Category: Minor prophets
Thankful for a Good God!
Scripture reading for September 28th: Amos 3-7
Key Scriptures: Amos 5:14-15 “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.”
As a good father warns his children, so God warned His people, Israel, of coming judgment as consequences for their sins and rebellion. He sent Amos with a call to repentance: “Seek Me and live.” (Amos 5:4) Real life was found in keeping God’s commandments and doing what He decreed was good. If they would repent, God would show mercy. But pride and arrogance and riches and complacency caused God’s people who heard Amos’ message to sent him away: “Get out, you seer! God back to the land of Judah!” (Amos 7:12) May we listen to our Good Father’s advice today!
Thankful for a Good Father’s instruction: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:8-11)
Thankful for Salvation!
Scripture reading for September 27th: Joel 1-3, Amos 1-2
Key Scriptures: Joel 2:30-32 “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved, for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.”
Joel saw a vision of a devastating locust plague that swept over the land. This locust plague was a type of the judgment that God was planning to send on His rebellious people. Joel called God’s people to fasting, prayer and repentance. He then reminded them of God’s promise of warnings that would precede this judgment and also His promise of deliverance for all who would call on the Name of the Lord! This prophesy has meaning and brings hope for all today who will call on God’s Name!
Thankful for God’s faithful promise: “For their is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly bless all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”” (Romans 10:12-13)
Rejoice in God’s victory over death!
Scripture reading for September 26th: Hosea 10-14
Key Scriptures: Hosea 13:14 “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?”
Hosea had a Word of God for the remnant that would trust in Him. God, who alone had the power over death, would ransom them from the grave and redeem them from death! God asked two questions of “death” and the “grave”. The answer was that “death” and the “grave” would have no plague or power to destroy God’s people or to negate God’s power over them! This verse was quoted by Paul in the New Testament and given to encourage Christ’s church about the certain victory they have in Christ!
Rejoicing in our victory through Christ: “”Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1st Corinthians 15:55-56)
The Blessing of Repentance!
Scripture reading for September 25th: Hosea 6-9
Key Scriptures: Hosea 6:1-3 “”Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us, but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us, on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rise, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.””
Hosea called out to God’s people to return to the Lord with humility and repentance. Their sins had torn them apart and caused great injury and many wounds. God promised to revive them and restore them. They must press in and press on to acknowledge the Lord. He would soon come, bringing the rains of heaven and granting His holy Presence to all who believe through the Holy Spirit!
The blessing of repentance: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you–even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets.” (Acts 3:19-21)
Thankful for God’s Amazing Love!
Scripture reading for September 22nd: Hosea 1-5
Key Scriptures: Hosea 3:1-2 “The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.””
Hosea was instructed by God to find his adulterous wife and show her love again, buying her back from her slavery and indebtedness. Hosea was to demonstrate God’s great and amazing love for His adulterous people, who were in slavery to idolatry and uncleanness. So Hosea obeyed the Lord and bought his wife back, instructing her to remain faithful and live with him. This is a picture of the redemption that God accomplished through His Son, Jesus Christ, who demonstrated God’s great love for us who were sinners!
Rejoicing in Amazing Love: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life.” (Romans 5:8-10)
The Refiner’s Fire!
Scripture reading for October 4th: Malachi 1-4
Malachi was the final voice of a prophet in the era of the Old Covenant. After him, God was silent for 400 years until John the Baptist came on the scene. Malachi was a street preacher who went where the people were and asked hard questions. He tried to provoke God’s people to repent and do what God had required.
The priests were sacrificing blind, crippled and diseased animals. God was holy and He demanded pure sacrifices but His priests were dishonoring Him. (Malachi 1:6-14) Malachi asked if the governor would be pleased if they brought him animals like that? The answer was obvious!
God asked the priests why they were breaking their covenant vows with their wives? They were sacrificing to God on the Sabbath and then sacrificing to idol gods and having sex with the temple prostitutes. This practice would defile them and sow violence and divorce into their homes. (Malachi 2: 11-16) This dishonored God and hindered the development of godly offspring, God’s plan for covenant marriage.
God asked the people why they were stealing from Him? They were not giving God their tithes, bringing them under a curse. The devourer was eating their crops and taking away their sustenance. (Malachi 3:8-12) The remedy was simple–return to God by bringing His tithe! God told them to test Him in this. God promised to open the windows of heaven for those who honor Him with the tithe! He will also rebuke the devourer and bless their provisions.
God was going to send His messenger of the covenant to His temple. He would be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap, purifying the Levites. This process would bring about righteous obedience in the offerings and personal behavior. God was going to be quick to testify against those involved in sins of adultery, perjury, sorcery, and oppression of orphans and widows! (Malachi 3:1-8) The people needed to prepare for this messenger and the refining fire! (Malachi 4:1-3)
Malachi had a message that still rings true today for us. Jesus is coming with fire next time. Those who believe in Him will have their works tested by fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Those who oppose Him will be defeated by fire and eternally judged by fire!
King over all!
Scripture reading for October 3rd: Zechariah 12-14
“This is what the Lord says concerning Israel. The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: ” I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. On that day all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations.”” Zechariah 12:1-3a
God has some serious plans for Jerusalem and Judah. He foretold a time when all nations would be gathered against Israel and Jerusalem. Their attack will not succeed because God will be with His people. God stated that He would destroy all nations that attack Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:9)
God was going to pour out on Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication, and they would mourn for Jesus, the one they have pierced. (Zechariah 12:10) (John 19:34-37) He promised to open up a fountain for the house of David to cleanse them from sins and the land from idols. (Zechariah 13:1) The wounds that would cleanse them would be received at the house of his friends! (Zechariah 13:6) The sword would strike the Shepherd of the Lord and the sheep would be scattered. (Zechariah 13:7) (Matthew 26:31-32) God’s people would be refined in the fire of the last days! (Zechariah 13:8-9)
Jerusalem would be captured and houses ransacked and women raped. Suddenly, the Lord will put his feet on the Mount of Olives and it will split in two, creating a great valley. It will make a way of escape for God’s people! (Zechariah 14:4-5) It will be a day with no daytime or night. It will be a day when living waters will flow out of Jerusalem.
“The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name.” Zechariah 14:9
Jerusalem will be lifted up and inhabited. It will be secure and never again destroyed. The nations that attacked Israel will be struck with a terrible plague that will cause their flesh to rot while standing on their feet and the eyes to rot in their sockets! There will be a great panic and these enemies will attack each other. (Zechariah 14:12-16) But God’s people will be pure and secure forever!
The gentle King!
Scripture reading for October 2nd: Zechariah 9-11
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9:9-10
Zechariah was very specific that the coming ruler would be both a priest and a king. He would not be a great conqueror who would ruthlessly devour the nations or subdue them with strong-arm tactics. He would come gently, armed with weapons of righteousness and salvation. He would be riding on the colt of a donkey. His rule would extend to the ends of the earth! That sounds like Jesus Christ! (Matthew 21:2-4)
This gentle King would save and restore His people! Because of the blood of His covenant, He would free the prisoners! (Zechariah 9:11) Not only that, He would restore them double! He would save His flock like a shepherd from their enemies and they would sparkle like jewels in a crown. (Zechariah 9:16-17) God was tired of shepherds who oppressed the people and promised that He, Himself, would care for the flock. He would raise up from Judah one who would be the cornerstone and the tent peg. (Zechariah 10:4) Jesus Christ came from the tribe of Judah and became the chief cornerstone of the new temple! He would be the “Good Shepherd” who would care for the flock!
Zechariah recorded many “I will” statements spoken by the Lord. Included are promises to strengthen the house of Judah and have compassion on them. He promised to be their God and to hear and answer them. (Zechariah 10:6-12) He will gather them from where they were scattered and they would again walk in His name! This “King” speaks with authority!
A final reference to this king is found in Zechariah 11:12-13 where he named the price of thirty pieces of silver. It was to be thrown to the potter! Jesus Christ was betrayed by Judas for the thirty pieces of silver! The price was used to buy a ‘potter’s field’! (Matthew 27:3-10)
Blessings of a true fast!
Scripture reading for October 1st: Zechariah 7-8
“Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?'” Zechariah 7:4-6
Many times we who are the Lord’s children go through the motions when we seek to worship or serve the Lord. We do what is expected or required, but don’t really put our hearts into it. I know that I have done that before with fasting. As soon as I begin to fast, my flesh acts up and distractions come faster than ever before! I have good intentions, but poor results!
God used Zechariah to preach to His people as they returned to work on the temple. God did not want them going through the expected motions of the fast. He wanted them to administer justice and show mercy and compassion to one another. He wanted them to care for the needy and poor and help the widow and orphan. He wanted their hearts to truly love each other instead of thinking evil. (Zechariah 7:8-10) Fasting that pleases God results in a focus on what God really loves.
God’s people just went through the motions and God scattered them among the nations. This is why the land became desolate and rested for the seventy years. Hard hearts and disobedience had brought their inevitable consequences. But now, God was again jealous for Jerusalem and promised to show blessing and favor. God would gather His people back to the land and many nations would come and join themselves to the Jew! (Zechariah 8:15-23)
Fasting has always been a way for God’s people to draw closer to Him. A true fast brings cleansing to body and soul. The body cleanses itself from toxins and waste as we quit eating and drink lots of water. The soul quits focusing on bodily appetites and desires the Lord and His will. Toxins of the soul include bitterness, depression, apathy, unforgiveness, lack of truth and injustice. The water of God’s word washes the soul clean. Take time soon for a true fast! It will work wonders for body and soul!
The Crowning of Joshua!
Scripture reading for September 30th: Zechariah 5-6
Zechariah, other than Isaiah, has more references to the coming of Jesus and His ministry than any other prophet. In today’s reading we have more of the eight visions that God gave Zechariah to encourage the workers who were rebuilding the temple and city of Jerusalem. Eight is the number of ‘new beginnings’.
Zechariah has already mentioned the ‘Branch’ who was symbolized by Joshua, the High Priest. This ‘Branch’ would come and be fully obedient to God and take away the sins of the nation in a single day. (Zechariah 3:8-9) The High Priest symbolically did this on the Day of Atonement each year. He would go behind the veil of the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood of a lamb on the mercy seat. This offering of blood was for the sins of the nation. (Leviticus 16:15-17)
Zechariah was told to take silver and gold from the returned exiles and make a crown to be placed on the head of Joshua, the High Priest. He was to say to him: “Here is the man whose name is “Branch”, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the Lord. It is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He will be clothed with majesty and will sit on His throne. And He will be a priest on His throne and there will be harmony between the two.” (Zechariah 6:12-13)
As we reflect on this vision, the ‘Branch’ is a picture of Jesus Christ who was and is both priest and king! He holds both offices without any conflict! He is our “High Priest” before God interceding for us. (Romans 8:34) He is the “King of Kings” who is coming in power to claim His bride, the Church, and punish His enemies. (Revelation 19:11-16)
We who believe are the new Temple of the Lord where Jesus is enthroned as Lord! He has given us the Holy Spirit and we have overcoming power to share with the lost world the good news of His coming again. We are watching for His return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! When He comes, we will worship Him who alone is worthy! (Revelation 5:13-14)