Journal Through the Bible: Week 55 Wednesday

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Hosea 13:1-14:9

God, the heartbroken, forgotten spouse cries unto Israel, pleading for their return:

O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. (13:9)

O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou has fallen by thine iniquity.Take with you words, and turn to the LORD; say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips. I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.  (14:1-2,4)

Does God issue any commands?

• God reminded them of the First Commandment, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Does God make any promises?

• Since Israel was guilty of sacrificing to the golden calves and kissing them in their worship God promised that they would pass away as a morning cloud, the dew, and chimney smoke.
• God promised that He would be their king.
• God promised that He would ransom Israel from the grave and redeem them from death.
• God promised to forgive and heal them.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• God tells them again that He is their only savior. That would be Jesus, their Messiah.
• When God promised to be their king it is as Jesus, the King on the throne of David.
• Jesus is the One who fought death, hell, and the grave and won the victory for His people: those who are believers from both physical and spiritual Israel.
• When Jesus stood over Jerusalem and cried  as He said that He would have taken them under His wing as a hen would her chicks but they would not have Him (Matthew 23 and Luke 13) it is God once more crying to Israel and her capital city that He loves her in spite of her unfaithfulness just as He did in the book of Hosea.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• One day 13:10 will be completely and eternally fulfilled as Jesus, God in the flesh, will be Israel's King.
• Because of the ransom from the grave and redemption from death believers will be resurrected and the grave will be destroyed forever. (There will be no graves in Heaven or on the new Earth!)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 55 Tuesday

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Hosea 11:1-12:14

Does God issue any commands?

• Citing the history of Jacob/Israel, including his wrestling incident with the angel, God compelled His people to return to Him. They had supplanted but they could overcome, too.

Does God make any promises?

• With the love and sadness that a husband would feel toward his unfaithful wife, God said that Israel would be taken captive by Assyria because of her infidelity toward Him. Such infidelity began almost from the moment they left Egypt. Yet God promised that He would not destroy them in His anger like a man might be tempted to do to his unfaithful spouse.
• In spite of everything God promised future restoration.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• God makes note of the faithfulness of Judah but makes it clear that this faithfulness was not entirely their own doing either. They had received a measure of grace due to their kings being of the offspring of David. This lineage was the human line of Jesus.
• In 12:4-5 God tells of the wrestling between Himself and Jacob. If I am reading the pronouns correctly God is saying that Jacob spoke with "us." Who is "us?" The three members of the Godhead. The "us" could not be in reference to just "the angel," whom I believe most likely to be a Theophany or Christophany or Jesus anyway since Jesus is God in the flesh.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The nation of Israel is described in this passage as being espoused to God. Revelation 21:2 described New Jerusalem adorned as the bride for her husband.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 55 Monday

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Hosea 9:1-10:15

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. (10:12)

Does God issue any commands?

• Chapter 9 opens with God telling Israel not to rejoice because calamity is coming to them.

Does God make any promises?

• Because of their sin Ephraim would return to Egypt and Israel would be taken to Assyria where they would eat abominable things.
• God would bereave Ephraim of their children.
• The calves of Bethaven would be carried to Assyria as a present to king Jareb.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• These chapters tell of sowing and reaping. They were to break up the fallow ground and seek the LORD. Jesus said in His day that the fields were ripe unto harvest. And He is the Lord our Righteousness.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• In John's vision told in the book of Revelation he says that there is a terrible time of destruction when the inhabitants of earth will call upon the mountains to fall upon them in their fear. This is mentioned also in Hosea 10:8 concerning the time of destruction that comes upon Israel when Assyria conquered them.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 54 Saturday

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Hosea 7:1-8:14

God recounts the evils of Israel in general and Ephraim in particular. Their princes would fall by the sword because of their wickedness.

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. (8:7a)

Does God issue any commands?

• No, but God said that He had given them the His law but they regarded it as a strange thing which implies they just ignored it and did things their own way.

Does God make any promises?

• Israel and Judah would be judged for forgetting the Maker and was depending upon fenced cities for protection against their enemies.
• Israel's calf idol would be broken into pieces.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Israel was to have no others gods but they had made a golden calf in Samaria to worship. There are to be no others worshiped besides Jesus. ("I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me." John 14:6)

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 54 Friday

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Hosea 5:1-6:11

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.  6:6-7

Does God issue any commands?

• God demanded that the priests and the house of Israel listen to Him as He spoke.
• God demanded that the cornet be blown in Gibeah, the trumpet blown in Ramah, and a herald cry aloud in Bethaven to get the attention of Benjamin.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised a curse upon the priests and the family of the king because they had ensnared the people by leading them into idolatry. 
• God promised a curse upon Ephraim and all of Israel first. He said Judah would also fall after them.
• God promised to judge Judah also for removing all boundaries set by the LORD.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• God predicted that the people would cry unto Him in their affliction stating that after 2 days He would revive them and after three days He would raise them up so that they would live in His sight. (5:15-6:2) It is reminiscent of a resurrection, specifically that of Jesus who remained 3 days and 3 nights dead to God because of sin, although not His own, but ours!
• Jesus is the lion of the house of Judah that judged Ephraim. (5:14)

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• God prepares a harvest for those He returns from captivity. Even now, God has prepared things that no eye has seen, no ear has heard about, or that any of us can understand and every part of it is for those who have returned from the captivity of sin and have become God's people. God always abundantly prepares for those He rescues from captivity!

TAKE TIME: February 24-March 1, 2014 Schedule

Introduction: We begin the week by reading two more chapters of II Kings before transitioning into Isaiah. This prophet received his revelations from God during the reigns of 4 difference kings of Judah. His messages are some of the most beloved because they tell a great deal about the Messiah.

 Assignment:

• Monday - II Kings chapter 16
• Tuesday - II Kings chapter 17
• Wednesday - Isaiah chapter 1
• Thursday - Isaiah chapter 2
• Friday - Isaiah 3:1-4:6
• Saturday - Isaiah chapter 5

Memory Verse

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God that He is reasonable. Everything He says or does makes sense, even if we do not always understand it at the time.
• 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

The ministry of Isaiah encompassed approximately 60 years based upon the reigns of the 4 kings mentioned in the introductory verses of the book. Age did not slow him down! Have you ever heard someone say, "I used to work in that ministry, but now that I am older I think the younger people should do. I no longer help there anymore." Perhaps you are guilty of saying it yourself. Well, based upon the life of Isaiah and scriptural principles found elsewhere I do not think that quitting (pew sitting!) is part of God's Retirement Plan so find an area of ministry in which you used to work and volunteer there once more! And if you have never quit but know others who have remind them that until God truly calls them into retirement they are to keep working. (What is God's Retirement Plan? Hint: "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." Until then, keep doing whatever you can for Him!!!!)

Read Through the Bible in 2014: February 24-March 1 Schedule

2/24/2014	Exodus 21-23	Mark 14
2/25/2014	Exodus 24, 25	Mark 15
2/26/2014	Exodus  26-28	Mark 16
2/27/2014	Exodus 29, 30	Luke 1
2/28/2014	Exodus 31, 32	Luke 2
3/1/2014	Exodus 33, 34	Luke 3

Journal Through the Bible: Week 54 Thursday

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Hosea 3:1-4:19

Does God issue any commands?

• God told Hosea to go and claim again as his wife the adulteress to whom he was married. Hosea did so. He bought his wife back for 15 pieces of silver, and 1 1/2 homers of barley. This was God's picture of His love toward Israel, the nation that had played the adulterer against Him.
• Through Hosea God commanded people to hear His word proclaimed. Their sins were so abundant that they were no longer listening to Him.
• God told them not to argue and fight with each other when their punishment of captivity came because they were all guilty. He said they were destroyed for a lack of knowledge because they rejected knowledge. (This sounds very much like today.) God would reject them because of it.
• God commanded that Israel not carry her immoral behavior into the nation of Judah. God desired for them to be kept separated.

Does God make any promises?

• Through Hosea God told Israel that they would be many days without a king, a prince, a sacrifice, an image, or the ephod and teraphim.
• God told them that the land would mourn, every one who lived there would languish as would the beasts, fowl, and fish of the area. Their glory would become shame.
• The nation of Israel had rejected the tribe of Levi as priests and had set their own standards for the priesthood of the golden cows. Those priests were ungodly in every way, including taking advantage of the people and leading them into immorality.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the princely King that Israel is "without" today. They do not properly worship God the Father because they have rejected His heir, Jesus Christ. They also do not now offer sacrifices or carry out any of the ceremonies of worship as instituted by Moses. Of courses, they do not need to sacrifice animals as pictures of the atonement any more because those were only pictures of Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God that takes away sin. 

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• 3:5 - The children of Israel return to the LORD and their rightful king of the lineage of David (Jesus) in the latter days. This will be completely fulfilled when Jesus rules Israel upon the throne of David from His capital city of Zion in New Jerusalem.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 54 Wednesday

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Hosea 1:1-2:23

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded Hosea to take a wife from among the fallen women.
• God commanded Hosea to name his firstborn son Jezreel. (Which means "God will sow.")
• God commanded Hosea to name his second child and first daughter Lo-ruhamah. (Which means "no mercy." This was to show that God did not feel sorry for the people of Israel concerning the things that were about to befall them.)
• God commanded Hosea to name his third child and second son Lo-ammi. (Which means "not my people." This was to say that God did not see them as His people.)
• God commanded Hosea to call his brethren Ammi (my people) and Ruhamah (mercy). 
• God commanded Hosea to plead with "your mother," meaning the people of Israel that begat him to tell "her," Israel to put away her idolatry which was unfaithfulness or "adulteries" to God.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised this curse: that He would avenge the blood of the people of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu and cause to cease the kingdom of Israel.
• God promised a curse when He named Hosea's daughter Loruhamah. He would take away the people of Israel out of their land.
• God promised mercy upon the people of Judah that did not extend to the people of Israel.
• God promised that even though the northern tribe of Israel were being spiritually divorced from Him because they had broken the covenant yet the Jewish people would still be as the sand of the sea that cannot be numbered. Most of those would come through the southern kingdom of Judah. 
• He promised that in the same place that it was said that they were not His people it would also be said that they are the sons of the living God and that the remnants would be joined together from Judah and Israel and appoint one leader for all of them.
• God promised that He would make it difficult for His covenanted people (who had broken their covenant with God!) to find their way to those with whom they were guilty of spiritual fornication and that they would desire to return to their first husband.
• God promised to cause His people much shame in the sight of the nations that they so adored, nations that could not and would not deliver them from God's punishment.
• God promised that the fields and vineyards would become forests that the animals would eat.
• God promised to bring punishment upon them for the worship of Baal and to make them despise the very name.
• God promised that the animals and birds would live safely in the land.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Although the prophecy found in 1:11 concerning the consolidation of Judah with Israel once more and the appointment of a leader to bring them up out of the land was fulfilled when Babylon conquered Assyria and assimilated some of the Israelite captives along with Babylonian's own captives from Judah this prophecy also has a future fulfillment. Then they will appoint themselves one head which will be Christ Jesus.
• Revelation 2:4 Jesus tells the church at Ephesus that He had something against them because they had left their first love, which would be Him. It also means that they were like the people of Israel that had left their first love, God, as mentioned in Hosea 2:7. Jesus, the promised Messiah, was the first love that the Children of Israel had forsaken also.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• In the prophecy concerning the salvation of the Jews in the book of Revelation all of the tribes of Israel are represented which is compatible with verse 1:11. In that day their chosen leader will be Jesus, the Son of David.
• As in verse 2:18, when the time of battle ceases in the land the animals and birds will dwell safely there without fear of being hunted. Isaiah tells us that in Christ's Kingdom even the lion and lamb will graze side by side.
• As in verses 2:19-23, God will forever be wedded to Israel in a faithful union where they will know the Lord (because Jesus is Emmanuel, "God with us" and He will always be present. Hence the New Jerusalem being His capital city in Revelation! Even the heavens and earth will be united. The earth will bring forth abundantly! The wedding vows will be, "Thou art my people!" and "Thou art my God!"

Journal Through the Bible: Week 54 Tuesday

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II Kings chapter 14

Amaziah, king of Judah, had a measure of success against Edom and in his militaristic pride he challenged Jehoash, king of Israel, to a battle. The king of Israel warned Amaziah not to pursue this matter any further but Amaziah would not listen. Israel was successful against Judah. Jehoash carried the battle from Bethshemesh to Jerusalem where he took treasures from the LORD'S house, the king's house, as well as hostages before returning to his capital in Samaria. Yet he did not kill the king of Judah. Amaziah outlived Jehoash by 15 years. Then he also succumbed to the conspiracy of assassins just as his father had.

Does God issue any commands?

• In this chapter we read of Judah's king, Amaziah, following the law as given by Moses when dealing with those who had conspired to assassinate his father, King Joash.

Does God make any promises?

• Mention is made of a promise made through Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet from Gathhepher (better known as the Jonah who was swallowed by the great fish), to restore the coast of Israel. This was fulfilled in the days of Israel's king, Jeroboam, the son of Joash (not to be confused with this country's first king who was also named Jeroboam).
• The LORD promised that he would not blot out the name of Israel so He rescued them during the days of this king Jeroboam to fulfill this promise.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• As the righteous judge, Amaziah was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ who will judge each individual and hold him or her accountable for sins and will not be a respecter of persons or family ties.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.

TAKE TIME: February 17-22, 2014 Schedule

Introduction: As we conclude the story of Hosea we will read of God's promise of restoration to Israel. Then we will read the book of Jonah, the man most noted for being swallowed by a great fish, perhaps a whale, and see God's offer of grace to the citizens of the city of Ninevah. Finally, we will finish out the week by returning to II Kings, the book that provides the back drop against which these prophets lived and worked.

 Assignment:

• Monday - Hosea 9:1-10:15
• Tuesday - Hosea 11:1-12:14
• Wednesday - Hosea 13:1-14:9
• Thursday - Jonah 1:1-2:10
• Friday - Jonah 3:1-4:11
• Saturday - II Kings chapter 15

Memory Verse

Review previous verses.


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God that He is merciful. No one deserves salvation. No one!
• 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

Jonah was a man who wanted his country's enemies to die in their sins. You and/or your country have enemies, too. Do a little research into an enemy group, whether it be another nation, another religion, or perhaps an organization, and see if there is anyone attempting to reach them with the Word of God. Jesus told us to love our enemies and to pray for them. Organizations attempting to reach those known for their hatred and persecution can always use help and funds.

Read Through the Bible in 2014: February 17-22 Schedule

2/17/2014	Exodus 6-8	Mark 5
2/18/2014	Exodus 9, 10	Mark 6, 7
2/19/2014	Exodus 11, 12	Mark 8, 9
2/20/2014	Exodus 13-15	Mark 10
2/21/2014	Exodus 16-18	Mark 11
2/22/2014	Exodus 19, 20	Mark 12, 13

Old-Marrieds Losing and Winning the Newlywed Game

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In honor of St. Valentine's Day, Pastor Dad and I attended a banquet this weekend with other church-going couples. Actually, we attended 3 but at only one did we play the traditional quiz game designed to show everyone how well spouses know each other, The Newlywed Game.

At this banquet it was announced that three games would be played throughout the evening to determine who the participants would be in that final prize-winning game. I looked at my husband and said, "You know that as the guest speaker and wife we are automatically going to be chosen as one of the couples no matter how well we do in the early games." And my theory might have been correct, but we'll never know. As one of the runner-up couples in the preliminary rounds we became one of the six doomed lucky couples. Mmm-hmm.

So there we were. We were the longest-married couple of those chosen. Obviously we should know each other pretty well after 35 years of marriage, right? Well, yes  but the score certainly didn't reflect it! We came in d.e.a.d  l.a.s.t.

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Did we know all the answers? Uh, no. Not only weren't they primarily made up of the standard fact questions like, "What is your wife's favorite perfume?" but even for the ones that were we have a lot more information to remember than those who have been married only a few years! Most questions were more thought provoking though. And one or two were just plain provoking. :)

Then there were the answers that we deliberately missed. Did we lie? No, but we chose answers that were the most edifying and least embarrassing for our spouse:  answers that portrayed our beloved at his or her best and not as the sometimes unpleasant person that each knows the other is capable of being.

We're used to looking at each other through eyes of love and seeing beyond each other's struggles. After all, it isn't unusual to see couples who have been married as long as we have been that are made up of a person who is bald and one whose weight went from 135 to 200 pounds during the child-bearing years. It's just unusual when you consider the way it affects this couple.

The funny thing was that neither of us knew that the other was going to take the edifying approach when answering about each other. Ultimately we each ended up telling on ourselves by choosing answers that we think to be closer to the mark and each was pleasantly surprised by the answers our spouse gave about us.

So, why did we do so poorly in the game? Do we not know each other very well? No, after 35 years of marriage we know each other all too well:  well enough to know where the hot buttons are and well enough to know that we'd like to be married to each other for at least 35 more years if the Lord gives them to us.

In other words, we each esteem the other more highly than we do ourselves. We may have lost a game but we definitely proved that we possess the greatest prize of all.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 54 Monday

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II Kings chapter 13

This chapter deals primarily with the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel. The kings of Judah are noted merely to place the kings of Israel in context.

This is also the chapter that tells of the death of Elisha, the prophet in Israel. Notice that when the king of Israel saw that Elisha was dying he quoted Elisha himself. Elisha said the very same words when he saw Elijah being taken to Heaven. (Compare II Kings 13:14 with II Kings 2:12.) Whether taken alive or through death, at the end of their earthly sojourn God's people are taken to Heaven through transportation arranged by God Himself! Even after Elisha had been placed in his grave God performed a miracle through him.

Does God issue any commands?

• Not that I noted.

Does God make any promises?

• Through the dying Elisha God promised that the king of Israel would smite the Syrians three times.
• God showed compassion to Israel because of His previous promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• When King Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, of the northern kingdom of Israel prayed to the LORD He sent a savior to deliver them from the hands of the Syrians just like He did in the day of the judges. Ultimately, Israel's Savior, Judge, and Deliverer is Jesus. He will one day remove all of Israel's oppressors.
• When the dead man's body was placed upon Elisha's bones in the grave the man was resurrected. Through the death of Jesus we have life everlasting.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• One day the Savior will deliver Israel from all who oppress her.

TAKE TIME: February 10-15, 2014 Assignment

Introduction: Elisha, the great prophet of Israel, had one last message for his king before departing this life. We will continue to read about a few of the kings of Israel and Judah this week before turning to another of the prophetic books, Hosea, written by a man who was contemporary to this period.


 Assignment:

• Monday - II Kings chapter 13
• Tuesday - II Kings chapter 14
• Wednesday - Hosea 1:1-2:23
• Thursday - Hosea 3:1-4:19
• Friday - Hosea 5:1-6:11
• Saturday - Hosea 7:1-8:14

Memory Verse

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us, he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Hosea 6:1-2


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God that He is faithful. He keeps His covenant promises.
• 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

Hosea was the husband of an unfaithful wife and the father of several children born of their union. One can only imagine how traumatic the children's lives were in the face of their parents' marital problems, infidelity, and the resulting slavery. But imagine the lessons of grace they learned when their mother was redeemed from the by the man who loved her. You might encounter children like these everyday, such is our "enlightened" culture that is enslaved by sin and debauchery. Ask the Lord to show you some way to touch their hearts with the eternal love of God to help them learn the lessons of grace.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 53 Saturday

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Joel chapter 3

Does God issue any commands?

• God told the Gentiles to prepare for war: beat their plowshares into swords and pruninghooks into spears in preparation to fight against God.
• God called the heathen to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for judgment.
• God commanded the sickle to be put to the harvest because the wickedness of the heathen is ripe.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that in the days when the remnant of Judah that returned after the captivity He would gather all nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat and plead for those who are scattered among them.
• God promised to return the people taken by Tyre, Zidon (the people of Jezebel), and Greece. He told them that if they tried to make restitution to Him He would pour it out upon their heads because of the silver and gold that they took as tribute money from God's Temple in Jerusalem. Those nations would see their own sons and daughters taken as captives and sold as slaves.
• God promised that Egypt and Edom would be desolate due to their violence against the children of Judah.
• God promised that Judah shall dwell for ever and so will Jerusalem because Zion is where God dwells.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• God does not say who it is that is to thrust in the sickle and reap the harvest but Revelation 14:14 tells us that it is Jesus that the Father commands to lead the reaping of the wicked that are to be thrust into the winepress of God's wrath.
• The Lord in verse 16 that roars out of Zion and is the hope of his people and the strength of Israel is Jesus.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• In Joel 3:13 God told someone to put in the sickle and reap the harvest because the wickedness of the heathen is ripe. In Revelation chapter 14 the Son of Man (Jesus) and an angel had sickles that they thrust into the earth and placed the harvest of the wicked into the winepress of God's wrath while 144, 000 Jews watched.
• Again Joel tells of the sun and moon being darkened. Jesus prophesied this also.
• In verse 17 the Lord will dwell on Zion and no strangers will ever pass through her again. This is because only those who experience everlasting life will be there. They will not be strangers but citizens of Zion.
• Verse 18 tells that there will always be plenty of provisions in the mountains near Zion, perhaps at the time of the Millennium Kingdom: new wine, milk, plenty of fresh water flowing through the valley.  
• Zion is where God dwells forever. It is the place of Emmanuel, God with us. It is why God's people will have free access to it and Him throughout eternity.

Read Through the Bible in 2014: February 10-15

2/10/2014	Genesis 41-43	Matthew 26
2/11/2014	Genesis 44, 45	Matthew 27
2/12/2014	Genesis 46, 47	Matthew 28
2/13/2014	Genesis 48-50	Mark 1
2/14/2014	Exodus 1-3	Mark 2
2/15/2014	Exodus 4, 5	Mark 3, 4

Journal Through the Bible: Week 53 Friday

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Joel chapter 2

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded the trumpet to sound in alarm upon the holy mountain when the day of the Lord comes.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that there would never be a great or strong people like those that came upon them. They would be fierce and would be great horsemen. (Remember that the Assyrians were mighty warriors but that the Babylonians conquered them and were considered the Golden Empire in the vision that God gave to Nebuchadnezzar of the image.)
• God promised that if they would repent He would send them corn, wheat, wine, and oil. They would no longer be a reproach among the nations. He would also remove the northern army from them. Even the drought would end. He would restore to them what the locust, cankerworm, caterpillar, and palmerworm had eaten or destroyed.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Joel pleads with the inhabitants of Israel and/or Judah to repent and turn to Him before the terrible day of the Lord. Jesus pleaded with Jerusalem to repent when He was on the earth and He still pleads with sinners everywhere to repent before the terrible day of the Lord.
• Jesus told His disciples that He would go away but would send them the Holy Spirit so they would not be comfortless and would be able to perform many things through Him. Peter told the crowds that heard him preach in their own languages following Jesus' Ascention that Joel 2:28-29 was being fulfilled at that time.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• This chapter references again "the day of the Lord" (see verses 1 and 31). It also speaks of the trumpet blowing or signs and wonders. Many times in scripture a prophecy has at least 2 times that it comes true. In this case it probably referenced the trumpet that blew when the nation was under attack but it also references the time when the trumpet sounds, the earth shakes, and Jesus comes to rule and reign on the earth. The earth's inhabitants will tremble much as the fearful Israelites did when either the Assyrians or the Babylonians besieged them.
• The description of the armies that were to besiege Israel and/or Judah also sound descriptive of the Army of God that will come with Jesus to face the forces of Satan. Revelation describes Jesus as being on horseback and leading His army. His army cannot be defeated and they cannot be put to death. Swords will not injure them.
• The description of the sun and them moon being darkened at the time of the "day of the Lord" is yet future also as Jesus declared to His disciples in the gospels.
• This world is under a curse. The locust, cankerworm, caterpillar, and palmerworm are examples of the type of things that destroy the good. One day God will restore to us on the New Earth what these have taken away. We shall eat in plenty and be satisfied. His people shall never again be ashamed.
• Deliverance will be in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. This will be the location of the New Jerusalem, the capital city of Jesus' Kingdom.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 53 Thursday

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Joel chapter 1

Does God issue any commands?

• Through Joel God commanded to listen to His word and to tell their children what He said so that it could be told through the generations abut the destruction to come.
• God commanded the drunkards to wake up and weep for the destruction to come.
• God commanded the farmers to mourn the loss of their crops that would happen in the destruction.
• God commanded the priests and ministers to mourn in sackcloth because the offerings would cease at the time of the destruction.
• God commanded a fast to be instituted and the people to be gathered together to cry unto the LORD.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised a time of great destruction coming when a great nation conquered them. The damage would be reminiscent of insect invasions and drought.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the Almighty LORD that is at hand. (verse 15)
• Jesus is the shepherd of the sheep whose sheep are desolate. (verse 18)

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Joel deals with the phrase "the day of the Lord" which is usually (if  not always) used to mean a time of judgment. In the New Testament it is connected with the return of Jesus Christ for those who believe in Him. (See I Thessalonians 5:2)

Journal Through the Bible: Week 53 Wednesday

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II Kings chapter 12

Joash began a reconstruction and remodeling project in the Temple utilizing the offerings given by the people.

Does God issue any commands?

• No, but we can see one of God's commands being followed. God stated in the law that the priests were to live by certain offerings of the people. Joash reinstated the upkeep of the priests by trespass and sin offerings.

Does God make any promises?

• God does not speak in this passage.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Joash, the rightful king to the throne of David, had the desire for the house of the LORD to be honored in his day much as David's descendant and rightful heir to the throne, Jesus, had the desire for the house of the LORD to be honored in His.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I observed.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 53 Tuesday

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II Kings chapter 11

This was indeed a happy time in Judah! The covenant was renewed between the LORD, the king, and his people!

Does God issue any commands?

• God did not speak in this chapter.

Does God make any promises?

• God did not speak, but the promise of an heir of King David upon the throne of Judah was once again fulfilled with the removal of Athaliah and the coronation of Joash.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• At the age of 2, the rightful heir to the throne of David was in jeopardy of his life by a usurper of the kingdom. In this case it was Joash who was in danger of being killed by his grandmother Athaliah. Jesus had a similar experience at the age of 2 when He, the heir to the throne of David, was in danger of death at the hands of Herod.
• Joash was protected by a mighty army around about him of royal warriors at the command of Jehoiada the priest. Scripture tells us that Jesus was protected by a mighty army of angels who would protect him lest he dash his foot on a stone at the command of God the Father. Another scripture tells us that he could have called legions to his aid.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• The coronation of Joash was a time of renewing the covenant between the rightful king, the people, and their God. There is coming a day of coronation for Jesus which will be the day that the covenant between the rightful King, His redeemed people, and their God will be finally permanently ratified! Never again will it be broken!

Journal Through the Bible: Week 53 Monday

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II Kings chapter 10

Jehu declared that he had zeal for the LORD. That zeal caused him to slaughter the family of Ahab as well as all of the worshipers of Baal. Unfortunately his zeal ended short of destroying those golden calves that Jeroboam had made.

Does God issue any commands?

• No, but we read of God's prior commands to Jehu being complete.

Does God  make any promises?

• God promised Jehu that because of his obedience to destroy the house of Ahab and Jezebel God would allow Jehu's dynasty to reign over Israel unto the fourth generation.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jehu affirmed that every word of God's prophecy is true (verse 10). Jesus did the same. 

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Unlike Jehu, the zeal that Jesus has for the LORD and His word is not marred or limited by selfish ambition. Jesus will one day complete the destruction of the wicked. And His kingdom will not last for merely 4 generations. His kingdom will have no end. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.(Isaiah 9:7)

TAKE TIME: February 3-8, 2014 Assignment

Introduction: As we near the end of Elisha's life and ministry we will read of King Jehu of Israel who was used of God to purge Israel of the line of Ahab but who himself chose not to walk in the ways of the LORD but worshiped the golden calves Jeroboam set up as Israel's gods. We also will read of the child, Joash, who became a great king of Judah and repaired the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. And we will read the pre-exilic prophecy of Joel.


 Assignment:

• Monday - II Kings chapter 10
• Tuesday - II Kings chapter 11
• Wednesday - II Kings chapter 12
• Thursday - Joel chapter 1
• Friday - Joel chapter 2
• Saturday - Joel chapter 3

Memory Verse

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  Joel 2:28-29


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - Praise God that He is eternal. He is everywhere and at every time at the same time.
• 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

Time for a little personal introspection. Jehu was used mightily by God to rid Israel of the wicked family of Ahab and Jezebel but he himself chose to live wickedly. Jesus warned that we should be careful how we judge others because the very words we use to judge them will be used to judge us also. People often remember our condemnation of others and wonder at our hypocrisy. God always remembers it. As we quickly approach Valentine's Day and the celebration of love let us pay close attention to the words we speak and stop ourselves when we are about to judge another for something of which we are sometimes guilty ourselves (and forget about adding the caveat, "I know I'm not perfect, but . . ." as if that were an adequate excuse). After all, we are supposed to love everyone, including our enemies.

Read Through the Bible in 2014: February 3-8 Schedule

2/3/2014	Genesis 26-28	Matthew 17
2/4/2014	Genesis 29, 30	Matthew 18, 19
2/5/2014	Genesis 31, 32	Matthew 20, 21
2/6/2014	Genesis 33-35	Matthew 22
2/7/2014	Genesis 36-38	Matthew 23
2/8/2014	Genesis 39, 40	Matthew 24, 25

Journal Through the Bible: Week 52 Saturday

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II Kings chapter 9

The politics continued! And again, Elisha was in the middle of them. A battle ensues on the plot of land that used to be the vineyard of Naboth. After all the dust settled (literally!) Jehu was God's chosen victor!

Does God issue any commands?

• Through Elisha God told one of the sons of the prophets to run to Ramoth-Gilead and anoint Jehu king over Israel.
• Through the young prophet God told Jehu to put to death the family of Ahab as the LORD'S vengeance over all the servants of the LORD that Jezebel had put to death. This would end the dynasty of Omri and Ahab.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised the violent death of Jezebel. She would have no grave or mourners.
• The promise that God had made to Ahab concerning death and destruction in the vineyard of Naboth came to pass when his son, Joram, was slain there.
• The promise that God had made concerning the death of Jezebel came to pass when eunuchs threw her out the window and she was trampled under the feet of the horses.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• As the arm of God fighting against His enemies, Jehu showed the zeal of the Lord much like Jesus did on numerous occasions.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• As Jehu cleansed the government of God's people with a strong arm thus fulfilling scripture so shall Jesus come as a warrior to cleanse the world's government and fulfill scripture.