edom because they gloated over Israel's devastation. Because of their family relationship, God is even more upset with Edom than other nations who show hostility toward Israel. The recurring theme of "the day of the LORD" is also in this book (verse 15-21).
I apologize for the long post this week, but wanted to give a bit of background on 3 different bible books. I hope you still enjoy reading through the Bible. This week is a good week to catch up, as the reading is very light. Joel and Obadiah are 1 day each, but you can almost read Amos in day as well, which gives you a couple days extra to catch up or get ahead.
Have a great week!
Dick
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There is a very troubling verse in Amos 3:2 which says "You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities." NASB
ReplyDeleteIt is similar in most bible versions, and it troubles me mostly because it is an area needing growth in my own life. I am so aware of my own sin that I slip into a personal identity of ignoring all the positive things that God says about me. Instead I identify myself as a sinner, only. The truth is that I am a sinner, but I am also a saint.
While I don't want to ignore the parts of scripture that I don't like (such as the verse above), I find that I need to focus more heavily on God's view of me as a saint. I already beat myself up for my sin. I don't need help seeing the sin in my life, I need to see the redemption, repentance and restoration.
Steve, you are right that that verse can be troubling. I think you have to read it in the context of Hebrews 12:5,6, which is a quotation of Proverbs 3:11,12:
ReplyDelete"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."
Although this verse still applies from time to time to our lives, I believe we can extend the analogy of the father and the son to the next level. The people of Israel in the old testament did not have the Holy Spirit poured out and available to everyone (only a select few). To me, that is a picture of a young child, who does not have wisdom yet, who tends to make many mistakes, and therefore needs punishment to correct and guide that child in the right direction.
When a child matures, becomes a (young) adult, he or she starts to learn right from wrong and making right choices by him/herself without the punishment of a father. His or her 'spirit' matures so to speak. I believe that is a picture of everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ into their life, and as a result has the Holy Spirit to guide him or her. Now it is no longer the punishment from the Father, but rather the gentle guiding of the Holy Spirit that guides and mentors us.
Knowing you, Steve, I wholeheartedly believe that the Holy Spirit is guiding you, and that you do not have to fear punishment of the Father. And to finish it with Prov.3:12: I think you are a son the Father delights in.
Thanks for sharing your heart.
Dick