Read the first 4 verses of Obadiah. Think of specific people in your life who are marked by pride and self-reliance. What is the source of their pride?
What is God’s solution to bitterness and spite? See Ephesians 4:31 for starters.
Are you facing a “battle” that seems completely overwhelming? Read Romans 8:31-39 for strength.
1) In Chapter 3, Amos begins by telling the people that they were chosen by God. According to Gen 12:1-3 and Isaiah 41:8-10, what was God’s purpose in choosing Israel?
2) In chapters 3-4, Amos explains that because Israel has been chosen, Israel will be disciplined when disobedient, to bring Israel back to God. How did God try to bring the people back in chapters 3-4? How did they react? How do we react to misfortune and suffering?
3) What sins were the people committing according to chapter 5? How were they supposed to respond? See especially 5:11-14.
4) Would you describe yourself as someone who longs for the day of the Lord? What is the day of the Lord in this context? Why does he tell them that their confidence is unwarranted? What does God desire from them?
5) If you use God’s word as a “plumb line” to measure your life, what do you see? What alternative standards are you tempted to use?
6) What is God’s final promise of hope? What does this show us about God’s character?
7) Looking at the book of Amos as a whole, we see God calling his covenant people to honor him with their lives and not just their religious ceremonies. God calls them to turn from idols, from oppressing the poor, and from immorality. What applications does this have for us today? For a powerful comparison of what we who live under the new covenant can learn from the lessons of the old, see Hebrews 12:14-29.
When Amos speaks of God’s judgment on the nations (
Amos speaks often of the neglect of the poor (Amos 2:7; 4:1; 5:11-12; 8:4-6, et al). What are we to do about these admonitions?
As believers we look forward to Jesus coming back – to heaven! Amos tells these people that they should not be looking forward to “the Day of the Lord, for they were unprepared to meet God (see Amos 5:18-24). How does this impact you as you read it?
God’s intention is that His people reflect His holy and merciful character to their unbelieving neighbors. God’s people should live such that they attract people to God. In Amos’ day the people of God were living just like their neighbors – perhaps worse. Yet they thought themselves superior and immune to the judgment of God. Think long and hard about this. How do God’s people today (you and me) do the same? What should be our response?
There are many who are truly following after God. They are not frustrating God, they are bringing Him joy. Name some of the people you know who are following God closely and do tow things: (1.) let them know that you see God’s ways reflected in their lives, and (2.) seek to emulate their lives.
Joel 2:28-3:21
1) What does the prophesy in 2:28-29 refer to? What does it emphasize? (Cf Acts 2)
2) How do the themes of judgment and repentance in 2:30-31 relate to this 28-29?
3) What parallels do you see between the judgment in chapter 3:1-16 and other places in scripture where God brings judgment on people? When God sends judgment, how does this reflect the character described in 2:13
4) What is to be result of God’s action? See 3:17 and compare to 2:27. In what ways is the pattern from 3:18-20 repeated elsewhere in scripture?
5) What are the main lessons we should take from the book of Joel? How can we help each other live this out.
What do we know for sure about the context of Joel’s prophesy? What is uncertain?
What do we learn about God’s character from Joel? Which aspects of God’s character are we tempted to ignore or downplay?
What was the locust plague supposed to accomplish? What were the people being warned about?
Reflect on Chapter 2, verse 13. What are instances were we repent outwardly but not inwardly? What does Joel tell us about what God is like to encourage us to repent from the heart?
What does 2:27 tell us about God’s purpose in disciplining his people? How do we respond to hardships? Look at Hebrews 12 for a NT discussion of this concept.
