Daily reading
Today’s reading is: Amos 7-9; 2 Kgs. 14:28-29; 15:6-29; 2 Chr. 26:22-23; Isa. 6:1-13
Video
Amos Chapter Seven
- Amos sees the first of five visions in this section (Am. 7:1-3).
- Amos saw the Sovereignty of God at work, preparing a locust-swarm (v.1).
- The swarm was prepared to hurt the people, but not the king (v.2).
- Amos averted that locust swarm by praying to the Lord God for mercy (v.3).
- Amos sees the second of five visions in this section (Am. 7:4-6).
- Amos saw the Sovereignty of God at work, turning a wild-fire into populated farmlands (v.4).
- Amos becomes the intercessor once again, “changing the Lord’s mind” (vv.5-6).
- Amos sees the third of five visions in this section (Am. 7:7-9).
- Amos sees the Lord standing by a wall with a plumb line (v.7).
- The plumb line of the Lord is His absolute standard of Righteousness, and the execution of His Justice accordingly (Isa. 28:17).
- Unlike the two previous visions, where Amos saw the danger, and averted it through fervent, effectual prayer, in this vision, the Lord explains the plumb-line to Amos, and then declares the judgment upon Israel (vv.8,9).
- A false-priest accuses Amos of being a false prophet, and tries to drive Amos out of town (Am. 7:10-13).
- Amos denies being a prophet at all, and pronounces Divine judgment upon Israel (Am. 7:14-17).
Amos Chapter Eight
- Amos sees the fourth of five visions in this section (Am. 8:1-3).
- Amos sees a basket of summer fruit (fully ripe fruit) (vv.1,2a).
- The judgment Amos prophesies is a long-delayed judgment that can be delayed no longer (v.2b).
- Songs are turned into mourning, the opposite of what the Lord will do when the judgment is complete (v.3 cf. Jer. 31:13).
- Amos proclaimed a message of judgment to the prideful predators of Israel (Am. 8:4-14).
- These predators are so intent upon their profits that religious holidays and observances simply get in their way (v.5).
- Divine judgment comes in the form of national discipline (v.10), and a spiritual famine of truth (v.11).
Amos Chapter Nine
- Amos sees the fifth and final vision in this section (Am. 9:1-15).
- Amos saw the Lord standing beside the pagan altar of Bethel (v.1a).
- The Lord orders the destruction of the idolatrous temple, and the execution of the idolatrous priesthood (vv.1b-4).
- The Lord’s prophetic message highlighted His Sovereignty (vv.5-6), and the certainty of His judgment upon the nations (vv.7-10).
- Israel will be restored at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ because of the unconditional promises given to Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, and the unconditional kingdom promises given to David (vv.11-15).
Second Kings Chapter Fourteen
(Outline continues from Day 176)
- The reign of Azariah is described (2nd Kgs. 14:21-22).
- The reign of Jeroboam II of Israel is then described (2nd Kgs. 14:23-29).
Second Kings Chapter Fifteen
(Outline continues from Day 176)
- The 6 month reign of Zechariah the son of Jeroboam is described (2nd Kgs. 15:8-12).
- King Zechariah of Israel is not to be confused with the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 1:1), the high priest Zechariah (2nd Chr. 24:20), or any other of the total of 32 Biblical Zechariah’s found in the Bible.
- Zechariah the son of Jeroboam the son of Joash the son of Jehu completed the Lord’s promised 4 generation dynasty of Jehu (2nd Kgs. 15:12; 10:30).
- Shallum’s one month reign over Israel is described (2nd Kgs. 15:13-16).
- Menahem’s ten year reign over Israel is described (2nd Kgs. 15:17-22).
- Pul, king of Assyria is identified by his historical name of Tiglath-Pileser III (2nd Kgs. 16:7).
- In exchange for the tribute he provided, Menahem enjoyed Assyrian support for his reign.
- Pekahiah’s two year reign over Israel is described (2nd Kgs. 15:23-26).
- Pekah’s twenty year reign over Israel is described (2nd Kgs. 15:27-31).
(Chapter Fifteen continues tomorrow)
Second Chronicles Chapter Twenty-Six
(Outline continues from Day 176)
- The last years of Uzziah’s life were spent in isolation, as his son co-reigned in his place (2nd Chr. 26:21-23).
Isaiah Chapter Six
- Isaiah observed a vision of the LORD in the year that King Uzziah died (Isa. 6:1).
- Some scholars (e.g. Ron Rhodes) believe that this incident is a “flashback” to Isaiah’s initial call to the ministry, and therefore precedes the ministry of Isaiah 1-5.
- Others (including Pastor Bob) believe that this incident occurred after Isaiah was already established in his prophetic ministry, and set him apart to deliver the great Christological prophesies which follow.
- Isaiah observed Adonai sitting on a throne, with a kingly robe filling the temple.
- The Apostle John explains that this was a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 12:41).
- It is not clear whether the scene is Solomon’s temple, Ezekiel’s temple, or the heavenly temple. Pastor Bob believes this to be the heavenly temple.
- Seraphim are an order of angelic beings with six wings, one face, two feet, and hands.
- The tabernacle, Solomon’s temple, and Ezekiel’s temple are all decorated with Cherubim—not Seraphim.
- This is the only place in Scripture where the angelic Seraphim are found by that name.
- The fiery serpents which bit Israel in the wilderness were called seraphim (Num. 21:6; Deut. 8:15).
- The living creatures of Revelation 4 are likely also Seraphim (vv.6-9).
- Isaiah is overwhelmed by his unworthiness to behold such glory, and to communicate such glory (Isa. 6:5).
- The grace of God provides for Isaiah to have be made worthy for His service (Isa. 6:6-7).
- Isaiah is then eager to be a messenger of the Lord (Isa. 6:8), but the children of Israel will be made incapable to perceive spiritual truth (Isa. 6:9-13).
- Israel’s eyes, ears, & hearts are closed during the ministry of Jesus Christ (Matt. 13:14-17).
- Israel’s eyes, ears, & hearts continue to be closed during the ministry of the Apostle Paul (Acts 28:25-28).
- Even with (the nation of) Israel’s heart hardened, individual Jews can still get saved according to their personal faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 11:1-2,5-8).
- God promises a definite time-frame for the hardening of Israel’s heart, and promises a faithful remnant (Isa. 6:11-13).