Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 27 December 2012, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "An Introduction into the Book of Amos"

Today we will start the third book of the Minor Prophets, the Book of Amos.  The prophecy of Amos is characterized by great boldness coupled with great tact.  The prophet gains the attention of his audience by pronouncing judgment on Israel's enemies before delivering the main burden of judgment against Israel herself.  In the delivery of his prophecy, he is very courageous while being stern and severe.

The purpose of the ministry of Amos, is to awaken Israel, and its surrounding nations, to the fact that the nation is both responsible and accountable for its sins.  His theme, then, is national accountability for national sins.

We see in Amos 7:10 that his prophecy was issued primarily at Bethel, the seat of idolatry in the northern kingdom.  He attacks Satan's stronghold, Bethel, and when he is opposed by the idolatrous priest, Amaziah, he becomes even bolder in his preaching.

Throughout his prophecy, it is filled with references to rural life, indicating the background of Amos as a shepherd.  The prophet never never put on pretenses.  He was what he was, God's messenger for his hour, to call the nation of Israel to awaken to her responsibility and accountability for the national sins that she has committed against God.  In the process of this, he shows himself to be an oratorical giant, in spite of the fact that he had no formal training.

The prophecy of Amos is his great burden from the Lord concerning the national sin of God's chosen people, as well as the judgment that MUST fall upon them unless they repent.  No better testimony could be given concerning Amos than his own in Amos 7:14-15, where he said, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophets son; but I was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophecy unto my people Israel."  We learn in these verses, that Amos was a simple shepherd who also gathered sycamore fruit, and who in obedience to God was used mightily to deliver God's message of judgment against Israel, the northern kingdom.

KEY PEOPLE IN THE BOOK OF AMOS

Amos: God's angry man, who denounces injustice in Israel, and expresses God's concern for the poor and oppressed of every age

Amaziah: The high priest of Bethel who rejects the message of Amos and tries to drive him out of Israel.

KEY THEMES IN THE BOOK OF AMOS

The plight of the poor: God is deeply concerned about the economic oppression that characterizes Israel's society.

Judicial corruption:  Judgments favored the rich and ignored dishonesty and fraud.

Idolatry:  The worship at Bethel and Dan is in violation of Old Testament Law and thus idolatrous.  However, enthusiastic worship marked by idolatry, and offered by a personally and social immoral people, is never acceptable to God.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in you life, and you yell out "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you. "BUT I CAN." 

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 19 December 2012, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "God Judges the Nations"
Today's Scripture Reading: Joel 3:1-21
Today's Blog Key Verse: Joel 3:17 "So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion my holy mountain.  Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again." 

The Book and prophecy of Joel concludes with a description of God's future program.  First God will provide for individuals by pouring out His Spirit on all people, in response to their cry to Him for salvation.  

As for the people whom God considers His inheritance, Israel, the Lord will restore their fortunes, and judge the nations who have oppressed her.  He will arouse the latent hostility of the nations against the Jews and cause them to advance against His people.

The military weapons of the Gentile nations will not be sufficient enough to protect them against the Judgment of Almighty God.  Therefore they are exhorted to beat their "plowshares into swords" and their pruning hooks into spears."

Then, as the enemy armies deploy against the Holy Land, God will miraculously intervene on their behalf.  After that day of God's judgment of pagan nations, Judah and Jerusalem, the sins of her people pardoned, will enter an ear of lasting prosperity.

The Book of Joel in Chapter 1, began with the locust plague. In Chapter 2:18-27, there is a promised renewal of agriculture with the return of God's blessing on His repentant people.  Then the Book of Joel closes in Chapter 3:18-21, there is a final renewal of agriculture because of the blessing of the resident King.  The Lord's presence in Jerusalem is the key to the blessing of the whole land.

Click on the link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Exodus 20:16 which is Commandment Number 9 in God's Ten Commandments.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you "BUT I CAN."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
 

God's Words of Wisdom

"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 17 December 2012, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "The Day of the LORD"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Joel 2:1-32
Today's Key Verse: Joel 2:1 "Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!  Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, Fir it is at hand."

The "trumpet" was used primarily for religious purposes to call the congregation together for meetings, to usher in the beginning of the month and to note solemn days and festive occasions.  In this instance, it is to used to "alarm" the people to the seriousness of the crisis that it upon them. 

The locusts have the appearance of warhorses, and sound "like the noise of chariots" as they go about their destruction.  No natural barrier can contain them because "they leap."  The prophet's vivid description of the invaders, and his analogy with the locust swarm, do fit the Assyrian military machine that crushed the North and punished Judah not long after Joel's time.  War, for all its terrors, is but a pale reflection of divine judgment that awaits those who refuse to respond to Him.

One of the great truths affirmed by Joel, is that it is not to late to appeal to God until it is to late.  Joel appeals to his people, as we appeal today.  Judgment is coming.  But "even now" turn to the Lord.

The customary way a Jew showed his grief was to tear his outer "garment." This external sign could be meaningless, because the tearing of the outer garment is useless,  unless the "heart" is broken in repentance.  In verse 14, God is immutable and does not change.  This verse sets forth the possible results of revival and repentance from man's point of view.  When men and woman change, they are aware of the change in themselves, and view the it as a change from God.

In verses 15-17, this is the second invitation to "blow the trumpet in Zion."  It summons the whole nation to an assembly of repentance in order to implore God's mercy.  God cares so much for His people that He is moved to action, not only to punish when sin interrupts His fellowship with His beloved people, but also to bless them when they are responsive to Him. 

The Biblical concept, that God is a jealous God protects us from the view of some that God is distant, detached, unmoved by either our sins or our troubles.  God does care intensely about us, and how we live our lives.

The "northern army" in verse 20, seems to parallel Ezekiel 38-39.  It may suggest, that now Joel is speaking of the invader, prophesied to attack Israel in history's final battle.  God owes us no repayment, for the years we waste in sin, or the suffering we experience under judgment.  But God does repay us so richly, when we trust in Him, that we feel nothing has been lost.  What a gracious and loving God we serve.

The heavenly wonders described here, will take place before the "great and awesome day of the LORD," which is an apparent reference to the end times.  "Smoke and blood" corresponds with Revelation 8:7-8.  "Smoke" corresponds  with Revelation 9:18. "Darkness" corresponds with Revelation  8:12, and "Moon into blood" corresponds with Revelation 6:12.

Verse 32, tells us that anyone who "calls on the Name of the LORD" that is, repents and believes, will be "saved" from the judgment that will fall on the wicked and unbelieving.  Peter in the New Testament, in Acts 2:21, tells the Jewish people this same passage from Joel 2:32.

Click on the link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Exodus 20:15.


Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 12 December 2012, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings, and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "The Land Laid Waste."
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Joel 1:1-20
Today's Blog Key Verse: 1:14 "Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the Lord."

Verses 1-4, describe the devastation of the "locust" plague. Moses in Deuteronomy 28:38,42, prophesied that God would use locust to punish His people if they were disobedient. The language may express the four stages in the development of a single type of insect.  

The "palmerworm" is the stage at which the locust is first hatched and is characterized by its gnawing activity.  The "locust" is the most common name for the locust, and is the second stage, in which the locust gets its wings and flies.  The "cankerworm" is the stage in which the locust does its destructive work.  The "caterpillar" is the final stage, in which the locust reaches its full growth and devours everything in its path.

In verse 8, the image here is of a young bride widowed on her wedding day, for the sackcloth that she is wearing, was worn by those in mourning in ancient Israel.  In verse 9, the devastation of the locust, meant that the wine offering could not be offered, that accompanied the morning and evening sacrifices of the priest's.

The land in verse 10, is described as in mourning as well because of the three principle crops that it produced, grain, grapes, and olives had been destroyed, and the people who had anticipated the "joy of harvest had withered away" due to the disaster of the locust plague.

In verses 13-20, Joel reminds the nation's leaders that being restored to blessing requires repentance.  Just as God will not hold back His Blessings from the people of Israel in Joel's day, so the same is for us as Christians today, when we truly repent and ask forgiveness, for God is Faithful and Just to FORGIVE us of our sins and to cleanse us of ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.  

In this devastation of the locust, not only did the people of Judah suffer from the drought, so did the "animals, cattle, and flocks."  Joel depicts the animals poetically as joining in the lament, groaning in their hunger and distress. 

When Joel "crys out" the prophet adds his own voice to the bellowing of beasts, the wailing of drunkards, and the mourning of the priests.  He was part of the suffering community, not an outsider looking on from a distance.

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Exodus 20.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi



    

 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 10 December 2012, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings, and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "Introduction to the Book of Joel."

The Book of Joel is highly emotional prophecy, rich in imagery and vivid descriptions.  In its two unique events, not to be forgotten, are compared.  These two events are to be communicated to the descendants of the people.

The Author of the prophecy is identified only as "Joel the son of Pethuel." His name combines the names "Yahweh" and "El" and means "Yahweh Is God." Joel is one of 14 men in the Old Testament who shared this name.  Joel was a contemporary of both Hosea and Amos, though he ministered to the Southern Kingdom, while they ministered to the Northern Kingdom.

Joel's frequent references throughout the prophecy to Judah and Jerusalem indicate that he was not a priest, though he was an inhabitant of Jerusalem and was a prophet of the Southern Kingdom.

Joel was one of the earliest prophets of Judah.  The specific place from which Joel wrote is not known.  Since he was a resident of Judah and Jerusalem, he likely wrote his prophecy from there.  His frequent calls to blow a trumpet in Zion, to consecrate a fast, to proclaim a solemn assembly, and to gather the people together to come before the Lord lend credence to the view that the prophecy was issued from the temple court.

two events are compared in the course of Joel's prophecy: (1) the locust plague upon Judah in the days of the prophet, and (2) the far greater coming day of the Lord.  The latter is set forth in the figure of the of the former.  Joel is the special prophet of the Day of the Lord as he mentions it five times in Joel 1:15; 2:1; 2;11; 2:31 and 3:14.

Joel has also been called the "Prophet of Pentecost" because of his most famous and well known passage (Joel 2:28-32) which was quoted by Peter in Acts 2.  More than half of the book of Joel is built around a description of the locust plague.  Joel's prophecy is the grandest description in all of literature of such a plague.  Joel is also a great prophecy of repentance , on both a personal  and national scale.  The purpose of Joel's prophecy is to turn the nation back to God in preparation for the great day of the Lord, the theme of his prophecy.

Click on the link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Exodus 20:12.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi   




  

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 5 December 2012, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "Israel Restored At last"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 14:1-9
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 14:9 " Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them."

The words "calves of our lips" (KJV) is best understood metaphorically, referring to the words that the lips produce, in this context, "praise" to the Lord.  The nation had used its lips to praise the idolatrous calves; now the nation will use its lips in Praise to Almighty God.

In this final chapter of Hosea's prophecy, he begins with a call to repentance that includes a model Prayer. The people of Israel were to Pray for God's gracious forgiveness and renew their allegiance to Him by renouncing foreign  alliances, their own military strength and false gods.

When God heals and receives sinners, He chooses to love us "freely." The thought is "unconditionally." God doesn't hold our past against us.  He simply showers love on us. God's love has a vital, transforming impact on us, His people.  The Old Testament often uses figures of speech that involve trees and flowers when indicating divine blessing.

Up until this time, Ephraim, has been a stench in the nostrils of the Lord.  Now, because its sins had been dealt with, it will pleasing to the Lord; and the fruit will satisfy Him.  Much of Palestine is semiarid, and verdant growth suggests abundant rains and prosperity. Thus spiritual as well as material prosperity are represented by the blossoming of a lily, the young shoots of a cedar, and the fragrance of a cedar.

Hosea closes his prophecy on a high note. God's never-changing love for Israel will one day will bring about her repentance and restoration to His full favor. This prophecy of God's bountiful blessing looks to the great millennial periods of Christ's righteous and beneficent rule. God's "ways," His demands and principles, are completely true.  The wise person will choose to obey them, but the foolish person will ignore them and consequently "stumble" into judgment.

This concludes the book of Hosea.  The next Minor Prophet that we will study will be Joel.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness, Love God More Today.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

Click on the link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Exodus 20:8.

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
  

    

 

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for Monday 3 December 2012, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "Relentless Judgment On Israel"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Hosea 13:1-16
Today's Blog Key Verse: Hosea 13:4 "Yet I am the LORD your God Ever since the land of Egypt, And you shall no God but Me; For there is no savior besides me."

"Ephraim" the tribe which most proudly asserted its primacy in the North, was the site of a worship center at Bethel which was corrupted by Baal worship.  This brought spiritual death to the nation and would soon bring physical death as well.

Israel had put its trust in other nations, and in its own strength, rather that the One who is there only Savior.  God had revealed Himself in grace, and the only result was that God's people became proud and forgot Him.  For us as believers prosperity always holds more spiritual perils than suffering.  One of the greatest perils is, that when God's people become proud and unresponsive, then God must act to punish them.

The metaphor of childbirth in verse 13, illustrates Israel's spiritual insensitivity.  When the crucial time of judgment arrived, resulting in death, Israel would respond unwisely, resulting in death.  The nation's failure to repent is compared to a baby that is not positioned properly during labor and jeopardizes the life of both mother and child.

In verses 14-16, only God can save Israel from national extinction.  After the judgment is complete, Israel will ultimately be redeemed and will bring forth fruits of repentance.  This national repentance and restoration will be realized in the Israel of the Millennium.  Death has no power over God's redeemed.  The great affirmation has many applications.  In context, it is an encouragement in turn to God and live.  In the New Testament, it is a reminder of God's final victory over physical death, won through the resurrection of Jesus, which will be experienced by us at our own resurrection.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. Always remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or Financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."  

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi