Daily reading
Today’s reading is: 2 Kgs. 13:1-11,14-25; 2 Chr. 24:23-27; Joel 1-3
Video
2nd Kings Chapter Thirteen
- The reign of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, King of Israel is detailed (2nd Kgs. 13:1-9).
- Jehoahaz was an evil king, following his father in the imitation of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat (v.2).
- He endured Divine discipline, and it humbled him (vv.3,4).
- The Lord blessed Jehoahaz with a deliverer, and a partial restoration of sovereignty (vv.5-7).
- The reign of Jehoash (Joash), King of Israel, is then described (2nd Kgs. 13:8-13).
- The death of Elisha (2nd Kgs. 13:14-21).
- His final work-assignment was to minister to the King of Israel (vv.14-19).
- His final miracle occurred after his physical death (vv.20,21).
- Jehoash obtained the three victories that Elisha had predicted (2nd Kgs. 13:22-25).
2nd Chronicles Chapter Twenty-Four
(vv.23-27 outline included in yesterday’s notes)
Joel Chapter One
- The Book of Joel is a prophetic revelation “the word of the Lord that came” intended for the elders and inhabitants of the land (Joel 1:1).
- Remarkable events in temporal-life must be observed, and preserved in the memories of passing generations—because the spiritual-life lessons of these temporal-life events are vital for believers to learn (Joel 1:2-3).
- The Lord utilized four plagues of locusts in rapid succession to illustrate the destructive nature of His Divine discipline (Joel 1:4).
- Joel calls various groups to mourn for the devastation of the land (Joel 1:5-13).
- Drunkards (vv.5-10).
- Farmers & vinedressers (vv.11-12).
- Priests (v.13).
- Joel calls all the land to action—the fasting and prayer of a repentant people before the Lord (Joel 1:14-20).
- Fasting and prayer is urgent because the Day of the Lord is near (v.15a).
- Present tribulation is a warning for the coming destruction (v.15b).
- The coming destruction will not be at the hands of natural phenomena, or human agency, but will be the direct work of the Almighty (cf. Isa. 13:6).
Joel Chapter Two
- The coming and near Day of the Lord is Joel’s reason for sounding the alarm (Joel 2:1).
- The invading army is described in terrible, invincible terms (Joel 2:2-11).
- The need for humble repentance is immediate and imperative (Joel 2:12-17).
- The Lord will respond to Israel’s repentance, by coming forward in Divine deliverance (Joel 2:18-27).
- This deliverance marks the final time that Israel will ever face reproach among the nations (vv.19,27).
- This deliverance marks the beginning of abundant grace provision for Israel’s temporal-life supply (vv.19,22-24,26).
- This unique day is the one-time in human history event (Joel 2:2) which the Lord Jesus Christ declared to be yet future in relationship to 33AD (Matt. 24:21).
- The Pneumatological promise of Joel 2:28-29 is established clearly as occurring after the events of vv.18-27.
- The pouring out of the Holy Spirit comes about after, or as the Lord sends the grain, new wine, & oil of Millennial blessings (v.19,23-24).
- The pouring out of the Holy Spirit will be a world-wide event for every living human being (v.28a-29).
- Jewish men and women, young and old will be gifted with the prophetic gift (v.28b).
- The Day of Pentecost, which marked the beginning of the Church Age, was not the fulfillment of Joel 2 (Acts 2:14-21).
- Peter’s message abbreviates the quotation from Joel to exclude Joel 2:32b.
- The Pentecost 33AD bestowal of the Holy Spirit was marked by the gift of tongues, and not prophecy, which will be the ultimate fulfillment of Joel 2.
- The impartation of the Holy Spirit was limited to believers in Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ, and not upon every living human being.
- The Eschatological promise of Joel 2:30-32 is established clearly as a warning sign for Israel to apply as the great and awesome Day of the Lord arrives.
Joel Chapter Three
- Following the Day of the Lord, the gentile nations will be judged by the Lord, and Israel will be recompensed for all their suffering (Joel 3:1-8).
- Until the Day of the Lord comes, and until the gentile nations are judged, Israel is required to keep themselves on a war-footing (Joel 3:9-17).
- The peace of the Lord (Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3) can only be realized through the victory of the Lord in war (Joel 3:18-21).