Lesson # 2

Joel & Amos

Scripture Readings:

Day 1: Joel

Day 2: Amos 1-2

Day 3: Amos 3-4

Day 4: Amos 5-7

Day 5: Amos 8-9

Joel

In our last lesson we became closely acquainted with Hosea, his life, and his tumultuous marriage. We learned of his three children and their unfortunate names. We also learned that all of this would serve as an object lesson to an adulterous Israel. In stark contrast, we know very little about the prophet Joel. We know that Joel’s name means “Jehovah is God” and that he is the son of Pethuel (God delivers or persuaded of God).

Joel begins his discourse with a very familiar plea: “Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.” Joel 1:2a, Hosea 5:1 Joel then describes in detail a plague of locusts and asks, “Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?” Joel is asking if they can recall another plague of such magnitude in their lifetime or in their father’s lifetime.

1. What four types of locusts (or worms) are mentioned in this plague? Joel 1:4 _______

2. What four specific groups of people are mentioned that were affected by this plague and how? __________________________________________________________vs. 5

_________________________________________________________________vs. 11

_________________________________________________________________vs. 11

_________________________________________________________________vs. 13

3. Whose vine was laid waste and whose fig tree was stripped of its bark? vs. 7 _______

Laid waste is a picture of complete devastation. The battalion of locusts cut off the

food supply for man and beast alike! There is not even enough meat (grain) and drink for the priests to offer in the house of the Lord.

4. Look up the word sackcloth: why might Joel be commanding the priests to “lie all night in sackcloth? vs.13 __________________________________________________

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5. How many times can the exact phrase “the day of the LORD” be found in the KJV bible? (Biblegateway.com, keyword search, match exact phrase) In general, what does the phrase refer to?______________________________________________________

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We might be wondering, “What is the point of this awful plague?” I believe the answer can be found in chap. 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: Sometimes we need to have everything taken from us to remind us that God is everything that we need! Sometimes we have to be brought to our knees to remind us what our knees are for.

6. Optional: share with the class an incident or difficult time that brought you or someone you know to the body of Christ or back to the body, if drifting:_____________

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7. What does And rend your heart, and not your garments, vs. 13 mean?____________

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God shows compassion to a penitent people! 2:21Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. “After addressing a local situation in Judah (2:1-27), the prophet suddenly and without warning jumps hundreds of years into the future, predicting events which would be fulfilled in the New Testament era. We do not have to be in doubt as to the meaning of this passage for Peter clearly stated that Joel’s prophecy had it’s fulfillment in the miraculous events that began on Pentecost Day of Acts 2 (see Acts 2:14-21)” Bob Winton (pg. 21) Outlined Commentary on The Minor Prophets

Joel’s message of hope for the future continues with, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:” Joel 2:32 Peter cited this verse in Acts 2:21. What a wonderful message! But, how does one call on the name of the Lord? Many sincere people have been taught that calling on the name of the Lord is simply “inviting Jesus into their heart” by saying some sort of a “sinners prayer.” Do you know that no such prayer can be found within the pages of scripture? If God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him, He surely would not leave us guessing about how to be delivered/saved! (2 Peter 1:3) Let’s turn to God’s word for the answer to this very important question of “how does one call on the name of the Lord?” We will begin with Peter’s sermon on Pentecost.

8. In Acts 2:38, was Peter telling the hearers a different way (other than calling on the name of the Lord) to be saved? Or was he telling them HOW to call on the name of the Lord?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does this make sense to you? Have you been taught a different way “to call on the name of the Lord?” I would love to study this with you! My hope and prayer is that we “let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” Romans 3:4

9. I will also gather all _______________, and will bring them down into the valley of _________________, and will plead with them there for ____ _________and for my heritage ________, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Joel 3:2

Jehoshaphat means Jehovah judges. The idea here is that the nations would be brought down into the valley of God’s judgment.

10. The sun and the moon shall be ____________, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The ______also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the ___________and the earth shall shake: but the ________ will be the ______ of his people, and the __________ of the children of Israel. Joel 3:15-16

Joel paints a bleak picture for the enemies of God but reminds the faithful that they need not be afraid. God will be their hope and strength!

Amos

We will now set our sights on the straightforward, country preacher, Amos and focus on his relevant message. His name means burden bearer. What an appropriate name for a man that was called to preach and prophesy during “good times.” By good times I mean that the times were prosperous. Business was booming. The employment rate was up, less people were on welfare, what more could the people want? The people may have been enjoying swollen bank accounts, but they were spiritually and morally bankrupt. Amos was a shepherd and a keeper of Sycamore fig trees in the southern region, Judah, but he was called to prophesy to the northern region, Israel.

Amos begins preaching by pronouncing judgment on Israel’s wicked neighbors. You can imagine that Amos probably enjoyed some popularity during this time. Who doesn’t love a preacher that tells you that your enemies are doing wrong and are going to be held accountable for it? (Especially if he preaches with a southern accent!)

1. ______ _______ ____ ______ ; For ______ transgressions of Damascus, and for _____, I will not turn away the ____________ thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: Amos 1:3

2. Who is God pronouncing judgment against? ______________ v. 3, __________ v. 6,

___________ v.9, __________________________ v. 13, ______________ 2:1,

___________v. 4, _____________ v. 6.

Amos moved on from the popular sermons and started stepping on some toes! He was pointing out Israel’s apostasy. Sadly, many good preachers are asked to leave congregations for preaching the truth. I have heard preachers describe these difficult, unpopular sermons as “moving sermons.” They say, “I preached the truth and now I have to move.”

3. For the time will come when they _______ _____ ________ _______ _________; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves __________, having itching ears; And they shall ____ _____ their ______ from the ______, and shall be turned unto ________. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Amos delivers a scathing rebuke to the Israelites. Amos 2:6-12 He tells them that they are greedy, v.6, unjust, v.7a, unclean, v.7b, and unfaithful v.8a. God reminded them that they were privileged. They were His chosen people and He delivered them on so many occasions. He raised up prophets and Nazarites from their sons. With privilege comes responsibility. They did not accept their responsibilities so they would be punished. Amos 2:9-16, 3:1-15

Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. Amos 4:1 The women are described as cows. They lived sumptuously and were only concerned about filling their own bellies. God tried a number of tactics to get Israel to repent and return to Him, but they would not repent.

Amos 4:6-11 ___________________________________________________________

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! Amos 6:1

5. What picture does Amos 6:1 paint in your mind? Who is at ease in Zion? What modern day application can be made from this verse? __________________________

6. What were the five visions of Amos? _________________________ Amos 7:1-3

___________________________ 7:4-6, ______________________________ 7:7-11,

____________________________ 8:1-10, ____________________________ 9:1-10

Amos has painted a very bleak picture for the rebellious Israelites, but offers hope for the future.

7. Behold, the eyes of the ______ _____are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will _________ it from off the face of the earth; ________ that I will ______ utterly ________ the house of ________, saith the LORD Amos 9:8

8. Share any concluding thoughts:________________________________________

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Have a wonderful week!

Jenni