“Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12). Chapter 4 of Amos begins with the description of Israel’s sins, and it ends with the announcement of the day of reckoning. God makes His people especially accountable for the ways in which they live and treat others. Amos has listed a series of natural disasters, any … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Amos was called to prophesy against a privileged, religious people who oppressed the poor through dishonesty and bribery. [Teaching plan for Lord of All Nations April 22, 2013] 1. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 58:1-7 A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is. … Continue reading –>
Amos’ prophetic message was not intended to be restricted to the historical situation in Israel but to expand the scope of the message beyond Israel and Judah. In the Old Testament, Israel had a unique but not exclusive claim on God. Read Amos 3:1-2. The Hebrew verb yada, “to know,” which is used in verse 2, bears a … Continue reading –>
God’s universal judgment is one of the central teachings found in Amos. In the beginning of his book, the prophet announces God’s judgment on several of Israel’s neighbors because of their crimes against humanity. Then, however, Amos boldly declares that God also will judge Israel. The anger of the Lord was directed not only at … Continue reading –>
Read Amos 1 and 2. Why does the Lord warn that punishment is coming? The first two chapters in Amos’ book contain seven prophecies against neighboring nations, followed by a prophecy against Israel. The foreign nations are not judged because they are Israel’s enemies but because of their violations of universal human principles. Two things stand … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Amos 1-2, Isaiah 58, Luke 12:47-48, 1 Kings 8:37-40, Amos 4:12-13, Obadiah. Memory Text: “A Lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8, NKJV). Key Thought: Acts of inhumanity are sins against God and will be judged accordingly. lion in Scripture often represents the king of the animal world. His … Continue reading –>
The truth is, almost every single one of us knows that we need to change at least one specific behavior because it is harmful. Maybe it’s smoking, drinking, over-eating, or maybe it’s not exercising. Whatever the behavior is, we know, usually without any doubt, where that behavior will lead, and yet, we continue along our … Continue reading –>
The prophet’s name, Joel, was common in Bible times, and it means “The Lord is God.” This name is appropriate to the overall theme of the book: only God is completely holy and just, and His work is sovereign on earth. The history of His people, as well as that of the nations, is in … Continue reading –>
The teenager stepped off the bus and looked around. He had never been in a city before. But he had no time to gaze at the tall buildings and busy streets, for he was on a mission. But where should he go? He prayed, “God, direct me to the people who keep Your Sabbath.” Then … Continue reading –>
“…mighty are those who obey His command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?” Joel 2:11 NIV [Thought questions for A Holy and Just God April 17, 2013] 1. Tragedy can make us sensitive to God. When two horrible explosions blew up at the finish line for the Boston … Continue reading –>
Biblical prophets compare the coming judgment from God to the roaring of a lion, a sound that makes everyone tremble (Joel 3:16, Amos 1:2, 3:8). In the Bible, Zion designates the location of God’s earthly throne in Jerusalem. From this place God will punish the enemy, but at the same time He will vindicate His people who … Continue reading –>
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: God can use crises to make His people sensitive to their dependence on Him and their need for renewal and reformation. [Teaching Plan for A Holy and Just God April 15,2013] 1. Have a volunteer read Joel 1:14,15. A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of … Continue reading –>
Read Joel 2:28-29 along with Acts 2:1-21. How is Peter interpreting the prophecy of Joel here? On the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter announced that the Lord had fulfilled His promise, as given through Joel, regarding the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Accompanying the outpouring of the Spirit, and as a visible sign of God’s supernatural intervention … Continue reading –>
When natural disasters occur, they provoke many questions, such as, “Why did God allow this to happen?” “Why have some people lived, while others have died?” “Is there a lesson here that we could learn?” Joel had no doubt that the locust plague could lead to a deeper insight into God’s universal plan. In chapter … Continue reading –>
Read Joel 1:1-12. What is happening to the land of Judah? The prophet, who lived in an agricultural society, calls upon the farmers to be dismayed at the loss of their grain and fruit harvests. The ecological destruction could cripple the nation’s economy for years. In addition to the loss of food, shade, and wood, there … Continue reading –>