TAKE TIME: March 24-April 5, 2014 Schedule

Introduction: This week we will finish reading the prophecies of Amos and then we will read two more minor prophets, Micah and Nahum. They were contemporaries of Isaiah and fit into the timeline found in II Kings.

 Assignment:

• Monday - Amos 8:1-9:15
• Tuesday - Micah 1:1-2:13
• Wednesday - Micah 3:1-4:13
• Thursday - Micah 5:1-6:16
• Friday - Micah chapter 7
• Saturday - Nahum 1:1-2:13

Memory Verse

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to have mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8

Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God for being the righteous judge. He doesn't take bribes and He never turns a blind eye to wrong-doing. One way or the other the offense requires retribution. Either the LORD will require it at the hand of the guilty or He will require it from Jesus, the substitute for the believer.
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for any answers to your prayers.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

Many of these prophecies are against the stronger preying on the weaker. Widows and orphans often lost their homes and livelihoods to those who found "legal" means of confiscating them. The same still happens today. Do your own research and see if there are ways that you can help someone in this situation. There are many political, social, or humanitarian means available to those who are interested in pursuing them. Or maybe you could start an organization or non-profit of your own if there is a niche you discover that is not being adequately served.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 60 Friday

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Amos chapter 5

God was angry with those who had the power to oppress the poor and just by taking taxing away their food and homes from them. These also made pretense of serving God while also worshiping the idols Moloch and Chiun.

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded Israel to listen to what He was about to tell them.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that only 10% of those that went out of the city would be left.
• God promised that if they would seek Him they would live but they were not to seek Bethel or Gilgal or to pass to Beersheba because those places would go into captivity.
• God told those who oppressed the poor and just to seek good and not evil so and they would live.
• God would pass through their streets and there would be weeping and wailing. (This is the exact opposite of what happened when God passed through Egypt prior to bringing them out! Then it was the people of Israel that were spared and there was much weeping and wailing among the Egyptians.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the one made the Seven Stars and Orion; who turns the shadow of death into morning; who makes the day dark with night; who calls the waters of the sea and pours them on the earth; that strengthens the spoiled against the strong so that they can take the fortress.
• Jesus is the God of hosts.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• There are those who desire the Day of the Lord to come, but it will not be what they expect. To some, it will be darkness when they think it will be light for them. But they will be as someone who gets away from the lion and meets a bear, then gets away from the bear and thinks he is safe at home only to be bitten by a snake when he leans his hand against the wall. There are those who want God to judge their enemies - and He will - but they do not realize that in escaping a certain judgment they are running to a deadly judgment themselves when the Day of the Lord comes! This will be the judgment upon those whose religion is in vain. 

Read Through the Bible in 2014: March 31-April 5 Schedule

3/31/2014	Numbers 24-26	Acts 13
4/1/2014	Numbers 27-29	Acts 14
4/2/2014	Numbers 30, 31	Acts 15, 16
4/3/2014	Numbers 32-34	Galatians 1
4/4/2014	Numbers 35, 36	Galatians 2, 3
4/5/2014	Deuteronomy 1, 2	Galatians 4

Journal Through the Bible: Week 60 Thursday

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Amos 3:1-4:13

Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth umto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hearts, is his name. 4:12-13

Does God issue any commands?

• Through Amos God told the whole family of Jacob to listen to what He had to say.
• God commanded His word to be published in the palaces of Ashdod and Egypt.
• God commanded them to assemble themselves upon the mountains of Samaria and behold the great tumults.
• God commanded the "kine of Bashan" (a term of cruelty, see Psalm 22:12) to listen to His judgment upon them for oppressing the poor and needy.
• In mockery God told them to come to offer profane offerings and sacrifices at Bethel and Gilgal.
• God told them to prepare to meet Him!

Does God make any promises?

• As remnants of the prey are removed from the predator's mouth so would God remove a remnant of the people of Israel and Syria from their conquerors.
• In the day that the LORD would visit the transgressions of Israel upon him He would also visit the altars of Bethel and cut off the horns of the altar so that they fall to the ground. The winter and summer houses would be destroyed and the ivory palaces would be ruined.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• God attempted to get their attention with signs, withholding rain in one place but not another, giving some bread but not others, and yet they did not seek Him. Jesus did the same in His earthly ministry. He gave signs as proof of His divinity, but all the people wanted were the miracles and the bread. Few sought to know His will.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• One day we will all meet God. Prepare now!