TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Galatians 6:7-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Frank Abagnale’s first act of fraud was against his own father when he was only a teenager. Later, he worked for a bank, stealing $40,000 from clients before the bank finally figured it out. While on the run, he pretended to be a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer. When he was finally caught, he served only five years of his sentence when the federal government offered him a deal: help them catch other con artists, and he could earn back his freedom.

Paul warns in today’s verses: don’t get conned! We don’t know whether or not Paul was referring to the false teachers; it may also be that he is warning against Satan’s lies, which can subtly invade our own thoughts. But clearly the Galatians had failed to understand the biblical idea of personal accountability. If yesterday’s reading teaches that members of the church are responsible to help and serve one another, especially when struggling with sin or hardship, today’s reading reminds us that each individual must make choices and then expect the consequences of those choices.

Paul uses the metaphor of farming to help describe what he means. If you plant cabbage, you’re going to get cabbage. If you plant seeds of fleshly desire, committing the sinful acts he’s already catalogued (cf. Gal. 5:19-21), then expect the judgment of God and destruction. Sin may give pleasure momentarily but in the end, it will always destroy, whether destroy our bodies, our consciences, our fellowship with God, or our relationship with others.

Sowing to the Spirit, on the other hand, promises life and harvest. No doubt sometimes it’s much harder work to sow to the Spirit than to sow to the flesh. That’s why Paul warns not to give up. There’s spiritual sweat involved in planting the seeds that will bear spiritual fruit in our lives. It’s not easy to maintain habits of spiritual discipline. It’s never convenient to make the sacrifices necessary for serving others. But if we keep the long view in mind, we’ll remember that it’s worth it!

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William Perkins wrote in his commentary on Galatians, “If men could be persuaded of this, that the time of this life is the seed time; that the last judgment is the harvest and that as certainly as the husbandman which sows his seed looks for increase, so we for our good works, a recompense to the full; O how fruitful should we be, how plentiful, how full of good works!” Take this word of encouragement with you through the day: God is faithful to His promise, and He will bring the harvest!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Galatians 6:11-14
May I never boast except in the cross of . . . Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. - Galatians 6:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the award-winning film, The King’s Speech, King George VI of England suffers from a speech impediment. He’s helped by the unorthodox methods of speech therapist Lionel Logue, who, it is later discovered, has no official credentials. In the scene where King George confronts Lionel about having lied to him, Lionel defends his actions. I never boasted about having certificates or letters after my name. I only boasted that I could help you.

Paul had his reasons for boasting, and the false teachers have theirs. The false teachers wanted to boast only in the number of foreskins they collect. Their goal in visiting various Gentile congregations was to convince the Gentile believers of the necessity of circumcision. And when they succeeded, no doubt they proudly reported back to Jerusalem the number of their “converts.” These false teachers do not come to Galatia for altruistic reasons. They were motivated by selfish ambition. They wanted to grow in prominence and success, giving themselves fame and recognition.

Not only were their motives centered on selfish ambition, but they also wanted to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Jesus Christ. Remember what the fundamental problem in Galatia: Jews were eating with uncircumcised Gentiles! The book of Acts records that persecution of Jesus’ followers came most often at the hand of devout Jews. They were infuriated that the strict separation between Jew and Gentile was not being upheld. The false teachers did not want to be persecuted, and their solution for resolving the problem was to have the Gentiles circumcised. No need to renounce the cross, they insisted. Simply add this other requirement, and submit yourself to the knife, and all will be well.

Paul draws a clear contrast between himself and these false teachers. The false teachers have preached a message contrary to the cross. They were sowing to the flesh, and they will reap destruction. Paul, however, will not renounce the cross. His only boast is in the cross of Jesus Christ. All his hopes in the divine promise and for future salvation rest in the cross.

APPLY THE WORD
The world’s system is aptly described by the apostle John, where he talks about “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions,” (1 John 2:16, ESV). Imagine that by the cross of Jesus Christ, we could put to death our fleshy desires, our greed for more, and our determination to define ourselves by what we own. Imagine that freedom! We don’t have to imagine, for God offers it to us today, through the power of His Holy Spirit.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Galatians 6:15-18
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. - Galatians 6:15
TODAY IN THE WORD
Imagine you’re in a basketball arena on the edge of your seat during the final seconds of the game. Your team is losing by one point, but a player launches a shot from midcourt and whoosh! It goes in! Everyone looks to the referee to figure out if the shot got off before the timer buzzed. Did it count?

And that’s the final summary statement with which Paul ends his letter to the Galatians. After all this theological argumentation, after confessing his great affection and concern for the Galatians, after exposing the motives of the false teachers, Paul says in effect: here’s what really counts. It doesn’t matter to God whether you’re circumcised or uncircumcised. You won’t have any more or less favor with God either way. What counts, what really matters in God’s kingdom, is that you are a new creation.

By a new creation, he is describing what happens spiritually to a person when he declares faith in Jesus. He dies with Christ but is regenerated by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Yes, there are still struggles with sin and temptation, but this new Christian is like a new baby with new parents. He drinks spiritual milk, is nurtured by the love of His new Heavenly Father, and lives for different purposes and pleasures. And this has obvious relational implications. Jew and Gentile can get along when brought into God’s family through Jesus. Gone are the dividing lines! Table fellowship is really possible.

The hopeful tone of the closing of the letter makes us think that Paul believed the Galatians would return to Christ. He wishes them grace and calls them his brothers and sisters. He won’t give up hope. He’ll trust that God’s Spirit in them will convince them of their error and reclaim their devotion and obedience.

Paul has proven he is a loving and committed spiritual father to these Galatians. He’s suffered persecution and yet, he’s never renounced his faithfulness to Jesus or to the message of the gospel. He’s labored long and hard for them.

APPLY THE WORD
Paul is an example of what it looks like to walk alongside another Christian through struggles and doubts. Paul never compromised the message of the cross, and he never minimized the danger that he thought the Galatians were in. He kept taking them back to the truths of the gospel and reminding them of the freedom and hope they have through Christ. He was courageous, tender, honest, and hopeful. May we go forward focused on what is truly important in our spiritual lives!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 1:1-4
Tell it to your children. - Joel 1:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the first five months of 2011, over 1,000 tornadoes had been confirmed in the United States. Powerful storms wreaked havoc in places like Bertie County, North Carolina; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and Joplin, Missouri. Even areas of the country not known for frequent tornado activity were affected, like Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Far worse than the destruction of property has been the lives lost in the storms. More than 500 people were confirmed as killed by tornadoes during this period, more than the previous ten years combined.

Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to avoid the storm, but in other cases people didn’t heed the warning to find shelter from the oncoming tornadoes. The prophet Joel warned Israel of the impending disaster of God’s judgment, but the people didn’t listen. Safety could be found in obedience and repentance, yet they persisted in their sin. This will be a recurring theme throughout this month’s study of Joel, Amos, and Obadiah.

No biographical details are known about Joel, whose name means “the Lord is God.” The book doesn’t have definite time markers to help locate it in history, but scholars think it was likely written about 835 B.C., during the days of the divided kingdom before the Exile. The book’s primary original audience was the “elders” of Israel, that is, the nation’s political and spiritual leaders (v. 2). Its themes include judgment, restoration, sin, repentance, blessing, and the “day of the Lord.”

The phrase “day of the Lord” indicates God’s victory and includes judgment, purification, restoration, and blessing. In Old Testament prophecy, depending on the context, it might refer to events in Israelite history as well as to future eschatological events.

Joel’s prophetic news was worse than anything that had happened in the past and would be remembered long into the future (vv. 2-3). He announced there would be a great plague of locusts, which would completely devastate the nation’s crops (v. 4). Locusts were one of the ten plagues that God had visited on Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery. That He would now send the same plague on His own people should demand their attention!

APPLY THE WORD
Joel admonished his hearers to consider the spiritual significance of events. We, too, are called to consider the spiritual significance of events in our lives. Perhaps God is trying to get our attention, teach us a lesson, prepare us for a task or ministry, or show us more about His will and character. As we are shaped by our study of Scripture and submission to the Holy Spirit, we should ask for spiritual wisdom to learn from our experience what God wants to teach us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 1:5-12
Surely the people’s joy is withered away. - Joel 1:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Like the plague of locusts in today’s reading, a plague of crickets destroyed crops in the western United States—especially Idaho, Utah, and Nevada—in the summer of 2003. “Mormon crickets” (actually katydids) originally earned their name when they descended on the fields of Mormon farmers in Utah in 1848. They consume everything in their path, including alfalfa, wheat, and barley, and can hop or crawl up to a mile a day, or 50 miles in a season. Just one cricket per square yard can eat up to 38 pounds of vegetation per acre. Although it had been 60 years since the last plague, “archaeologists have found evidence that cricket infestations have been a regular part of life in the West for more than 2,000 years.”

Joel compared the locusts in his prophecy to an invading army (vv. 6-7)! They would be numerous, powerful, and destructive. Like a lion’s teeth tears away the flesh of fresh-killed prey, so would these locusts lay waste to the countryside. This was God’s judgment on sin.

Drunkenness, the only specific sin named in the book (v. 5), may be considered representative for a longer list of sins. It suggests self-indulgence, foolishness, and shallow pleasure seeking. The locusts were a fitting judgment on drunkenness because they devoured the grapevines and put a stop to winemaking. The people’s sins would be snatched from their lips, so to speak, and they would be forced to stare cold spiritual realities in the face.

The appropriate response to this dire prophecy was mourning and repentance from sin. The entire nation was called to repent—priests and other leaders (v. 13), farmers or average citizens, and the people as a whole. This wasn’t just about crop destruction, though that was serious because it indicated a withdrawal of God’s blessing. This was about Israel’s broken covenant relationship with the Lord. It’s as if a betrothal has been ended. Genuine worship is halted (vv. 8-11). “Surely the people’s joy is withered away” (v. 12).

APPLY THE WORD
Today’s reading provides a reality check for disciples of Christ. For what purpose are we living? If it’s our own pleasure or selfish desires, we can be sure God is not pleased. We are to be pursuing wisdom, service, and His glory. Paul said it concisely: “Do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). When His followers argued about who was the greatest, Jesus told them, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 1:13-20
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. - Joel 1:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Bible times, sackcloth was worn as a symbol of mourning. Rough, dark, coarse, thick, and made of goats’ hair, the cloth was mainly used for bags or sacks—hence the name. Wearing it was extremely uncomfortable and irritated the skin, and it was put on to signify grief over sin, judgment, or death. People would wear sackcloth to show that their hearts were humble, their sorrow was extreme, and their repentance was genuine. Bible characters who wore sackcloth include Jacob, David, Hezekiah, Daniel, and the two witnesses in Revelation.

Joel’s call to “put on sackcloth” in today’s reading was a call to repentance (vv. 13-14). Taken together, the actions he recommended—putting on sackcloth, fasting, mourning, wailing, praying, and calling a “sacred assembly”—are pictures of national repentance. These outward actions would indicate an inner state of humility and sorrow over sin.

Alas, the Israelites didn’t heed Joel’s call and did no such thing. Thus, the “day of the Lord” was coming (v. 15). The time for repentance was passing, and the time for judgment was drawing near. This is the first of five times the phrase “day of the Lord” is found in Joel (see also 2:1, 11, 31 and 3:14). This phrase is also found in other Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, and Malachi.

Despite the spiritual unresponsiveness, Joel was faithful to his calling and continued to preach the message God had given him. He reminded his hearers of the terrible disaster that was coming (vv. 16-18). The locusts would destroy crops and farmland, leaving behind dead seeds in dry clods of dirt, as well as hungry sheep and cattle. Since the Fall, creation has suffered as a result of human sin, though it is happily included in God’s plan of redemption (Rom. 8:19-21). In Joel’s day, this plague would be like a consuming “fire.” Crying out to the Lord was the only reasonable response to the impending disaster (vv. 19-20). The nation’s sin had brought about this judgment and was the spiritual root of the prophesied plague.

APPLY THE WORD
Peter wrote, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:9-13; cf. 1 Thess. 5:1-6). Though it sounds fearful, this will be a day of great rejoicing for Christians because it heralds the return of Christ. We long for this day and cry out, “Maranatha,” or “Come, Lord” (1 Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22:20).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 2:1-11
Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. - Joel 2:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mount Vesuvius, the volcano famous for destroying the city of Pompeii in A.D. 79, is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world today. Although it has not erupted since 1944, its history of extraordinary, explosive force along with its location in a densely populated area requires local officials to take the threat of an eruption seriously. Three million people could be affected by a modern-day eruption, and the government has an evacuation plan in place to move over 600,000 people in seven days if it appears that Vesuvius will erupt. The plan, however, depends on a warning given 14 to 20 days in advance.

It’s wise to take threats of destruction seriously. Joel prophesied in today’s reading that Zion would be destroyed as a judgment of God. His message was a clear warning that the time of God’s wrath was “close at hand” (v. 1). It would be “a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness” (v. 2). Ironically, the coming “dawn,” typically a picture of hope, would make things worse, not better—a

large and fearsome army was on the way. While some commentators interpret this to be a literal army of conquering Assyrians, most see it as the plague of locusts described in chapter 1, especially since they had already been pictured there as an invading army. This view seems more consistent with the context, although it is possible that the images here also foreshadow the military conquest of Israel by Assyria or even the supernatural locust-army found in Revelation 9:1-12.

This army of locusts is memorably described. They destroy everything in their path, turning “the garden of Eden” into a “desert waste” (v. 3). They move as quickly as fast horses, consuming vegetation like an out-of-control wildfire. People feel afraid and hopeless in the face of their relentless and unstoppable advance. Nature itself seems out of order. And commanding this terrible army is . . . the Lord God Almighty! He is sovereign and just, not to be mocked by sinners. For them, the “day of the Lord” will be “dreadful” (vv. 6-11).

APPLY THE WORD
Some prefer to discuss God as if He will pat wrongdoers on the head and ignore their deeds. But Scripture presents both the love and the judgment of God as integral to His character and work. We see it most clearly on the cross, where His love for humanity was manifest in Jesus bearing His judgment for our sins. Our God loves us too much to allow sin to triumph, and His judgment acts to purify us from the power and control of rebellion against Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 2:12-17
Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. - Joel 2:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
No doubt you’ve seen the way that certain advertisements use before-and-after photos. Before there is a frowning bald man; after there is a dynamic face with a lush head of hair. Before there is a pasty, overweight lump; after there is a tan, fit woman in a bikini. Use our product or service, these ads assert, and you can become the beautiful, happy people in the after pictures.

Joel employs a similar before-and-after strategy, except that, unlike the often empty promises of modern advertising, Joel’s pictures contained important spiritual issues. Before there is disaster and judgment; after there is righteousness and a renewed covenant relationship with the Lord. How to get from one picture to the other? Repentance. In today’s reading, Joel’s message was that it was not too late to take heed and return to the Lord.

In fact, it was the voice of God Himself who called the nation to “return to me with all your heart” (v. 12). To repent would be to turn away from sin and seek a restored relationship with God. The “fasting and weeping and mourning” would be external actions demonstrating a repentant heart, which was ultimately what mattered.

God had had enough of their empty sacrifices! “Rend your heart and not your garments,” He admonished (v. 13). This would be an act of faith and hope. To repent is to choose God over sin. It demonstrates faith that God is gracious and compassionate, not vengeful but ready to forgive those who renounce all other gods (cf. Ex. 34:6-7). The deadly consequences of sin are not inevitable, for God can choose to relent, spare lives, and restore relationships (v. 14).

The glory of God is at stake. Repentance is therefore the most urgent priority! The entire community, from leaders to newborns, must be involved. It must be wholehearted. It must take precedence over all other plans, even weddings (vv. 15-16). It must focus on God’s glory and reputation among the nations (v. 17).

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For us, too, it’s never too late to turn or return to the Lord! As believers, when we sin we have available the privilege of confession (1 John 1:9). As for unbelievers, God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience are even now providing a window of opportunity for them to turn to Him in saving faith. But those who stubbornly refuse to repent “are storing up wrath against [themselves] for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed” (Rom. 2:4-5).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 2:18-27
Rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. - Joel 2:23
TODAY IN THE WORD
Cranberries are a kind of “superfood” with many positive effects. They can be used to fight or prevent urinary tract infections, ulcers, gum disease, heart disease, and cancer. Chemical compounds called proanthocyanidins, present in cranberries, keep harmful bacteria from sticking to cells, thus helping to prevent infections. Cranberries are high in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as iron, calcium, potassium, and antioxidants. Though eaten most frequently at Thanksgiving, cranberries are gaining popularity as part of juices and fruit shakes.

Just as cranberries offer many benefits to physical health, so repentance brings incalculable benefit to spiritual health. Today’s passage is a promise describing the blessings that would await the repentant Israelites in a restored covenant relationship. If the people were to listen and obey God’s call from yesterday’s verses, He would respond with mercy and generosity. He would again show His love and kindness, taking pity instead of displaying wrath (v. 18). He would end the plague of locusts and send blessings of grain, oil, and new wine for both food and worship offerings (vv. 19-20, 24).

On that happy day, the repentant could rejoice, instead of cowering fearfully as disaster threatened. The joy would be so great, in fact, that the land, animals, and people all join in the gladness (vv. 21-23). Once again, the countryside would turn green, the trees would bear fruit, and the pastures would provide food for grazing animals. The “autumn rains in righteousness” signify a good harvest and God’s blessing, as well as fulfilling His promise to reward the nation’s covenant obedience (Deut. 11:13-14).

This gives us another before-and-after picture. Before repentance there is a plague of locusts and God’s judgment; after there is peace, abundance, and true worship (vv. 25-26). Before there is shame because their sin and unfaithfulness had been exposed; after there is no shame because God is great and He does great things, like forgiveness (v. 27). “There is no other”—if only they would return to Him!

APPLY THE WORD
God Most High is indeed incomparable! Even in passages about wrath and judgment, we see His amazing power, the wonders He works, and His readiness to forgive. Isaiah said: “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isa. 55:7). If you’ve never turned to the Lord and trusted Him for salvation and forgiveness of sin, do so today! He is eager to forgive.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 1:1-2
The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem. - Amos 1:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
To be an “outcast” or “untouchable” in India’s oppressive Hindu caste system is to be cut off from power and to struggle for daily necessities. Recently, these “outcasts,” now more frequently called Dalits, have responded to their plight by building a black granite temple in honor of “Goddess English.” They believe that learning English can be a gateway to economic and educational opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. In short, they are putting their faith in English for liberation and social justice. One leader said: “If your child learns English it’s as if he or she has inherited 100 acres of land.”

As we’ll see in the book of Amos, God cares deeply about social justice. But it can’t be found merely by trusting in a language to change your life. It comes from trusting God to change our lives. In this second book in our study of three minor prophets, we find again the themes of justice, judgment, blessing, and worship.

Amos was from the southern kingdom of Judah—his hometown of Tekoa was just south of Jerusalem—but most often his prophecies were directed to the northern kingdom of Israel. His name means “the Lord upholds.” Though he called himself a “shepherd,” he seems to have been more of a rancher or agricultural businessman, with large-scale operations involving sheep and orchards. His knowledge of history and literary skill mark him as an educated person and probably someone of higher socioeconomic status. Given the kings and earthquake referenced in verse 1, his book can be dated around 755 B.C. Although the northern kingdom of Israel would be taken into captivity in 722 B.C., at this point both Israel and Judah were fairly stable and prosperous (see 2 Chronicles 26).

Spiritually, however, things were a disaster, and idolatry, sexual immorality, corruption, and oppression of the poor were common. The people believed their status as God’s “chosen” would protect them no matter what. Thus, Amos’s announcement of judgment would’ve come as a shock and would’ve been a difficult message to accept (v. 2; cf. Joel 3:16). God sent His prophet to expose ugly spiritual realities and spur the people to repent of their sins.

APPLY THE WORD
While God can use circumstances to get our attention, as with the plague of locusts in Joel, it is also true that circumstances can numb our ears to what God wants to say to us. Because things were going well economically and militarily, Israel and Judah did not take their sins against God seriously. In light of this, today might be a good day to pray for the spiritual state of our own communities and countries. We might be economically prosperous, but that does not mean we are holy!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 3:1-8
They scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. - Joel 3:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
During the revolution in Egypt that forced out President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year, opportunistic thieves managed to steal or loot about 1,000 relics from museums and archaeological sites across the country. Mostly they were looking for gold or mummies, according to the government, and no major artifacts were taken. Many items were recovered near their original locations, dropped or left behind as the thieves fled. Nonetheless, the United Nations and other organizations expressed concern about the security of the many valuable historical objects located in Egypt.

The nations in today’s reading were also opportunistic; they tried to take advantage of Israel’s misfortune to make a profit. This conduct earned them God’s judgment. “In those days” (v. 1) is another indeterminate time marker, and we already know that the “day of the Lord” is not a single day. The reminder of the theme and images of God’s judgment seems to foreshadow the plague of locusts, the impending Assyrian/Babylonian conquest, the fall of thoseempires, and the end of history as well. In all historical contexts, the fact remains that God is sovereign over all nations (v. 2). He is not merely a “local god” working with one nation, but the one true God whose plan encompasses the destinies of all peoples.

The enemies of Israel were charged with not helping God’s people in their time of need (vv. 2-6). Instead, they tried to take advantage of Israel’s distress for their own benefit—appropriating land, looting temple treasures, and even going so far into callous evil as to trade children for alcohol and sex. Yes, God had been the one to punish His people for their sins, but that was no excuse for others to pile on! To do so showed disrespect for the Lord, and He promised to “swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done” (v. 4). In an act of poetic justice, He would make it so that the people they had sold into slavery would return home, and their own children would be sold to a far-off country (vv. 7-8).

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God’s justice and mercy are not moral abstractions, but they take place in and through meaningful relationships. Though He was angry with His people for their wickedness, they were still “my people” and this was still “my land.” He stood ready to forgive those who answered His call to repentance. He promised to save a remnant and restore blessings in the future. Because God has taken the initiative and made it possible for us to have a relationship with Him, we have hope!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 3:9-16
The LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. - Joel 3:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
In early 2009, southern Australia endured a series of deadly wildfires, at least some of which were the work of arsonists. Whole towns were burned to the ground, and many crops were lost. At least 200 people were killed in the fires, some actually incinerated in their cars as they tried to escape. One government leader said, “We are picking up the pieces after the worst disaster in Australia’s history. These fires have united all in grief.”

According to Joel, the “day of the Lord” will be similarly disastrous for all who oppose God—they will be unable to outrun His judgment. As we’ve seen, it will be a day of signs and wonders. It will also be a day of God’s people taking refuge in Him as the ultimate stronghold and hiding place (v. 16).

At the start of today’s reading, the Lord summons the nations for judgment (vv. 9-12). Specifically, He summons their armies, leading some to interpret these verses as references to the final battle of Armageddon. No battle is described, however, despite the preparations for war, and even though the Lord’s warriors are also summoned. Instead, God sits in judgment in the “valley of decision,” as the time has come for the “harvest” of history’s wickedness (vv. 13-14). Just as the plague of locusts would be a “sickle” of God’s judgment on Israel’s sin, so also will the “sickle” of His wrath eventually judge the sins of all peoples. The agricultural imagery in these verses feels violent—grain is being cut down, grapes are being trampled—and it conveys a sense of the wrath of God against evil. Similar pictures of sin and judgment are found in Revelation 14:14-20. In that passage, divinely appointed angels swing their sickles and throw the results into the “great winepress of God’s wrath.”

Once the nations have assembled, nature itself will herald the event and the Lord will “roar” and “thunder” His decrees (v. 16; cf. 2:11). His sovereignty brooks no argument! For God’s enemies, these events inspire fear and trembling. But for God’s friends, these descriptions are comforting proof of His power to protect and sustain us.

APPLY THE WORD
Psalm 46 memorably praises God as “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” As “the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,” as “nations are in uproar” and “kingdoms fall,” as “wars cease to the ends of the earth”—as all is in tumult and a new age is about to be born—even then will we know that “the Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” He will be “exalted among the nations”!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joel 3:17-21
A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house. - Joel 3:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
It’s possible that if you’re living in Boulder, Colorado, or Lincoln, Nebraska, you’re feeling pretty good. These two cities were the top two metropolitan areas in 2010 on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, a combined statistical survey to measure life expectancy, emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors, and access to basic necessities. Other cities in the top ten included Honolulu, Hawaii; Madison, Wisconsin; and Gainesville, Florida. The index generally finds higher levels of well-being in the West and lower levels in the South.

Even the high levels of well-being in Boulder and Lincoln, however, pale in comparison with the spiritual well-being to be experienced by God’s people when He comes to dwell with us in the new Jerusalem (cf. Revelation 21). Joel ended his messages on judgment and the day of the Lord with this beautiful promise.

The passage begins with images of peace, prosperity, security, and holiness (vv. 17-18). Jerusalem will be consecrated to the Lord. Enemies will not set foot there. The flow of wine, milk, and water—symbols of blessing and plenty—will be abundant, bringing joy and life. The source of these blessings is God, as seen in the fact that a “fountain” will flow out of His house to “water the valley.” When these realities arrive, then we will know that God is God. Our faith, “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1), will at last come face to face with the One who loves us and has been with us all the way.

Nations that oppose the Lord end up “desolate” or a “desert waste,” while God’s friends enjoy His blessings forever (vv. 19-21). Chief among these blessings are His two greatest gifts. The first is forgiveness. When all has been said and done, He will pardon His people. This is not because we deserve it, nor is it a measure of our virtue, but rather it shows His goodness and greatness. The second gift is God’s presence with us. Today’s passage begins and ends with the triumphant announcement that He will dwell in Zion with us!

APPLY THE WORD
In one sense, the day when God will dwell with us in all His glory lies in the future. But in another sense, that day arrived when God the Son became a human being, taking on flesh and dwelling among us! Even more, He has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with us even now, while we await the fulfillment of this prophetic word (John 14:16-17). When God chose to become Immanuel, “God with us,” the tide of history was turned forever (Matt. 1:23; John 1:14).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 1:1-2
The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem. - Amos 1:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
To be an “outcast” or “untouchable” in India’s oppressive Hindu caste system is to be cut off from power and to struggle for daily necessities. Recently, these “outcasts,” now more frequently called Dalits, have responded to their plight by building a black granite temple in honor of “Goddess English.” They believe that learning English can be a gateway to economic and educational opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. In short, they are putting their faith in English for liberation and social justice. One leader said: “If your child learns English it’s as if he or she has inherited 100 acres of land.”

As we’ll see in the book of Amos, God cares deeply about social justice. But it can’t be found merely by trusting in a language to change your life. It comes from trusting God to change our lives. In this second book in our study of three minor prophets, we find again the themes of justice, judgment, blessing, and worship.

Amos was from the southern kingdom of Judah—his hometown of Tekoa was just south of Jerusalem—but most often his prophecies were directed to the northern kingdom of Israel. His name means “the Lord upholds.” Though he called himself a “shepherd,” he seems to have been more of a rancher or agricultural businessman, with large-scale operations involving sheep and orchards. His knowledge of history and literary skill mark him as an educated person and probably someone of higher socioeconomic status. Given the kings and earthquake referenced in verse 1, his book can be dated around 755 B.C. Although the northern kingdom of Israel would be taken into captivity in 722 B.C., at this point both Israel and Judah were fairly stable and prosperous (see 2 Chronicles 26).

Spiritually, however, things were a disaster, and idolatry, sexual immorality, corruption, and oppression of the poor were common. The people believed their status as God’s “chosen” would protect them no matter what. Thus, Amos’s announcement of judgment would’ve come as a shock and would’ve been a difficult message to accept (v. 2; cf. Joel 3:16). God sent His prophet to expose ugly spiritual realities and spur the people to repent of their sins.

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While God can use circumstances to get our attention, as with the plague of locusts in Joel, it is also true that circumstances can numb our ears to what God wants to say to us. Because things were going well economically and militarily, Israel and Judah did not take their sins against God seriously. In light of this, today might be a good day to pray for the spiritual state of our own communities and countries. We might be economically prosperous, but that does not mean we are holy!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Amos 1:3-12
I will break down the gate of Damascus. - Amos 1:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
The sin of slavery looms large in American history, recently demonstrated again in an excavation of a famous “slave jail” in Richmond, Virginia. Slave trader Robert Lumpkin operated it during the 1840s and 1850s, trafficking tens of thousands of slaves. They called it the “Devil’s Half Acre,” and many people died there from abuse or disease. Since 1998, Richmond has been rediscovering and documenting this part of its history, including not only the jail but also a nearby “Negro Burial Ground” and the city’s slave marketplace. In today’s reading, Amos condemned the slave trade of his day, among other social evils.

The opening prophecies in this book would have been well received by the Israelites, because they were directed against the nation’s enemies, including Damascus, Philistia, Tyre, and Edom. Each oracle of judgment begins with, “This is what the Lord says.” The first was against Damascus, capital of Syria (vv. 3-5). They were guilty of “threshing” Gilead (part of Israelite territory), meaning they had kicked

them when they were down, taking unfair advantage at a time of weakness. While this was normal behavior in the culture of that day, it was unacceptable to God. The formula “for three sins . . . even for four” means that the sins named here were just samples; in fact, they were guilty of much more. As a result, the fire of judgment would destroy Syria’s military strength and its people would go into exile.

The second oracle was against Philistia (vv. 6-8). They were guilty of selling captives into slavery, again, a culturally familiar practice that was unacceptable to God. The third oracle was against Tyre and Sidon (vv. 9-10). They, too, were guilty of profiting from the slave trade, in specific violation of a negotiated treaty, an act that showed a lack of integrity as well as a lack of respect for human life. The fourth oracle was against Edom (vv. 11-12). They were involved in the slave trade as well, and they were also condemned for treacherous actions toward Israel. In all three cases, the judgment was the same as for Damascus—a destroying fire.

APPLY THE WORD
Slavery remains a world-wide problem that God’s people should fight against. Sexual trafficking of women and children happens all over the globe, including in the United States. Debtor slavery is another form of oppression in which farmers or laborers are given no opportunity to erase their debt. Christian organizations like International Justice Mission work with domestic and international law enforcement to free captives and bring traffickers, pimps, and oppressors to justice.