Wake up USA!!!

The Minor Prophets and the U.S. (the United States)*

My Bible study and discussions on the Minor Prophets continue this week on the book of Amos.

Amos:

-An unlikely 8^th century B.C. prophet b/c he was: from the South (Judah) prophesying in the North, not a professional nor seminary trained (7:14), he was a shepherd (1:1; 7:14), he took care of “sycamore-fig trees” (7:15).

“Israel’s past is stained with disobedience and rebellion, Israel’s future holds the ominous threat of calamity, and Israel’s present demands an immediate and complete change of heart if that calamity is to be averted” (Overview in The Daily Walk Bible,” pg. 1152).

“Among the minor prophets, none was inspired to pay more attention to the needs of the poor than Amos. The relationship of social justice to economic issues was surely a notable emphasis of his preaching” (D. Stuart, Word Biblical Themes: Hosea – Jonah, 67).

1.    The condemnation of the nations, then Judah and Israel –2:4-8; 8:11-14.

a.     If we can assume the condemnation in 2:3 is just as true for Israel as it is for Judah, then how do we see the actions of 2:3, and the reality of 8:11-14, leading to actions like the ones found in 2:6-8?

b.    Imagine Amos standing in your neighborhood condemning your neighbors and as he moves from house to house he then mentions you and your family (DWB, 1165). What sin(s) is God convicting you of right now?

c.     “There’s no need to wait for fire to fall – or a prophet to knock – before you tend to an area of your life overdue for change” (DWB, p. 1165). Silent Reflection

2.    God sovereignly judges the nations and Israel – chs. 1-2; 3:6-7, 4:6-15; 7:1-9

a.     What are some of the proper responses to His pending judgment?

                                              i.     See 2:10 and 3:1 – Remember!

                                            ii.     See 4:6, 8-12 – Repent!

                                          iii.     See 7:2, 5 – Intercede!

b.    How might the Lord be trying to get our attention here in the U.S.?

3.    A call for justice and true religion – 5:10-24; Prov. 31:8-9; James 1:27; 5:1-6

a.     What do these texts say?

b.    For the next 5 days on your calendar, write down 1 thing you could do to serve someone you know you will cross paths with on that day (DWB, 1167).

c.     See also Amos 8:1-8

“Naturally, one emergency or disaster cannot automatically be converted into the voice of God, for there are more factors at work in this world than reducing them all to a single factor; there is, however, that which is sinful and wicked. … when these tragedies start coming in a series, such as Amos 4:6-12 illustrated, then it is high time for the believers to sit up and take notice. Be sure that God is calling a nation away from unrighteousness and back to himself” (W. Kaiser, Revive Us Again, pg. 231).

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*In this devotional I’m not trying to make a one-to-one correlation between 6^th – 8^th century Israel and 21^st century America. Nevertheless, God “is the same yesterday, today and forever” and God’s Word is Truth and applicable to our individual and corporate lives today as we live here in the U.S.

Bible Study and Discussion on the OT book of Joel

The Minor Prophets and the U.S. (the United States)*

Joel:

-Joel is Hebrew for “Yahweh is God.” (“Baugher” is a variant spelling for “one who plays in the mud,” i.e. “mud bogs.” J

-In the form of a “call to lament,” Joel warns of a surface level ecological crisis (locust plague) that foreshadows a much deeper spiritual crisis entailing God’s coming judgment through the hands of the Babylonian invasion.

-Written to Judah (Southern Israel) in the 590s – 580s BC

“Israel’s past is stained with disobedience and rebellion, Israel’s future holds the ominous threat of calamity, and Israel’s present demands an immediate and complete change of heart if that calamity is to be averted” (Overview in The Daily Walk Bible,” pg. 1152).

“The Day of the Lord is the central, indeed, exclusive, topic of the Book of Joel”

(D. Stuart, Word Biblical Themes: Hosea – Jonah, 52).

1.    The Day of the Lord ~ Israel’s present tense – Joel 1:13-15; 2:11-17

a.     What is “the Day of the Lord” depicting in these passages?

b.    Whose doing is this?

c.     What is the solution to prevent this catastrophe?

d.    How can we encourage a public lament over our actions?

2.    The Day of the Lord ~ the Final Days (Eschatological Days) – Joel 3:12-16

a.     What does this text say?

b.    What does this text mean for believers and non-believers today?

3.    God’s Blessings and Redemption – Joel 2:25-32; 3:16-21; Rev. 21:1-7, 22-27

a.     In what ways does the Spirit do away with human distinctions?

b.    How does Joel 3 point forward to Rev. 21?

c.     In light of current circumstances, how do these passages encourage us?

“Here in Joel the communal lament functions as an expression of repentance. It must be wholehearted: The people are to appear before God not only in torn clothing but with the broken hearts it signified. … Prayer is not imposing one’s own will on God, but being open to his will” (L. Allen, NIDOTTE, 798).

“The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:


Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;


The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,


His kingdom is forever.”

(M. Luther, A Mighty Fortress is our God, 1529).

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*In this devotional I’m not trying to make a one-to-one correlation between 6^th century Israel and 21^st century America. Nevertheless, God “is the same yesterday, today and forever” and God’s Word is Truth and applicable to our individual and corporate lives today as we live here in the U.S.

Hosea and the U.S.A.

While I started my new job back in June, today was my first official day where I was formally leading our staff meeting, our devotions and our prayer time. Things went really well and my coworkers appreciated the connections I was making between the Old Testament book of Hosea and our current situation here in the U.S.A. This Bible study below was the format that I used for our 45 minute devotional and discussion. I hope it challenges you to seek the Lord on behalf of our country!

Hosea

and the United States of America*

-Hosea is the longest of the “minor” prophets ("minor" being “smaller,” not less important)

-written to Northern Israel from the 750s BC to the 720s BC

-deals w/ their lack of faithfulness to God, illustrated by Hosea’s marriage to Gomer

“Israel’s past is stained with disobedience and rebellion, Israel’s future holds the ominous threat of calamity, and Israel’s present demands an immediate and complete change of heart if that calamity is to be averted” (Overview in The Daily Walk Bible,” pg. 1152).

“Hosea sees clearly that it is Israel’s spiritual adultery, her harlotry, which has undermined and drained the nation’s moral fiber” (W. Dumbrell, The Faith of Israel, 185).

1.    “Israel’s Past” ~ Hosea 4:1-3

a.     What does this text say? Especially with the 10 Commandments in mind?

b.    With the U.S.A. in mind, what does this text mean?

2.    “Israel’s Future” ~ Hosea 8:7-14

a.     What does this text say? How have they reaped what they have sown?

b.    With the U.S.A. in mind, what is coming to harvest here?

3.    “Israel’s Present” ~ Hosea 10:12-13; 12:6; 14:1-9

a.     What do these texts say about turning back to God?

b.    How can we be agents of repentance for our families, our churches, and our communities, so to bless and help turn the U.S.A. back to God?

“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy. For someday the people will follow me”

 (Hosea 11:8-10a, New Living Translation).

“From 2000 B.C. (Admah and Zeboiim) to a time yet in the future for us, the long view on Israel was given. There was no excuse for anyone who listened to Hosea to fail to see the plan of God. Paul says with regard to his description of Christ’s coming again, “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18). From the past to the future, the history of the people of God has always been under the control of the God of that people. This was surely encouraging to the faithful who heard Hosea preach, just as it is to us who read his prophecies from the printed page”

(D. Stuart, Word Biblical Themes: Hosea – Jonah, 44).

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*In this devotional, my purpose is not to make a one-to-one correlation between 8^th century Israel and 21^st century America. Nevertheless, God’s Word is Truth; it is applicable to our individual and corporate lives today as we live here in the USA and as we live in these critical times.