D A N I E L , H O S E A A N D

J O E L

A Devotional Look at the Prophecies of Daniel,

Hosea and Joel

F. Wayne Mac Leod

Light To My Path Book Distribution

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Special thanks to the proof readers and reviewers without whom this book would be much harder to

read.

CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
Preface
Introduction to Daniel
- Faithful in Small Things
- The King's Dream
- Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Idol
- The Humbling of Nebuchadnezzar
- Writing on the Wall
- In the Lion's Den
- The Four Beasts
- The Ram and the Goat
- Daniel's Prayer
- Michael and the Persians
- The Angel's Revelation: From Darius to Seleucus IV
- The Angel's Revelation: From Antiochus IV to Epiphanes
- The Final Victory
Introduction to Hosea
- Introducing the Prophet
- The Disciplines of a Loving Father
- Reconciliation

- Sowing Seeds of Evil
- Accusations against the Priests
- Bad Company
- Guilty!
- False Piety
- Israel's Crime
- Fruitless Faith
- Israel's Punishment
- It is Time to Seek the Lord
- Grace in Rebellion
- More Sin
- Rebellious Ephraim
- The Conclusion of the Matter
Introduction to Joel
- Victory in Humility
- The Approaching Army
- Return to Me
- The Outpouring of the Spirit
- The Valley of Jehoshaphat
- A Bright Future for God's People
About The Author

PREFACE

he prophet Daniel spoke to a people in exile who were paying the

price for their sin. Even in exile for their rebellion God’s people

still knew His presence and blessing. The book of Daniel is the

story of a man who stood out in the midst of a rebellious people and who

was unashamed of his God. It shows us that while God will not abandon

His people He will discipline them for their own good.

Hosea is a prophecy to a nation that turned its back on God. It is a story of a

God who patiently endured insults and rebellion. The book serves as a

warning to all who read it that the Lord is a God of holiness and justice.

Hosea reminds us that God will deal with sin. God’s people, like the

prodigal son, wandered far from Him and suffered the consequences of their

rebellion. God did not forsake them. He waited, with arms open wide, to

receive them. Through the prophet Hosea, God called them back to

Himself. The prophecy is a story of the grace of God in dealing with those

who have wandered.

In the prophecy of Joel we see God’s people moving from barrenness to

spiritual revival and from devastation by locusts to a land flowing with new

wine. We catch a glimpse of the merciful and compassionate heart of God

as He poured out His Holy Spirit and blessings on a repentant people. The

prophecy offers hope of renewal for all God’s people.

This commentary is not meant to replace the Bible. It serves only as a guide

to take you section by section through the prophecies of Daniel, Hosea and

Joel. Read the passages indicated at the beginning of each chapter. Work

through the passage with the commentary, using it as a guide. Ask the Spirit

of God to reveal the truth of the passage to you. You could possibly read

one section each day in your personal quiet time with the Lord. Each

chapter ends with a set of questions. Take a moment to reflect on these

questions. They will help you think about the practical application of the

passage. Conclude your time by praying about the things you have learned.

I have also given some suggested prayer requests at the end of each chapter.

Take a moment to pray over these requests.

My prayer is that this book will be instrumental in helping you walk

devotionally through the prophecies of Daniel, Hosea and Joel. The book

not only seeks to help you understand the passage but also to see its

practical application to your life. May God bless you over the next few

weeks as you meditate on these important Scriptures.

F. Wayne Mac Leod

INTRODUCTION TO

DANIEL

Author:

he author of this book is a man by the name of Daniel. This is

evident not only in the book itself but in other Biblical passages. In

Matthew 24:15, for example, Jesus directly referred to prophecies

in Daniel 9:27; 11:31 and 12:11 claiming that they were spoken through the

prophet Daniel. In several passage in the book, Daniel uses the phrase “I,

Daniel” showing us clearly that was the author (see Daniel 7:28; 8:1; 9:2;

10:2; 12:5).

Background

The first two chapters of the book provide us with a number of details about

Daniel and his times. He was born in Israel during the time that King

Nebuchadnezzar was beginning to take captives back to Babylon as

servants. Daniel was taken as a young man, brought to Babylon and trained

to serve in Nebuchadnezzar’s court.

The qualifications for serving in the court of Nebuchadnezzar was that each

young man be from a wealthy Israelite family, without physical defect,

handsome and intelligent (see Daniel 1:3-4). Daniel met all of those

qualifications. He was trained in the language and literature of Babylon for

three years and ate in the palace at the king’s table (1:4-5).

His name was changed to Belteshazzar which likely means “Bel, protect the

king.” Bel was the Babylonian god. While his new name spoke of the god

Bel, Daniel’s heart was committed to the Lord God of Israel. Even as a

young man, he demonstrated a strong allegiance to God and His

commandments. Daniel refused to defile himself with food from the king’s

table, choosing rather to follow the food laws of the Law of Moses. God

would bless him for that commitment.

Daniel would distinguish himself as an interpreter of dreams and visions.

His interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2 caused the

king to reward him with the position as ruler over a province of Babylon

and in charge of all the wise men (Daniel 2:46-48).

During his time as chief of the wise men of Babylon, Daniel had a series of

visions, strong in symbolism, relating to the immediate future of several

nations, the coming of the Messiah and the end times.

Importance Of The Books For Today:

In this book we are introduced to a young man who was stripped from his

family and forced to serve an enemy king. His commitment to the Lord God

of Israel is remarkable. Often risking his life to serve the Lord, Daniel

refused to compromise or be discouraged in his situation. He rose to a

position of great authority in the land using the gifts God had given him

faithfully. He is a powerful example to us who serve in less than ideal

situations today.

The book of Daniel is also remarkable in the details God communicated to

Daniel about the immediate future and the days to come. Even the smallest

events were planned by God and fulfilled exactly as He showed Daniel.

Nothing escapes God. He is the sovereign Lord of history and the times to

come.

Daniel also reveals to us something of the spiritual dimension to life. We

read about the angel Michael and his battle with the prince of Persia. We

see God withholding the mouths of lions and the presence of His angel in

the fiery furnace with Daniel’s friends. In all this we become aware of the

unseen hand of the Lord God and His angels in the lives of His people.

This same God cares for us today. His angels provide for our needs and

protect us. In one of Israel’s worst crisis, Daniel reveals to us a sovereign

God who protects, speaks and works all things for the good of His people

and the glory of His name.

1 - FAITHFUL IN SMALL

THINGS

Read Daniel 1:1-21

he book of Daniel was written in a time of exile. The story of

Daniel occurs during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, king of

Babylon. Commentators tell us that the events of this first chapter

occurred while Daniel was just a youth. We are told that the training of

youths for the service of the king usually took place usually before the child

was 12 years of age. If this is that case we must certainly admire the

commitment of Daniel even as a young man. The hand of God was on him

from his youth.

We begin the book of Daniel with some history of the period. It was in the

third year of the reign of Jehoiakim of Judah that Nebuchadnezzar of

Babylon came to Jerusalem and surrounded the city with his army (ca. 605

BC). At that time the Lord delivered Jehoiakim into the hands of

Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar took some of the articles from the temple

and placed them in the temple of his god in Babylon. These articles had

been consecrated to the Lord God. This was a very difficult time for the

people of God. They did not understand why the Lord had allowed this to

happen. There would have been many questions on their minds.

At this time Nebuchadnezzar ordered the chief of the court officials to bring

some young Israelite men into his court for training as court servants. These

youths were to be of the noble class of Israelite society (verse 3). They were

to be young men who were physically in perfect condition, handsome and

intelligent. We have already stated that very likely these captives would

have been around twelve to fourteen years of age.

These youths were to be taught how to serve in the king's palace. Ashpenaz,

the chief of the court officials, was to train them in the language and

literature of Babylon (verse 4). Part of the training involved a special diet

from the king's table. The training would last for a period of three years and

then these young men would enter into the service of the king of Babylon.

The book of Daniel tells us the story of four young Israelites chosen to be

the king’s court servants: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They

were given new Babylonian names when they entered their training. The

name Daniel means "God is my judge." His name was changed to

Belteshazzar meaning "Bel's prince." Bel was a Babylonian god. By

changing Daniel’s name, the Babylonians intended for Daniel to worship

the local gods. It is significant to note that Daniel chose to refer to himself

by his Hebrew name rather than his Babylonian name.

The names of Daniel's friends were also changed. Hananiah means "whom

Jehovah has favoured." His name was changed to Shadrach, after the

Babylonian god Rak. Mishael, whose name means: "who is comparable to

God," was given the new name Meshach after Shak the goddess of love.

Azariah's name means "Jehovah helps." He was given the name Abednego

meaning "servant of the shining fire." This could be a reference to the sun

an object of Babylonian worship.

In verse 8 we discover another way that Daniel determined to remain

committed to his God. Daniel resolved in his heart not to defile himself

with the food and wine that came from the king's table. As a Jew, he

understood that this food was unclean, according to the dietary laws of

Moses. He determined in his heart that he would be obedient in this matter

and remain clean before God. Risking his life, he asked permission not to

defile himself by eating unclean food.

This would not have been an easy decision for Daniel to make. He did not

know what the response of the official would be to this request. What is

clear from verse 9, however, is that the Lord gave him favour with the

official. As Daniel chose to obey the Lord in this matter, the Lord blessed

and provided a way of obedience for him. What is quite amazing here is to

see how the official opened his heart to Daniel. He admitted to this young

lad that he was afraid of the king's response if he found Daniel looking

worse than the other boys. I find it quite interesting that this official would

open his heart to Daniel about this matter. He is sympathetic toward

Daniel's situation but did not want to risk shirking his responsibility as an

official. This shows us something of how strict life in the court really was.

The chief official feared for his life if he chose to disobey the direct

command of the king.

Seeing the hesitation of the official, Daniel made a decision by faith (verse

11). He believed that if he was obedient the Lord would bless him. He

asked the guard appointed by the chief official to test him and his friends

for ten days on vegetables and water alone. (It is uncertain if the chief

official Ashpenaz was aware of this.) At the end of ten days, the guard was

to compare Daniel and his friends with the others who had been eating the

king’s food. They agreed to the test.

Verse 15 tells us that at the end of ten days Daniel and his friends looked

healthier and better nourished than the men who ate the king's food. Seeing

this, the guard in charge of Daniel and his friends took away the king's food

and fed them vegetables and water only. We cannot underestimate the

impact that this had on the guard. Obviously, he would have seen the hand

of God on the lives of these young men. Though they did not preach to him,

their lifestyle and their obedience to God were a powerful testimony.

Notice, that God blessed Daniel’s obedience in a wonderful way. Verse 17

tells us that the Lord gave them knowledge and understanding of all kinds

of literature and learning in Babylon. The knowledge here was the

knowledge of the literature and ways of Babylon. This was a gift from God.

To Daniel he gave another gift—that of understanding and interpreting

dreams and visions (verse 17). At this point in his life, Daniel would not

have understood how important that gift would be.

At the end of three years of training, the king talked with each of the men

who had been place under the training of Ashpenaz, his chief court official.

Nebuchadnezzar was very impressed with Daniel and his three friends. He

found them ten times wiser than even the magicians and enchanters of his

kingdom (verse 20). Daniel captured the attention of the king and was

placed in the king's service. Daniel would serve in Babylon until the first

year of Cyrus, king of Persia, when the children of Israel would return to

their own land.

What we need to notice here is the obedience of Daniel in small things. He

chose to be faithful in the matter of only eating what the Lord allowed in

the Law of Moses. The Lord blessed this decision. What would have

happened if Daniel had not been faithful to the Lord in this matter?

Obedience in this simple matter was the first test Daniel needed to pass.

Having passed this test, the Lord blessed him in abundance and released

him into a fuller blessing. Daniel is an example of how a believer can

remain faithful to the Lord in very difficult circumstances. May we be

found faithful as well in the circumstances of our lives.

For Consideration:

What is the connection between obedience and the blessing

of God in the life of Daniel?

Are there areas in your life where you need to prove yourself

faithful?

Have you ever found yourself making compromises and not

being absolutely faithful?

What do we learn about the faith of Daniel in this passage?

How does your faith compare?

What does this passage teach us about how God can use

young people to witness for Him?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to reveal to you any area in your life where you

have failed to be as faithful as Daniel.

Ask the Lord to give you more faith in Him and His

purposes.

Thank the Lord that as we obey He will be faithful to us, as

He was to Daniel.

2 - THE KING'S DREAM

Read Daniel 2:1-49

erse 1 tells us that in the second year of his reign

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him very much. He

called his magicians, sorcerers, enchanters and astrologers to

stand before him. It is striking that he would call such a number of them

together. In normal conditions the king might have consulted one or two of

the wise men, but there was something quite different about this dream.

When the wise men and magicians were gathered before him, the king told

them that he had a dream that had troubled him and asked them to interpret

it for him. When the astrologers asked the king to tell them his dream, the

king refused to do so. He told them that they were not only to interpret his

dream but also to tell him what he had dreamed. He warned them that if

they could not tell him the dream, he would have them cut into pieces and

their houses turned into a pile of rubble (verse 5). If, on the other hand, they

told him the dream and its interpretation, they would receive from him great

gifts, rewards and honour.

It is quite clear from this that the king was very troubled by this dream. He

believed that it contained a message for him, and he did not want to miss

that message. He needed to be sure that what the magicians and sorcerers

said was true. The way he could tell if the interpretation was correct was by

demanding that they also telling him what he had dreamed. This way he

could confirm what was being said.

It is interesting to note here that the original text changes from Hebrew to

Aramaic in this section of Daniel. While most of the Old Testament was

written in Hebrew, this portion, from Daniel 2:4 to the end of chapter 7 was

originally written in Aramaic.

The astrologers and those present were shocked at the king’s request. Again

they asked him to tell them the dream. Interpreting a dream was one thing,

but telling the king what he dreamed was another. Again the king refused

and accused them of trying to gain time because they did not have an

answer (verse 8). He reminded them that their penalty would be very severe

if they did not tell him what he dreamed.

In verse 10 the astrologers told the king that there was no man on earth that

could do such a thing. They also reminded him that there was never a king

who asked so much from his magicians and astrologers. They were

obviously hoping that the king would change his mind. "What the king asks

is too difficult," they said. "No one can reveal it to the king except the gods,

and they do not live among men” (verse 11). The king was asking them to

provide him with supernatural information, but that was something that was

beyond their ability. They also know that there was no way of deceiving the

king. If they did not tell the king his dream, they would be killed.

The king became so angry with these wise men that he ordered the

execution of every wise man in Babylon (verse 12). This shows us how

troubled by this dream the king really was. It also shows us something of

the power he had as king of Babylon. His decree was not questioned.

Guards were immediately sent out to round up the wise men for their

execution (verse 13).

Daniel and his friends were considered to be among the wise men of the

land. When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard came to get Daniel

and his friends, to put them to death, Daniel spoke to him about what was

happening. Notice in verse 14 that he spoke with "wisdom" and "tact.” He

asked Arioch why the king had issued such a harsh decree and Arioch

explained the situation to him. When Daniel heard what had happened, he

went to the king and asked him for time so that he could interpret the king’s

dream.

There are a couple of things that we need to mention here. First, we see the

influence of Daniel at this point. He had gained the favour and respect of

the king in chapter 1. This favour was bearing fruit for Daniel. The fact that

the king would grant him this request is an indication of just how much

Daniel had gained his respect. It should be remembered that in chapter 1 the

king found Daniel and his friends to be ten times wiser than all the

magicians and wise men of the land.

The second thing we need to notice here is that Daniel was not present

when the wise men were summoned by the king. He is unaware of the

situation when the guard came to gather them for execution. This is

significant. The king saw how his magicians could not answer his request.

He will now see Daniel’s God do what none of his magicians and sorcerers

could do. There would be no doubt that the God of Daniel was more

powerful than the gods of Babylon. Had Daniel been included with the

Babylonian magicians and wise men, the glory may have gone to

Babylonian magic and not to the God of Israel. God made a distinction

between the gods of Babylon and Himself.

Third, we need to see the boldness and faith of Daniel in this passage. He is

not afraid to trust God in this situation. When everyone else failed, Daniel

was willing to trust God for the solution. This took a very special faith.

The king granted Daniel his request for more time. When Daniel returned

from speaking to the king, he explained the matter to his friends and urged

them to pray and seek the favour of God (verse 18). Daniel knew that the

answer would not come from human wisdom. The only way they could

remain alive was if the Lord God showed His mercy and favour and

revealed the king’s dream and its interpretation. Daniel placed his life in

God’s hands. God honoured this faith and revealed to Daniel the dream that

very night.

When God revealed the dream to him, Daniel was moved to praise and

glorify the Lord. He knew that his prayer had been answered and that God

had come to him that night. I’m sure Daniel didn’t get much sleep that

night. Instead, he spent the time praising the Lord. His words are recorded

for us in verses 20- 23.

Daniel praised the Lord for His wisdom and power (verse 20). He

recognized God as the one who changed times and seasons. In other words,

God controls world events and determines the duration of each phase of

history. Daniel praised Him as the God who set kings in place and deposes

them as he saw fit (verse 21). Even King Nebuchadnezzar would be taken

from his throne in God's sovereign time. Daniel also thanked God for giving

wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. All wisdom and

knowledge came from God who revealed the deep and hidden things (verse

22). He knew what was hidden in the dark. Daniel concluded his time of

praise with thanksgiving to the Lord God for having given him wisdom and

power. He thanked the Lord for having made known to him what the king

had dreamed.

It wasn't until after this time of worship and praise to God that Daniel went

to Arioch and asked to see the king. Arioch told the king that he had found

someone who could interpret his dream. It is significant that he particularly

mentions that Daniel was one of the exiles from Judah. This immediately

associated him with the God of Israel (verse 25). God was interested in

lifting up His name in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar.

The king asked Daniel if he could tell him what he saw in the dream and

interpret it. Daniel is careful not to take any credit for himself. He told the

king that there was no man or magician who could explain what the king

saw that night in his sleep. Daniel reminded the king, however, that there

was a God in heaven who revealed mysteries (verse 27). That God is the

God of Israel. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that this God had revealed to

him the king's dream and its interpretation. Daniel made sure that all the

glory went to the Lord God of Israel. Daniel took no glory for himself.

In verse 29, Daniel spoke about the dream to the king. He told him that the

dream related to things that were yet to happen. Before telling the king the

details of the dream, Daniel reminded him that it was not because he had

greater wisdom than other men that he understood this matter. The only

reason Daniel knew the king’s dream was because of the Lord his God who

had revealed it to him.

Daniel is humble enough to be a simple vessel though whom God spoke.

He claimed no special wisdom or power of his own. All glory goes to his

God. How we need to be more like Daniel in our personal lives. All too

often we want credit for ourselves. God is looking for is someone who is an

empty and willing vessel, totally dependent on Him. God found that person

in Daniel.

In verse 31 Daniel described to the king what he had dreamed. He told

Nebuchadnezzar that he had seen a statue that was enormous and dazzling.

The head was made of pure gold; its chest and arms were made of silver; its

belly and its thighs were crafted of bronze. The legs of the statue were iron,

and the feet were partly iron and partly of clay. As the king watched, a great

rock struck the statue’s feet, and the rest of the statue tumbled down and

broke in pieces. The golden head, the silver chest and the bronze belly were

all smashed. The rock crushed the statue into dust and it was blown away

leaving no trace. As for the rock, it became a huge mountain that seemed to

fill the whole earth (verse 35).

Having told the dream to king Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel proceeded to

interpret it (verse 36). Nebuchadnezzar (represented by the gold head) was

the king of kings. He was the most powerful king on the earth. Daniel

reminded him, however, that his power and might had been given to him by

the Lord God (verse 37). This God had placed humans, beasts and the birds

of the air into his hands. It is important to note here that the Lord sometimes

gives His authority to unbelieving kings and rulers. He does this with a

particular purpose in mind.

Daniel reminded Nebuchadnezzar that after him another kingdom would

arise that was not as powerful as his—this was the kingdom of silver. Next

a third kingdom would arise represented by bronze. The fourth kingdom

(iron) would crush and break the other nations. While this nation would be

powerful, it would not have the glory of Nebuchadnezzar’s golden

kingdom. The kingdom of iron was divided. This was represented in the

feet that were a mixture of iron and clay, which do not mix.

The day was coming, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, when the Lord God of

heaven would set up still another kingdom that would never be destroyed.

This kingdom would not be given to another nation. No nation would ever

be able to conquer this kingdom and it would last forever (verse 44). This

kingdom was represented by the rock that became as huge as a mountain.

Even as this rock was not formed with human hands, so this kingdom

would not be made by human hands. This was a kingdom over which God

would be the ruler.

Many commentators note that after Babylon came the kingdom of the

Medes and the Persians. Some associate them with the silver portion of the

statue. Following the Medes and the Persians, Greece became a mighty

power. It is associated with the bronze belly. Rome eventually conquered

the Greek Empire and became the dominant world power. It is interesting to

note that the Romans were a military people and like iron, crushed other

nations. Rome experienced much disunity and eventually fell. The kingdom

made with human hands may very well be the kingdom that the Lord Jesus,

would set up when He came in the time of the Romans. We are part of that

spiritual kingdom. It is not an earthly kingdom but it is a kingdom where

Jesus reigns. This kingdom will last forever and no force will ever be able

to conquer it. This kingdom of God is growing every day. Satan and all his

hosts have done much to defeat it, but they have never been able to

overcome. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream seems to point us to the Lord Jesus and

His everlasting kingdom.

Having shared this interpretation with the king, Daniel reassures him that

the dream was from the Lord, and it was intended to show him the things

that were to come. Daniel assured the king that the interpretation of the

dream was fully trustworthy (verse 45).

When the king heard what Daniel had shared he fell prostrate before Daniel

and honoured him. Nebuchadnezzar knew that what he had heard was from

the Lord. He may also have been very much relieved to hear that the dream

was in his favour and that he had nothing to worry about during his reign.

He ordered that offerings and incense be presented to Daniel. King

Nebuchadnezzar knew that Daniel’s God was the God of gods and the Lord

of kings. The king realized that the God of Israel is the one who revealed

mysteries. That day the king placed Daniel in a very high position in the

land and gave him many gifts. Daniel became the ruler over the province of

Babylon and head of all the wise men in the land. Daniel requested that his

three friends also be given appointments by the king as administrators over

Babylon (verse 49). This was granted.

As we look at this story before us we are struck by the way the Lord moved

to place His servant Daniel in power, even in the country of his exile. By his

bold confidence and faith in God, Daniel testified that the Lord his God is

Lord of all lords and King of all kings. Daniel's faith did not waver as he

stood before the king. He expected God to do great things. He gave God the

glory for all that happened and God honoured his faith, obedience and

humility.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about Daniel’s faith in God? How did

Daniel demonstrate boldness in faith? What is the challenge

here for us?

Is there a connection between Daniel's faithfulness to God

and God's honouring him before the king?

What does this chapter teach us about being empty vessels

that God can use?

In Daniel we see a balance of boldness and humility. Why is

it important to find this balance in our ministry?

For Prayer:

Thank God that He is above every other god.

Thank Him that He is the giver of all wisdom and power?

Ask the Lord to give you some of the boldness and humility

of Daniel.

Ask God to help you to trust Him more. Ask Him to forgive

you for the times you did not give Him all the glory for what

He has done in you and through you.

Take a moment to thank the Lord Jesus for His kingdom that

will never end. Thank Him that you can have the assurance

that you are part of that kingdom.

3 - NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S

GOLDEN IDOL

Read Daniel 3:1-30

n the last meditation, we saw how King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream

about a large idol with a head of gold. Daniel revealed that

Nebuchadnezzar was that head of gold. It may not be without

coincidence that we see Nebuchadnezzar building a large statue of gold in

Daniel 3. Was he thinking of his dream when he built this statue? Verse 1

tells us that the statue was ninety feet high (twenty-seven meters) and nine

feet wide (almost three meters). This was quite an undertaking.

When the statue was erected, Nebuchadnezzar called his leaders and

officials together for the dedication of his image. All his officials came to

the dedication and stood before the great statue. When everyone was

present, a herald of the king made an announcement. He commanded that

all the representatives of the various conquered nations present that day

were to bow down and worship the image when the sound of the music

began. Nebuchadnezzar ordered that anyone who did not follow this decree

be thrown into a blazing furnace. To disobey his command was to die.

According to verse 7, when the music began the people who had gathered

from the various nations fell down and worshipped the image of gold that

Nebuchadnezzar had set up. This demonstrated their devotion to him as

their ruler and their allegiance to the Babylonian Empire.

We understand from verse 8 that certain Jews refused to bow down to this

image. This did not go unnoticed by the astrologers. They reported the

matter to the king. They seemed quite eager to denounce these Jews. Could

it be that they were jealous because Daniel and his Jewish friends had been

given authority over them?

It is unclear where Daniel was in at this time. He is not mentioned in this

chapter. This leads some to believe that he was not present at the ceremony.

Nebuchadnezzar was furious when he heard that Daniel's friends refused to

obey his command. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were brought before

the king. Nebuchadnezzar offered them a second chance to bow down to the

image. This may have been because of their position in his government.

They were certainly a very valuable asset to the king as wise men.

Nebuchadnezzar told them that when the music played again, he expected

them to bow down and worship the image, or they would be thrown into the

furnace. “What god will be able to rescue you from my hand,” he asked in

verse 15.

There are a couple of things that we need to see in this statement of King

Nebuchadnezzar. First, there is a hint here that Nebuchadnezzar recognized

the God of the Israelites. He had already seen his great wisdom in the

interpretation of his dream. He had seen that the God of Israel had wisdom

greater than all the Babylonian gods. He doubted, however, that the God of

the Israelites was big enough to deliver them from his furnace.

This leads to the second observation about the king's statement. There is

tremendous pride in what Nebuchadnezzar says here. He believed that he

was more powerful than the gods. "What god can deliver you from my

hand?" he asked. He did not understand the power of the God of Israel.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego listened to the king and replied: "We do

not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter" (verse 16). They

were not interested, at this point, in a debate about whether God would

deliver them or not. They simply committed themselves into His hands and

did not try to defend themselves. They did not seek to persuade the king to

change his mind by recalling all the good they had done for him in the past.

Like the Lord Jesus, they stood silent before their accuser. God would be

their defender. They knew that God was able to save them from the furnace,

but if he didn't and chose to allow them to suffer death, they would not bow

the knee to the king's statue and dishonour the name of the God they loved

and served. This matter was not open for discussion. They were more than

willing to die. They would not compromise their faith. They cast

themselves completely on God and chose to be obedient to death.

King Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Verse 19 tells us that his attitude toward them changed. Up until this point,

he was willing to give them a second chance. He was being merciful to

them. Now, however, there would be no more chances. Instead, he ordered

that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. He called on some

of his strongest soldiers to tie Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw

them into the furnace. They were bound in their robes and turbans and

thrown into the furnace. The scorching heat killed the soldiers who threw

the three men into the furnace.

As the king watched to see what would happen, he noticed something very

strange (verse 24). He noticed, to his amazement, that there appeared to be

a fourth person in the furnace. The appearance of the fourth person was

very unusual. This person looked like a “son of the gods.” What was

particularly strange was that all four men seemed to be walking around in

the furnace, unharmed and unbound. There in the midst of the furnace

Daniel's three friends met the Lord. The sense of His presence would have

been very real and powerful. That same Lord is able to meet you too in your

difficulty. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were willing to obey to the

end. God rewarded that obedience by His wonderful presence with them.

In verse 26 Nebuchadnezzar approached the furnace and called out to

Daniel's three friends. Notice that he called them the "servants of the Most

High God." He commanded that they come out of the furnace. This time

they obeyed the king's order and came out of the furnace. The governors

and royal officials crowed around to see what had become of them. Not a

hair on their heads was singed. Their clothes were not burned, nor was there

any scent of fire on them. God had completely protected them. God is able

to take us through the most difficult of trials without us being harmed.

Whatever the trial you are facing today the Lord can protect you and keep

you through it.

Nebuchadnezzar was so struck by what had happened that day that he

praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He praised them for

their commitment to their God and willingness to face the furnace rather

than to dishonour Him. Right there that day Nebuchadnezzar made a decree

that people of all nations and languages were to respect the God of Israel.

Anyone who spoke out against the God of Israel was to be cut in pieced and

their home turned into a pile of rubble. Before all those present, he

confessed that there was no other god who could save in this way. As for

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they were promoted in authority. God

honoured their obedience. He will honour all who honour him.

For Consideration:

How does this story challenge you in your commitment to

being obedient to the Lord?

Would you be willing to be obedient to death?

Notice that Daniel's friends choose not to defend themselves.

They cast themselves completely on God. Why do we feel

that we have to defend ourselves? Does this indicate a lack of

faith on our part in God's provision and protection?

What does this chapter teach us about how God meets us in

the struggles we face on a daily basis?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for the wonderful way in which He protected

His servants in this chapter. Thank Him that He is able to

protect us in the same way.

Ask the Lord to give you the faith to be obedient in the

struggles that come your way.

Thank the Lord for the way He meets us in the struggles we

face in life.

4 - THE HUMBLING OF

NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Read Daniel 4:1-37

f there is one thing that is certain in the early pages of the book of

Daniel, it is that God was speaking to the heart of Nebuchadnezzar. It

is quite interesting to see how the Lord revealed Himself to this king.

God spoke to Nebuchadnezzar in dreams, miracles and through His servant

Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar heard about the God of Israel and was impressed

by His power and majesty, yet up to this point, never surrendered to Him as

the only Lord. There are many people like this. They have seen God do

wonderful things, and they have heard much about Him, but they have

never given Him their hearts and lives.

God was not finished with Nebuchadnezzar. There was a work He wanted

to do in this man’s life. The work of softening Nebuchadnezzar’s heart

would not come easy for Nebuchadnezzar, but God would accomplish His

purpose in the life of this Babylonian leader. Here in this chapter we have a

letter that King Nebuchadnezzar wrote to all people in his empire.

Nebuchadnezzar was not someone to do something in a half-hearted way.

He wrote to show the world how the Most High God of Israel had dealt

with him (verse 2).

Nebuchadnezzar understood the God of Daniel performed great signs and

mighty wonders. His recognized that the kingdom of this God is an eternal

kingdom that would have no end. He wrote that the God of Israel ruled

from generation to generation (verse 3). Unlike the rule of Nebuchadnezzar,

this God would never die or cease to reign. In saying these things,

Nebuchadnezzar confessed that the Lord God of Israel was superior to him

and worthy of all praise and worship. This is really quite a remarkable

statement from the lips of the most powerful king on the earth.

In this chapter Nebuchadnezzar tells the story of how he was in his palace

when he had a second dream. Notice in verse 4 that Nebuchadnezzar

explained that he was contented and prosperous in his palace. He had

everything his heart could want. There was nothing lacking in his life. This

particular dream, however, terrified the king and he called on the wise men

of the kingdom to interpret the dream for him (verse 6).

These wise men were brought to the king. Among them were magicians,

enchanters, astrologers and diviners. These were the best spiritualists in the

empire, but they could not interpret the king's dream.

When everyone else had failed to interpret this dream, Daniel came to see

the king. It appears that he had not been summoned earlier with the other

wise men. We are left to wonder why Nebuchadnezzar would not call

Daniel to interpret this dream as he had the first one.

Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel chief of the magicians and knew that the

spirit of the holy gods was in him (verse 8). He expected great things of

Daniel’s God. He believed that there was not a mystery that was too

difficult for Him. The king believed that if anyone could interpret the

dream, it would be Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar told his dream to Daniel.

Nebuchadnezzar explained that when he was lying in his bed, he saw a tree

in the middle of the land. The thing he noticed about this tree was its size. It

was so big that it could be seen from the ends of the earth. The other thing

about this tree was that its leaves were beautiful, and the fruit it produced

was so abundant that it could feed everyone on the earth. Under the tree the

beasts of the field found shelter. The birds of the air lived in its branches.

Every creature on the earth depended on this tree for food.

While Nebuchadnezzar watched in his dream, he saw a holy messenger

come down from heaven with a message calling for the tree to be cut down.

The branches of the tree were to be trimmed off and its leaves stripped. Its

fruit was to be scattered. When this happened, the animals who found

shelter under its shade and the birds that rested in its branches were forced

to flee.

In his dream the king heard the messenger command that the stump and the

roots were to remain in the ground, bound with iron and bronze. All that

was left of the once glorious tree was a stump. The glory had faded and the

tree was left for dead. The stump was drenched with the dew from heaven.

It would live among the animals of the earth. Its mind would be changed

from the mind of a man to the mind of an animal for the period of "seven

times" or seven years (verse 16).

The messenger in the dream reminded the king that the decision had been

made. The verdict had been announced by messenger so that all the earth

might know that the Most High God of Israel was the sovereign God of the

nations. He gives kingdoms to whomever He wants and places whomever

He wanted over those kingdoms (verse 17).

When Nebuchadnezzar finished explaining to Daniel what he had seen and

heard, the king reminded Daniel that none of his magicians could interpret

the dream for him. He told Daniel that he had great confidence in him and

his ability to interpret this dream for him. He knew this because he

recognized that the "spirit of the holy gods" was in him. Nebuchadnezzar

spoke from his pagan perspective and not from the perspective of a Jewish

believer. In reality, Daniel had the presence of the Holy Spirit with him and

not "the spirit of the gods."

When Daniel heard the king’s dream, he was troubled in his heart for some

time (verse 19). Nebuchadnezzar noticed that Daniel's thoughts troubled

him greatly. Seeing this, Nebuchadnezzar sought to comfort Daniel and

asked him to explain the meaning of the dream.

Daniel began by telling the king that he wished that the dream applied to

one of his enemies and not to him. This was an indication of the terrible

nature of the interpretation of this dream. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that

he was the tree that grew so large and tall. As a powerful king he was

known throughout the entire earth. He prospered greatly, and many people

depended on him for their food and livelihood. Many took shelter in his

branches and shade.

As for the interpretation of the messenger’s words, Daniel told the king that

the time was coming when he would be driven away from people to live

with wild animals. He would eat grass like cattle and be drenched daily

with dew for a period of seven years. After that time he would come to

understand that the Most High is sovereign over all kings and kingdoms and

gives those kingdoms to anyone He chooses. Nebuchadnezzar was given his

kingdom by God—it was not his personal creation. The fact that the

messenger commanded that the roots remain was to show Nebuchadnezzar

that his kingdom would be restored on the day that he recognized that

“Heaven rules”. Only when Nebuchadnezzar surrendered to God would he

be set free from his bondage.

This was not an easy interpretation for Daniel to announce to the king.

Daniel revealed that the king’s pride had caused God’s judgement.

Nebuchadnezzar believed that he was the ruler of the earth. He did not

believe that he was subject to the God of Israel, a nation he had conquered.

God would humble him until he recognized that Israel’s God was the God

of heaven and earth and that everything the king had came from Him.

In verse 27 Daniel pleaded with Nebuchadnezzar to renounce his sin and do

what was right. Only if he turned from his sins could these things be

avoided. Only if he repented and did what was right could he be restored.

Daniel confronted him openly with his sin. He told him to stop oppressing

his people and be kind to them instead. These were bold words from the lips

of a captive, especially as they were directed to a king who had shown

himself to be severe to those who displeased him (see 2:12)

Twelve months later the king was walking on the roof of his palace in

Babylon. He looked out over his kingdom and his heart swelled up in pride.

"Is this not the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my

mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” he asked (verse 30).

The words were still on his lips when a voice came down from heaven:

Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be

driven away from people will live with the wild animals; you

will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until

you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the

kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes (verses

31-32).

With those words, the interpretation of Daniel was fulfilled.

Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His

hair grew long like the feathers of an eagle, and his fingernails grew long

like claws of an animal. For a period of “seven years" the king lost his

mind. There was no glory in living like a maniac with the wild animals. He

was shown clearly that, in an instant, he could lose all that he had worked

so hard to achieve.

The king’s pride was a horrible thing in the eyes of the Lord because he

failed to realize that the Lord God of Israel had given him everything he

had. He failed to understand that without God, he would have nothing.

What made this even worse was the fact that the Lord had been revealing

Himself to King Nebuchadnezzar through Daniel for some time, but he

refused to humble himself. He had many opportunities to humble himself

before the Lord and His purposes but refused to do so. He continued in his

pride and arrogance.

It was not until the Lord struck him in this way that he came to realize he

was subject to God. At the end of the appointed time that God had set for

him, Nebuchadnezzar raised his eyes to heaven and his sanity was restored.

God gave him a second chance. God could have destroyed him but decided

instead to teach him a lesson. There were several things that

Nebuchadnezzar learned in this time.

In verse 34 Nebuchadnezzar praised the Most High God and honoured Him

as the God who lived forever and whose kingdom and dominion were

eternal. He recognized that the kingdom he had called his own was really

the Lord's kingdom. Here we have the most powerful king on the surface of

the earth submitting to the Lord and recognizing that the earth was the

Lord's. This is a different attitude from the one he had when he made the

statement to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3:15: "what god

will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

Notice in verse 35 that he realized also that all people of the earth are

regarded as nothing to this God. In other words, there was no one who

could be compared to the Lord God of Israel. This God does whatever He

pleases with the earth. Everything came from Him. No one could hold back

His hand or even question what He does. He was a sovereign and all-

powerful God to whom every knee must bow.

Nebuchadnezzar had a change of heart. Notice that the moment he came to

understand this, his honour was restored. He returned to his throne and

became even greater than he was before. This time, however, there was a

change. Now he praised the King of Heaven and recognized that those who

walked in pride God is able to humble. Nebuchadnezzar saw how God hates

pride. The lesson he learned over those seven years would not be easily

forgotten.

There are several important things we need to understand in this passage.

First, we need to see how terrible pride is in God’s eyes. Pride places itself

in God’s place. It boldly proclaims that it does not need God. It was the sin

that drove Satan from heaven, and anyone else who falls into it will be led

to failure and defeat. What we need to understand here is just how much we

are dependent on God for everything. Were it not for Him, we would have

nothing at all.

There is another important lesson for us to learn here. Only when

Nebuchadnezzar recognized and confessed his sin could he be restored to

sanity and service. By learning his lesson, new and fresh blessings were

poured on him. The same is true for us as well. Only when we learn what

God is teaching us can we advance in our spiritual walk. There are

obstacles for each of us that need to be overcome before we can move on to

greater things.

For Consideration:

What does this chapter teach us about how dependent we are

on the Lord?

What do we learn about the horrible nature of the sin of

pride?

What do we learn about the patience and forgiveness of God

from this chapter?

What lessons has God been teaching you about pride?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is a sovereign God who is in control

of all things.

Ask the Lord to expose and break any area of pride in your

life?

Thank the Lord that like He did for Nebuchadnezzar, He has

often shown mercy to you and given you another chance.

Thank the Lord the while He may sometimes discipline us,

He remains in control and can take us through difficulties to

teach us what we need to learn.

5 - WRITING ON THE

WALL

Read Daniel 5:1-31

n chapter 5 we move from the life of Nebuchadnezzar to King

Belshazzar. Belshazzar was grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. A certain

time has passed here in the story. Belshazzar was the last king of

Babylon before it would be conquered by the Medes and the Persians. At

this time the end of Babylon’s glory days was very close.

Despite the fact that the enemy was pressing hard against him and his

kingdom, King Belshazzar decided to hold a great banquet. A thousand

nobles were invited to this great banquet. In verse 1 we learn that the king

drank wine with these nobles. Culturally, the king would have ordinarily

drank and eaten apart from the nobles. On this occasion, however, he put

aside common etiquette.

While the king and the nobles were drinking wine, Belshazzar gave orders

that the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the

temple in Jerusalem be brought to him. He commanded that wine be served

in these goblets to his nobles, his wives and his concubines.

The temple goblets were brought to the king as he commanded, and wine

was served from them to those at the feast. As they drank they praised the

gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone (verse 4). Notice the

number of gods they praised here. It is important to note that these

individuals dishououred the God of Israel by using goblets consecrated to

Him. Not only does Belshazzar have no concern for the common etiquette

of the day, he also has no concern or respect for the God of Israel.

As they ate and drank, the fingers of a human appeared before them and

wrote on a plaster wall near a lampstand. Verse 5 tells us that the king

watched as the hand wrote on the wall. This would lead us to believe that

the message was particularly for him. This is confirmed in verse 6 where

Daniel tells us the king’s response to the writing. His face turned pale, and

he became so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave

way. It could be that he fainted or at least fell to the floor. He was terrified

by what he saw.

King Belshazzar called for his enchanters, astrologers and diviners to see if

they could make any sense of what was written on the wall. He told the

wise men that the one who was able to interpret this writing would become

the third highest ruler in the kingdom. Historically, the first place would

have been given to the king. The second place would have been given to the

king's son. This person would be clothed in purple as a sign of royalty and

dignity and have a gold chain placed around his neck. Despite these

promises, the wise men who stood before the king could not read the

writing on the wall. The meaning of the words was hidden from them. This

made the King more afraid (verse 9).

The terror and confusion were heard in the voices of the king and his

nobles. In verse 10 the queen heard these voices and came into the banquet

hall to see what was happening. She sought to comfort the king. The queen

reminded Belshazzar about Daniel and how, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar,

he had been found to have wisdom and intelligence that was like the gods.

She told Belshazzar how Daniel had been appointed chef of the magicians,

enchanters and astrologers. She was quite confident that Daniel would be

able to read the writing and tell Belshazzar its meaning.

Belshazzar called for Daniel and he was brought before the king (verse 13).

Belshazzar told Daniel how the wise men were not able to explain the

writing on the wall. He told Daniel that if he could interpret the writing, he

would be clothed in purple, have a gold chain put on his neck, and be the

third highest ruler in the kingdom (verse 16). This would lead us to believe

that at the death of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel had lost his position.

Belshazzar may have chosen his own officials.

It is interesting to note, in this regard, that Daniel was not present with the

nobles at this celebration. It may be that this was because he no longer had

the same authority he once had. It may also be that he was not interested in

this king’s pagan celebrations.

Daniel was not interested in the king’s gifts and told him to keep his gifts

for himself and give his rewards to someone else. Daniel is not interested in

position and authority nor was he interested in selling the wisdom God had

so graciously given him.

Daniel explained to the king that the Most High God (a term that

Nebuchadnezzar used in speaking about the God of Israel), had given his

forefather Nebuchadnezzar great sovereignty, glory and splendor (verse 18).

Daniel reminded Belshazzar, however, that Nebuchadnezzar's heart became

proud and this resulted in him being stripped of his glory and splendour

(verses 20). He was driven from people and lived as an animal until the

time he willingly acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over

all kingdoms on the earth.

Daniel told Belshazzar that he had not humbled himself but had repeated

the same error. Belshazzar had openly defied the Most High God by taking

the goblets and using them to drink wine for his banquet. With these goblets

in his hands, he praised the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and

stone. “You did not honour the God who holds in His hand your life and all

your ways,” he told him in verse 23. Because Belshazzar had openly defied

the Most High God, the Lord sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

In verse 25, we see that the inscription written on the wall read: "Mene,

Mene, Tekel, Parsin." Daniel explained what these words meant. "Mene,"

Daniel told the king means "numbered." This referred to the fact that the

days of the Belshazzar’s reign were being numbered and coming to an end.

"Tekel" means "weighed." Daniel told Belshazzar that he personally had

been weighed and found wanting. He did not measure up to the standard

that God had laid out for him. "Parsin" or "Peres" meant "divided." The

kingdom was going to be divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.

True to his word, Belshazzar gave the position of third in command to

Daniel. This, of course did not mean anything because Daniel had just

prophesied that the kingdom was going to be taken by the Medes and the

Persians. The position was of no value to him or anyone else. That very

night Belshazzar was killed, and Darius the Mede took the kingdom by

force. The prophecy did not delay in coming to pass.

There are several things that should be examined in greater detail in this

chapter. We see here how God responded when those things that had been

consecrated to Him were defiled. He took this matter seriously. Our bodies

are the temple of the Holy Spirit and are considered consecrated to God. It

is important that we respect these temples.

Notice second that, as it was for Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar fell because

of his pride. He did not learn the lesson of his forefather Nebuchadnezzar.

We who have read this story and see the result of pride in the life of

Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar must learn this lesson well. Pride will

destroy us. We are warned in this chapter to flee from pride. God will judge

this sin very seriously.

Do you think it is strange that God spoke to Belshazzar here in a language

he could not understand? Why did God not simply write these words in

Belshazzar’s language? This would have avoided the need of an interpreter?

The inability to understand the writing on the wall led to Belshazzar

knowing that the God of Israel was speaking to him. None of the magicians

or enchanters of Babylon could understand the meaning of these words.

Only Daniel, the servant of the Most High God of Israel, could understand

them. This would have clearly pointed to the God of Israel as the God who

was speaking that day.

For Consideration:

What does this passage teach us about the sin of pride?

Belshazzar had not learned the lesson God had taught

Nebuchadnezzar, even though Nebuchadnezzar had written

that lesson down. Why is it so difficult for us to learn the

lessons God wants to teach us?

What does this chapter teach us about respect for God and

His ways?

Why was it significant that only Daniel could interpret the

writing on the wall? What did this prove to Belshazzar?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you a deeper understanding and respect

for His majesty and glory.

Ask the Lord to keep you from the sin of pride.

Ask the Lord to teach you the lessons He wants you to learn.

Ask Him to soften your heart so that you can learn these

lessons before it is too late.

6 - IN THE LION'S DEN

Read Daniel 6:1-28

n the last chapter we saw that king Darius the Mede conquered

Babylon. Many historians believed this happened in 539 BC.

Following this victory Darius decided to set up 120 satraps or regional

officials throughout the kingdom. Obviously, these officials were

accountable to him and carried out his decrees in these regions. Three

administrators were given responsibility over these 120 satraps. Daniel was

one of those three administrators. This was a very significant role.

Verse 3 tells us that Daniel was so skilled as an administrator that the king

planned to place him over the whole kingdom. What we need to understand

here is that Daniel was gifted by God with a gift of administration. Not only

did Daniel have the God-given ability to administer but he was also given

the gift to be able to see the direction God wanted to go. We need to see in

our day men and women who are able to hear from God and who have the

skills necessary to carry those plans through to completion.

Not everyone was pleased with Daniel’s authority. Satan was successful in

making certain satraps and administrators jealous of Daniel. These

individuals sought to find grounds to lay charges against him in the way he

conducted the affairs of government. They were, however, unable to find

any fault with him in this matter. In all things, Daniel proved to be

completely trustworthy and faithful. They could find neither corruption in

him nor any areas of his work where he was being negligent. This is a real

example for us in our own work and ministry.

Frustrated in their search, these men decided that they would not find

anything against Daniel unless it was something to do with his God (verse

5). Knowing that Daniel was a man of God, they determined that they

would seek a way to discredit him before the king in regards to his faith.

In verse 6 the administrators and the satraps went to the king and told him

that they had decided to honour him by suggesting that for a period of thirty

days, no one was to pray to any god except the king. If anyone prayed to

another god, they were to be thrown into a lions’ den. They did this under

the guise of showing their devotion to the king. In verse 8 they asked the

king to issue a decree by putting this law in writing and sealing it so that it

could not be repealed. The king agreed with them and put the law in

writing. We understand historically that when a law of the Medes and

Persians was made official it could not be changed, even by the king.

When Daniel learned of the decree, he went upstairs in his room where the

windows faced Jerusalem, got on his knees, and prayed as was his custom

(verse 10). He refused to stop praying to his God. He refused even to pray

in secret. Daniel prayed openly where all could see him, as he had always

done. He did not fear what the satraps and administrators would do to him.

With such terrible evil in the hearts of the government officials, this

kingdom needed Daniel’s prayers.

This was what the administrators and the satraps were waiting for. They

found Daniel praying and "asking God for help" (verse 11). While the

passage does not clearly tell us why he was asking for help, we can be

relatively sure that it related to the present situation and the decree of the

king. We find in this verse the secret to the success Daniel had been

experiencing: he brought all matters to the Lord. He saw it as part of his

duty to spend three times a day praying and seeking God’s wisdom and

blessing on his work and ministry.

Having found Daniel praying, the administrators and satraps went to the

king and told him what had happened. They informed him that Daniel did

acknowledge the decree of the king but continued to pray three times a day

to the God of Israel. When the king heard this, he was greatly distress and

determined to rescue Daniel (verse 14). This shows us the respect he had

for Daniel. Darius tried until sundown to find a way of rescuing Daniel

from the consequences of this new law. The administrators and satraps

continued to pressure the king to throw Daniel into the lions’ den. They

reminded him that the law could not be changed. The king was forced to

give the order that Daniel be thrown into the lions’ den. As they threw

Daniel into the pit the king said to him: "May your God, whom you serve

continually, rescue you" (verse 16). The king had a deep respect for Daniel

not only because of his work but also because of his tremendous faith.

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed

it with his own signet ring so that it could not be opened. The nobles also

placed the mark of their rings on the den to show their support of the king's

decision. No one would dare to touch that stone on pain of death.

That night the king did not sleep. He refused to eat and went the night

without any entertainment being brought to him. His heart was broken by

what he had done. At the first light of day, the king got up and hurried to the

lion's den. This act indicated that he may have believed it was possible that

the God of Israel could well rescue Daniel from these lions. He hoped that

this was the case. When he approached the den, he called out to Daniel:

"Has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from

these lions?" (verse 20).

From the den the voice of Daniel replied:

O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and he shut the

mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was

found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong

before you, O king (verses 21-22).

Daniel was protected by the power of God. We can only imagine what it

was like for Daniel to know the presence and fellowship of that angel with

those hungry lions all around him.

Notice the response of the king in verse 23. He was overjoyed. He ordered

that Daniel be taken up out of the den. There was not even a scratch on him.

Notice the reason why there was no scratch on him. Notice that the reason

for this was because he trusted in the Lord. That trust came when he

willingly persisted in praying despite the command of the king. It was his

trust in the Lord that kept the mouths of the lions closed. God honoured him

because he honoured God.

When Daniel was brought out of the den, the king commanded that the men

who had accused him be thrown into the den with their wives and children.

Verse 24 tells us that before their bodies reached the floor of the den, the

lions overpowered them and crushed their bones. This demonstrated to all

present that Daniel was truly protected by God and was His servant.

After this incident, King Darius wrote to all people, languages and nations

in his kingdom. In this letter he issued a decree that people were to fear the

God of Daniel. He publicly declared that the God of Daniel was the living

God whose kingdom would never be destroyed. This phrase reminds us of

the dream of Nebuchadnezzar that told of a kingdom made without human

hands that would endure forever (see 2:44-45). Darius proclaims that the

God of Daniel would reign forever.

For He is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will

not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he

saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the

earth (verses 26-27)

He rescued Daniel from the mouths of the lions and proved that He is God

of all. This sign from God seemed to have a powerful impact on Darius.

Verse 28 tells us that Daniel prospered during the reign of both Darius and

Cyrus of Persia. His faithfulness to God brought tremendous blessing on the

nations he served.

For Consideration:

What is the connection between Daniel's faithfulness to the

Lord and his enemies’ desire to attack him?

Take a moment to consider your own life. Have you been

faithful and trustworthy? Does the Lord need to do some

work on you in any particular area of your life?

Would you have the boldness of Daniel to stand firm if a

similar situation took place in your life?

What does this passage teach us about the protection of the

Lord on the lives of his servants?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give us more leaders like Daniel in our

governments and church.

Ask the Lord to give you a heart to pray like Daniel for the

wisdom and guidance necessary for your ministry and

personal life.

Thank the Lord that He is faithful to us and will protect and

keep us in His purposes.

Ask God to give you the boldness and faithfulness of Daniel.

7 - THE FOUR BEASTS

Read Daniel 7:1-28

hroughout history God has used many different ways to speak to

His people. In the case of Daniel, God used prophetic dreams and

visions and gave Daniel a particular gift to interpret them. The

dreams and visions that Daniel had were very complicated and needed

much interpretation. Through these revelations the Lord taught him about

the things that would come to pass.

The first of these visions is recorded in chapter 7. Daniel received this

vision in the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon. This places chapter 7

before chapters 5 and 6 in time since chapter 6 recounts the story of

Belshazzar’s death.

In his vision Daniel saw the winds of heaven churning up a great sea. The

winds of the north, south, east and west were all causing a great turmoil.

The sea possibly represents the world. It is important to note that these

winds were from heaven. This would indicate that they were some form of

judgement on the earth. These winds seemed to act against each other. As

they blew from different directions, the sea was tossed with great violence.

Daniel saw four different beasts come up from the turbulent sea. It was as if

these beasts had been buried in the depth of the sea, and the winds had

aroused them, releasing them from their prison. What is important for us to

understand is that these beasts were released as a result of the winds from

heaven. In other words, it was the sovereign plan and purpose of God to

release them. You can be assured the Lord remains in complete control of

what was happening on this earth.

Each of the beasts was different in appearance. The first beast was like a

lion but had the wings of an eagle. The wings of this lion were torn off, and

it was standing on its two back feet. It was also given the heart of a man.

Who is this lion and what does it represent?

There are several important details that we need to understand about this

vision before we continue. Many commentators see a similarity between the

vision that Nebuchadnezzar had of the great statue in verse 2 and Daniel's

vision in chapter 7. In the dream of chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar saw a statue

with four parts: a gold head, a silver chest and arms, a bronze belly and

thighs, and iron legs and feet. In the vision of chapter 7, Daniel saw four

beasts. This similarity cannot go unnoticed. In chapter 2, Daniel explains

that the gold head of the statue was King Nebuchadnezzar. It seems quite

clear that the first beast that came out of the sea here in this vision is also

Nebuchadnezzar. There are several reasons for this.

The lion represented the king of the beasts. The eagle also was a very

majestic bird and is considered to be the king of the birds. Nebuchadnezzar

was a very powerful ruler in his day. The nations of the earth were subject

to him. Notice in verse 4 that the wings of the lion were torn off. This great

lion in some way experienced a great humbling. Nebuchadnezzar clearly

experienced this humbling when his pride led to the judgement of God in

his life. His sanity was taken from him and he was stripped of his "wings"

and left to live with the animals of the field. Notice in verse 4, however, that

after the tearing off of his wings, the lion was lifted up on two feet and

given the heart of a man. This is exactly what happened to Nebuchadnezzar.

When the time of his judgement was over he was given back his sanity. He

returned to living among humans and was restored to power and authority

again, though he never had the power he once knew.

The second beast Daniel saw looked like a bear (verse 5). The bear is not as

majestic as the lion but still very powerful. This second beast may

correspond to the second kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2.

Notice that the bear rose up on one of its sides and had three ribs in its

mouth. The fact that these ribs were between the teeth of this bear is

significant. It indicates that whomever the ribs belonged to had been

conquered by the bear. Many commentators see the bear to be the nation of

the Medes and the Persians who were ruling in the days of Daniel. If this is

the case, then the ribs are the kingdoms that the Medes and the Persians

conquered: Media, Lydia, Babylonia. This bear was told to rise and eat his

fill of flesh. Medo-Persia was a very cruel kingdom and did conquer and

destroy many nations.

In verse 6 Daniel saw a third beast rising up out of the sea. This beast was

like a leopard. It had four wings on his back, like a bird. It had four heads

and was given authority to rule. It is generally believed that this leopard,

which was not quite as majestic as the lion represented the nation of Greece

under Alexander the Great who conquered the Medes and the Persians to

become the next great world power. It is important to note, historically, after

the death of Alexander the Great, his kingdom was divided into four parts

(323 B.C.). The regions of Macedon and Greece were handed to a ruler by

the name of Cassander. Thrace and Bithynia were led by Lysimacus.

Ptolemy governed the region of Egypt. Finally, Seleucus was given

authority over the region of Asia and Palestine. These four heads may very

well represent these four leaders who were given authority to rule over the

Greek Empire following the death of Alexander the Great.

The fourth beast was the most terrifying of all the beasts. It had large iron

teeth and crushed, devoured and trampled its victims underfoot. This beast

was different from the others and Daniel noticed that it had ten horns (verse

7). As he looked at these horns he saw a little horn grow out, uprooting

three of the first horns. This horn seemed to speak out boastfully.

There are many similarities between the fourth nation of Nebuchadnezzar's

dream of the statue in chapter 2 and this fourth beast. Let’s consider them

here. Daniel 2:40-41 says this:

Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron

breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to

pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw

that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of

iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of

the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay.

Notice here that this fourth kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar's statue in chapter

2 was a kingdom of iron. Daniel's beast in chapter 7 had teeth of iron. In

Nebuchadnezzar's dream in chapter 2 this fourth kingdom would smash and

break many nations. This is what Daniel saw in his vision in chapter 7. This

fourth beast would trample and devour. More than the other kingdoms, this

kingdom would be very violent. This seemed to strike a fear in the heart of

Daniel.

This fourth beast is not clearly described. It is generally understood to

represent Rome, which was the next great world power after Greece. It is

interesting to note that Daniel saw 10 horns on this beast representing

different leaders of in this great empire. The feet of Nebuchadnezzar's

statue had ten toes, possibly representing these same leaders as the ten

horns on the beast of Daniel’s vision. It is quite difficult to speculate as to

the identity of these ten leaders. It seems even more difficult to speculate as

to the exact identity of the small horn that boasted.

After the fourth beast Daniel saw thrones being set in place. As he watched,

the "Ancient of Days" took His place. Daniel describes Him as being

clothed in white with hair as white as wool. The colour white is a symbol of

purity. This being was absolutely pure. He sat on a throne that was a

flaming fire. There were blazing wheels on this throne. The fire may very

well represent the holiness of this being who sat on the throne. He was

surrounded by holy fire. The term "Ancient of Days" can really only be

applied to God.

In verse 10 Daniel saw a river of fire flowing out from the Ancient of Days

who sat on the throne. This river of fire could represent a purifying and

judging fire that flowed throughout the world. The Ancient of Days was

surrounded by thousands and thousands of people who served Him. Beyond

this there were millions of people who stood before Him. Books were

opened before the Ancient of Days as He sat on His throne. The scene is

like that of a courtroom.

As Daniel watched he heard the boastful horn utter terrible words. This

horn was not threatened by what was happening before him. Daniel

watched until the beast with the ten horns was slain and its body destroyed

by blazing fire. God's judgement fell first on the nation that had been such a

terror to the earth. Rome would fall and be destroyed. That little horn

resisted to the end with its boasting and blasphemous words but was

eventually destroyed and cast into the fire of God's judgement. As for the

first three beasts, they were stripped of their authority but allowed to live

for a time (verse 12).

In verse 13, Daniel told his readers that as he watched he saw one like the

son of man coming in the clouds of heaven. The son of man approached the

Ancient of Days and was given great authority, glory and power over all

people. People of every language worshipped Him and He set up an

everlasting kingdom that would never be destroyed. Again, it is interesting

to compare Nebuchadnezzar’s vision in chapter 2 with the vision of chapter

7. In chapter 2 a great rock was formed with hands that were not human.

That rock came and crushed the statue. The rock represented an eternal

spiritual kingdom, not made with human hands that would never be

destroyed (see 2:44-45). In a similar way, in chapter 7 the son of man was

seen setting up His kingdom. It would be a kingdom that would never be

destroyed. The Lord Jesus, the Son of Man, would receive this glorious

kingdom from the Father (the Ancient of Days). The Lord Jesus would

come during the days of the Roman Empire to set up His kingdom not made

with human hands.

As Daniel watched this vision unfold before him, he was troubled in his

spirit. In verse 16 he told his readers that in his vision he approached “one

of those standing there” and asked him to explain the meaning of the vision.

The interpreter gave Daniel a very basic understanding of the vision. He

told Daniel that the four beasts were four kingdoms that would rise from the

earth. We have already said that they may have represented the world

kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. The kingdom that

was set up by the Son of Man, however, would be a kingdom that the saints

of the Most High God would receive. This kingdom would last forever

(verse 18).

Daniel was concerned about the fourth beast and what that beast

represented. This beast was particularly troubling for Daniel. If this fourth

beast represents Rome, it is understandable why Daniel would be so

troubled by it. Under this kingdom many believers would be killed.

Historically, in the Roman Empire those called themselves Christian would

be cast to the lions and devoured as sport for the entertainment of the

Roman emperors. It is said that one such emperor used the burning bodies

of Christians to light his gardens. It would be the Romans who would

crucify the Lord Jesus. Could it be that Daniel was sensing some of these

terrible events in this vision? It is clear that he understood that this empire

would crush and devour many victims (verse 19).

Daniel also asked for an explanation of the ten horns and the other horn that

grew up whose mouth spoke with terrible boasting. This boasting horn

troubled him because he saw it waging war on the saints and defeating

many of them (verse 21). This terrible persecution continued until the

Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgement on this nation and

established His own kingdom.

Daniel's interpreter told him that the fourth beast was a nation that would do

tremendous damage to the earth. The ten horns were kings of that kingdom

that would arise (verse 24). After those ten kings, another would arise who

was different from them. He would subdue three kings and speak out boldly

against the Most High God. In particular he would oppress the saints.

During this time the saints would be handed over to him for "a time, times

and a half time." Many commentators see a time to represent a year.

"Times" is understood to be two years. If this is the case, the saints would

be handed over to this evil tyrant for a period of three and a half years. At

the end of that time, the court of heaven would sit, and power would be

taken from this oppressor. When that took place all the kingdoms of the

earth would be handed over to the saints of the Most High God. His

kingdom would be established and all rulers would worship and obey Him

(verse 27).

The interpreter’s explanation of the fourth beast leaves us still somewhat

confused. There is an element of this vision that seemed to be accomplished

in the Roman Empire with its intense persecution of Christians and its

ultimate downfall. There is, however, another aspect to this fourth beast that

does not yet seem to be fulfilled.

There are many similarities between what Daniel saw in his vision and what

the apostle John saw in the book of Revelation. Like the vision of Daniel,

the apostle John saw a beast that had ten horns that spoke blasphemies and

was allowed to persecute believers for a time. We read in Revelation 17:3-

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert.

There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered

with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was

glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a

golden cup in her hand filled with abominable things and the

filth of adulteries. This title was written on her forehead:

Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and of the

abominations of the earth.

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints,

the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her,

I was greatly astonished.”

The apostle John also spoke about a period of three and a half years of

persecution in Revelation 11:1-2:

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and

measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the

worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure

it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample

on the holy city for 42 months.

Forty-two months is equal to three and a half years. John told his readers

that for a period of three and a half years Gentiles would trample the holy

city. This same thought is repeated in Revelation 13:5-7.

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and

blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.

He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his

name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He

was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer

them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people,

language and nation.

This passage in Revelation is even more specific. John spoke like Daniel of

a beast who would blaspheme the Lord God and persecute believers for

forty-two months or three and a half years. These similarities cannot be

ignored. While some of Daniel's prophecy may have been fulfilled in the

years that followed immediately after the prophecy, there seems yet to be a

fulfillment of this prophecy to come. We will yet see a major persecution of

the church in the days of the end. This persecution will be short-lived and

measured by God. Daniel reminded his readers in verse 13 that he did see

the Son of Man coming in the cloud to deal with the enemy once and for all.

While we will yet have to face difficult days as believers, we can be assured

of one thing—God is in control. He will win the battle.

Chapter 7 concluded by reminding its readers that when Daniel saw this

vision he was deeply troubled in his spirit. His face was pale from fear and

terror at what was going to happen. For some time he kept this vision to

himself and did not share it with anyone.

It is amazing to see how Daniel’s vision saw its fulfillment. He prophesied

of the coming of the Medo-Persia Empire, the Greek Empire and the

Roman Empire. He saw also the establishment of the Kingdom of God in

the hearts of men and women after the coming of the Lord Jesus in the days

of the Roman Empire.

For Consideration:

What does this chapter teach us about the control of God over

world affairs?

This chapter seems to tell us that the days of the end will be

trying days? Would you be ready to face these days?

Daniel describes in some detail here the world powers that

would come into being in the years that followed his death.

What comfort do you take in the fact that God knows all that

is going to come to pass?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He does reveal things to His servants so

that we can be ready to face what He has planned.

Ask the Lord to strengthen you to face any persecution that

you may personally endure.

Thank the Lord that He already knows the end. Praise Him

that He is an all-knowing and all-powerful God.

8 - THE RAM AND THE

GOAT

Read Daniel 8:1-27

e have here in chapter 8 the second recorded vision of the

prophet Daniel. This vision occurred in the second year of

Belshazzar, king of Babylon. This was two years after the one

recorded in chapter 7.

In this second vision, Daniel saw himself in the royal palace of Susa in the

province of Elam. Susa was a major city of the Medo-Persian Empire and

was located about 250 miles (400 kilometers) east of Babylon (see Esther

1:2; Nehemiah 1:1). Daniel saw himself by the Ulai Canal.

In his vision, Daniel saw a ram with two horns. The ram was standing by

the canal. Daniel noticed that one of the ram's horns was longer than the

other. The shorter horn would later grow. We discover in verse 20 that the

ram represented the empire of the Medes and the Persians. One horn very

likely represented the Medes and the other, the Persians. Commentators

believe that the shorter horn represented the Persians who would increase in

power in the later part of this empire under Cyrus.

Daniel watched the ram as he charged toward the west, the north and the

south. As the ram charged, no animal could stand in his way. No one could

rescue those it conquered. The ram did whatever he pleased and became a

great power on the earth. Historically, this was what the Medes and the

Persians did. Particularly under Cyrus, this empire expanded its borders by

conquest to the west, north, and south (see Isaiah 45:1-7, which was

prophesied some 150 years earlier).

In verse 5 Daniel told his readers that in the vision he saw a goat with a

very prominent horn between its eyes. This goat came from the west and

crossed the whole earth without touching the ground. It was as if the goat

was being carried by some external force. In this case, we can assume that

this was the power of the Lord who was working out His purposes on the

earth. This goat approached the two-horned ram by the canal and charged at

it with great rage. Daniel saw the goat attack the ram and strike shattering

its horns. The ram with the two horns was powerless against the attack and

was knocked to the ground where it was trampled. We understand that this

goat was the nation of Greece, the next great world power. Historians tell us

that under Alexander the Great the Greeks attacked and quickly defeated

the empire of the Medes and the Persians around 334 BC.

Daniel told his readers in verse 8 that the goat became very great but at the

height of its power, his large horn was broken off and replaced by four other

horns. Historically, at the height of his power, Alexander the Great died

suddenly, and his kingdom was divided into four parts. Seleucus was given

the eastern part of the kingdom (Babylon and Media); Cassander governed

the western regions of Macedon, Thessaly and Greece; Ptolemy ruled over

Egypt; and Lysimachus governed the northern regions of Thrace,

Cappadocia and northern Asia Minor. This appears to be what Daniel saw

in his vision. It is quite amazing how God revealed the details of these

events to Daniel well before they came to pass.

Out of these four horns came another horn that started out very small but

grew in power to the south, east and toward the "Beautiful Land” (verse 9).

This horn continued to grow until it reached the heavens. As Daniel

watched, this little horn threw some of the stars down to the earth and

trampled on them. It set itself up to be as great as the "Prince of the host"

and took away the daily sacrifice from him. The sanctuary of the Prince of

the host was brought low under this horn. Many saints were given over to

this horn and it prospered over them. During those days truth was thrown to

the ground (verse 12).

Again it is important to examine what happened historically to interpret this

prophecy. This little horn is clearly identified with Greece. Historically

Greece produced a ruler by the name of Antiochus Epiphanes. He wanted to

see the worship of Zeus established in his kingdom. He sought to establish

this worship in Jerusalem as well. It is said that Antiochus Epiphanes

identified himself with Zeus the lord of all Greek gods, and wanted to make

worship of himself universal throughout his entire kingdom. It appears that

he became so crazed in this effort that he was called "Epimanes" (mad man)

instead of "Epiphanes." He was the first of all the world leaders to actually

seek to root out the worship of Jehovah in Jerusalem. It is said that he

became so enraged at the Jewish population that he sought to destroy them

as a nation. He was successful in trampling on the people of God and took

away the worship of Jehovah for a period of three and a half years. It is

quite easy to see that this particular Greek ruler could be the initial

fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy.

As Daniel watched what was happening in his vision he heard a voices of

two holy ones speaking (possibly angels). One asked the other how long it

would take for the vision to be fulfilled (verse 13). The other told him that it

would take 2300 evenings and mornings before the sanctuary would be re-

consecrated after being desecrated by this terrible leader. However we

interpret these twenty-three hundred days, what is important for us to note

here is that this time of trampling would not go on forever. The Lord would

step in and restore His people. God will not hand His people over to the

enemy forever. He will not forget His own.

As Daniel watched this vision unfold, he saw someone standing before him

who looked like a man. He listened and heard a voice from the Ulai Canal.

The voice cried out: "Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision"

(verse 16). We understand from other Scripture that the angel Gabriel

announced both the birth of John the Baptist and the birth of the Lord Jesus

(Luke 1:19, 26). As Gabriel approached, Daniel was terrified and fell

prostrate on the ground. Obviously, there was something very majestic

about his presence. Gabriel announced that he had come to tell Daniel the

meaning of the vision. Verse 18 tells us that Daniel was in a deep sleep

while Gabriel spoke to him. As Gabriel spoke, he touched Daniel and raised

him to his feet. It could be that he was trying to express that he was not to

be worshipped because he was merely an angel. Daniel stood before him

instead of bowing down.

Gabriel told Daniel that the vision he had received concerned the time that

was to come, “the appointed time of the end” (verse 19). He told Daniel

clearly that the two-horned ram represented the kings of Media and Persia

(verse 20). The goat that attacked this ram was Greece. The horn between

his eyes was their first king. The four horns that replaced the one larger one

were four kingdoms that would emerge from the nation of Greece. They

would not have the same power as the first. In the latter part of their reign,

when rebellion and wickedness had matured in the land, a "stern-faced

king" would arise. This king would become very powerful and strong and

would succeed in causing terrible devastation. He would destroy mighty

men and the holy people. We spoke of him as Antiochus Epiphanes.

Gabriel told Daniel that this terrible leader would consider himself superior

to all others. In the case of Antiochus Epiphanes, he believed himself to be

god. This great king would even take a stand against the Prince of princes,

the God of Israel. Gabriel told Daniel, however, that this king would die an

unnatural death. He would be killed but not by human hands. Historically,

Antiochus Epiphanes died when he was on his way to Judea to seek revenge

on God’s people. His death was terrible—he died as a result of an

infestation of worms and ulcers.

Some commentators see a parallel between Antiochus Epiphanes and

another fierce leader predicted in New Testament passages (Mathew 24:15-

24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13:1-10). Therefore, many believe

that this passage in Daniel has a double fulfillment—one in Antiochus

Epiphanes and one in the Antichrist who is yet to come.

On seeing this vision, Daniel was exhausted and lay ill for several days. He

found the vision very difficult to understand. Why would God allow such

terrible things to happen to His people? Gabriel told him in verse 26 to seal

up this vision. This did not necessarily mean to shut it up in secrecy but to

preserve its truth.

There is a very clear sense here that there would be difficult days coming

for the people of God. For a time they would be handed over to their

enemies. Many would lose their lives, and persecution would break out in

the land.

This was true of the days of Israel under Grecian domination and later

Roman domination, and it will also be true in the days of the end of time.

The apostle John saw into the future and prophesied that the day would

come when a beast would be given authority over the saints for a time

(Revelation 13:7). Like Antiochus Epiphanes, he would call all the

inhabitants of the earth to worship him. Many would lose their lives

because they would not bow the knee.

There are times to come when being a believer will be enough to bring a

sentence of death. Will you be ready to face this level of persecution? Many

of our brothers and sisters around the world are already facing this kind of

opposition. Daniel prophesied that a terrible ruler would wage war on the

saints during Old Testament times. The apostle John saw the same thing for

those living in New Testament times. May God give us the courage and

devotion to Him when persecution comes our way.

For Consideration:

Are you ready to face the level of persecution that this

chapter in Daniel describes?

What encouragement do you receive from this chapter

realizing that God already knows how things on this earth

will unfold?

What do we learn here about God’s control over all the

politics of Daniel’s day?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you strength to face the opposition that

you are facing even now in your life.

Ask the Lord to raise up a people who are not afraid to stand

up for Him.

Thank the Lord that He is a sovereign God who rules over all.

9 - DANIEL'S PRAYER

Read Daniel 9:1-27

any years have passed since the capture and exile of the people

of God to Babylon. At the death of Belshazzar, Darius the

Mede was given the territory of Babylon to rule as viceroy. The

time of this chapter is the first year of Darius, placing the date around 537

BC. This would also place this chapter very close to the declaration of

Cyrus that allowed the Jews to return home to Israel after 70 years of exile.

It was in this first year of Darius that Daniel was reading his Scriptures and

discovered that Jeremiah the prophet had prophesied that the desolation

(exile) of Jerusalem would last for seventy years (see Jeremiah 25:8-12;

29:10). Daniel realized that this meant the Israelite exile would end very

shortly. We can only imagine how excited Daniel must have been at this

discovery. It almost appears that this truth had been hidden from him in the

pages of Scripture until the appropriate time.

Notice Daniel's response to this prophecy. In verse 3 Daniel went to the

Lord and pleaded with Him in prayer and fasting. He put ashes on himself

and dressed in sackcloth. Notice what Daniel prayed. He recognized God is

awesome and keeps His covenant of love with all who loved and obeyed

Him (verse 4). He confessed that his people they had done wrong and

rebelled against their God by refusing to obey His commands. God’s people

had refused to listen to the prophets who had been sent to them to warn

them of their ongoing rebellion (verse 6).

In verse 7 Daniel recognized that the Lord had scattered Israel throughout

the nations because of their sin and rebellion. Israel was in shame. Daniel

knew God to be merciful and forgiving (verse 9). The people of Israel

deserved the punishment they had received because they had turned from

God and His ways. They had been warned by Moses that if they turned

from the law of the Lord, then His curse would fall on them (see

Deuteronomy 28:15-46). The words spoken by Moses had come to pass in

Daniel’s day. Their rebellion and disobedience had caused the loss of

everything they had. The blessing of God was stripped from them. Because

they turned away from His law, the Lord brought terrible disaster on them

as a people.

Daniel recognized that his people were suffering the consequences of their

sin. He confessed the sins of his people to God. Having done this, Daniel

reminded the Lord of how he had brought His people up out of Egypt and

made a name from Himself. In verse 16 Daniel pleaded with God to turn

His anger and wrath from Jerusalem. He petitioned God to look down in

favour on His people for His own name sake. He cried out for the city of

Jerusalem. He asked God to see its desolation and have pity on it.

Daniel was not making this request because God’s people were righteous

and deserving of this favour from God (verse 18). The fact was that the

Israelites in exile had the same heart as their ancestors. Daniel did not come

to God on the basis of Israel’s righteousness but rather on the basis of God’s

great mercy.

This is a very powerful insight and one we all need to understand. How

often have we failed to ask of God because we did not feel worthy? How

often have we hesitated to ask for greater things of God because we did not

feel that we were spiritual enough to merit such blessings? Are we not

guilty of coming to God on the basis of our self-righteousness and not on

the basis of His mercy?

Daniel understood what we need to understand. None of us can come to

God on the basis of our righteousness. Every single one of us must come to

Him on the basis of His mercy to ask for those things we do not deserve.

Daniel came boldly to ask God for mercy and favour that was undeserved

on the part of God's people.

In his prayer Daniel asked the Lord to act for the sake of His name (verse

19). He pleaded with God not to delay answering for the sake of the city

that bore His name. In reality, he was asking that the prophecy of Jeremiah

be accomplished as the Lord had promised. He pleaded with God for the

rebuilding and re-establishment of the great city of Jerusalem.

What we need to understand here is that the faith of Daniel is stirred by the

Word he read in the prophecy of Jeremiah. This stirring up of faith caused

him to plead with God in prayer and fasting. Before God caused His people

to return to their homeland He stirred Daniel to pray. God seems to begin

many of His powerful works by prayer. It is absolutely amazing to see how

when Cyrus came to power less than a year after Daniel began to pray, he

opened the door for the people of God to return to their homeland. Cyrus

also restored the temple furnishings and paid much of the expenses out of

his own pocket. We might say that this was the direct result of Daniel’s

prayer in this chapter.

As Daniel prayed for Jerusalem and confessed his sin and the sin of his

people, the angel Gabriel appeared to him (verse 21). Gabriel came to give

him insight and understanding. He told Daniel in verse 23 that as soon as he

began to pray, an answer was given. Daniel was still praying but the answer

had already come.

Gabriel was sent with a message to Daniel about future events for God’s

people. He told Daniel that “seventy sevens” were decreed for his people

and the holy city to atone for its sin and wickedness and bring in everlasting

righteousness (verse 24). This period of seventy sevens would fulfill God’s

plan and anoint the Most High. Commentators generally agree here that the

seventy sevens represent a period of four hundred and ninety years (seventy

times seven). Daniel is told that within this period of time, the sins of God's

people would be atoned, prophecy would be accomplished and everlasting

righteousness established on the earth. Within this period of time, God

would send his Son to the earth. The Lord Jesus would come some 490

years after Gabriel made this proclamation. He would fulfill all the

prophecies about the Messiah and bring everlasting righteousness through

His death on the cross.

In verses 25-27 Gabriel explained to Daniel that from the issuing of the

decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Anointed One,

there would be seven sevens and sixty-two sevens, a total of sixty-nine

sevens or 483 years. Gabriel went on to describe various things that would

happen during this period. The first seven sevens (or forty-nine years)

represented a time when the temple would be built.

In the period of the next sixty-two sevens (434 years) the city of Jerusalem

would be inhabited. Gabriel told Daniel that times in this rebuilt city would

be times of trouble (verse 25). Historically, in the years following the

rebuilding of the city and temple, there would be cycles of intense

persecution of the Jews under Greece and then Rome.

Gabriel told Daniel in verse 26 that after these times were completed, the

Anointed One (the Lord Jesus) would be killed, and it would appear that the

Anointed One had accomplished nothing. Historically, this is what the

disciples thought when the Lord Jesus died. They failed to understand the

significance of what He had accomplished in His death. In the days

following the death of the Messiah, a ruler would destroy both the temple

and the city of Jerusalem. Historically, Jerusalem would be destroyed

around 70 AD. War and desolations were decreed for the Jewish nation

until the end. We have certainly seen this in the history of the Jewish nation

even to our day.

In verse 27 Gabriel told Daniel about a final set of seven. This final seven

years would take place after the death of the Messiah. During that time a

leader would arise who would make a covenant with God's people but

would break that covenant and put an end to sacrifice and offering in the

temple. He would also set up an abomination in the temple (verse 27).

There would be desolations from that period until God brought it to an end.

Historically by the year 70 AD Rome destroyed the temple in Jerusalem.

While the evil ruler that lead this persecution against the Jews would

accomplish much evil, he would be held accountable by God and judged for

his evil deeds.

The prophecy of Daniel may have had partial fulfillment in the desecration

of the temple during the time of the Romans but a comparison of this

prophecy with Revelation 13 and John's revelation about the Antichrist

shows striking similarities. It is possible that Daniel also looked forward to

the events John predicted in his prophecy.

Difficult times were coming for God's people. The Messiah who was

promised would die. Jerusalem would again be destroyed. The temple

would be ravaged. Daniel was told in advance how all these things would

happen so that when they did happen, his people would know that God was

in control.

For Consideration:

What does this chapter teach us about how God calls people

to pray when He wants to do a mighty work?

What connection is there between Daniel's prayer and the

ease in which the people of God were to return to their

homeland under Cyrus (see Ezra 1:1-4)?

What do you think God's people learned in their time of

exile? Do we learn from the discipline of the Lord in our

lives?

What encouragement do you find in the fact that God

described very particularly all the events that would take

place up to the days of the Messiah? What does this teach us

about God?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to enable you to be sensitive to the times He is

calling you to pray.

Thank the Lord that we can come to Him on the basis of His

mercy. Thank Him that we do not have to come to Him on

the basis of our own righteousness.

Ask the Lord to give you strength to face the persecution and

opposition that may come your way because you are a

believer.

Thank the Lord that He is in control of the future.

Ask the Lord to teach you the lessons you need to learn so

that you do not fall back into the same sins.

10 - MICHAEL AND THE

PERSIANS

Read Daniel 10:1-21

n chapter 10 Daniel meet Michael the angel and we are introduced to

the spiritual dimension involved in world government. This is an

aspect to world history we do not see or hear much about in our day

but it is very real.

Daniel placed the revelation of this chapter in the third year of Cyrus king

of Persia. According to Ezra 1:1, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus to

allow the children of Israel to return to their homeland. In chapter 9 we saw

how Daniel had realized this in the prophecy of Jeremiah and had prayed to

this end. Several years had passed, and some of the Jewish exiles had

returned to Jerusalem and were in the process of rebuilding the city and

temple. Not everyone returned to Jerusalem at once. It appears that Daniel

remained in exile. If we understand that Daniel was an adolescent when he

captured, that he had spent seventy years in exile, and that this chapter

opens in the third year of Cyrus, this would place Daniel well into his

eighties at this point in time.

Notice in verse 2 that at the time of this vision, Daniel had been mourning

for three weeks. We are not told why Daniel had been mourning but during

these three weeks Daniel fasted and did not anoint himself with lotion. In

reality he was doing without the luxuries of life because he had a deep

burden on his heart. In Jerusalem at this time, the people of God were

meeting with opposition from their neighbors who were trying to hinder the

rebuilding of the city (see Ezra 4:1-5). It could be that Daniel had received

news of this and was praying and fasting for a breakthrough in the lives of

his people in Jerusalem.

It was on the twenty-fourth day of the first month that Daniel was standing

on the bank of the Tigris River in Babylon. As he looked up, he saw a man

dressed in linen with a fine gold belt around his waist, marking him as a

person of dignity. Daniel noticed that his body was clear like chrysolite. In

other words, his body resembled a transparent green jewel. Daniel

compared his face to lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches, and his

legs and arms were as shining as polished bronze. When he spoke it was as

loud as a multitude of voices combined into one. Obviously, this figure

standing before him was awesome and majestic. There were other people

with Daniel when he saw this vision, but Daniel was the only one to see this

man. The people with him, however, knew that something astounding was

happening in their midst and they were terrified.

The people with Daniel were so terrified that they ran away and hid leaving

Daniel by himself (verse 8). For Daniel the sight of this man in the vision

was so awesome that his face turned deathly pale. He was left helpless

(possibly unable to move or respond).

This man spoke to Daniel and Daniel fell into a deep sleep with his face to

the ground (verse 9). This would not have been a natural sleep. Did Daniel

faint? Was he physically unconscious still seeing the vision? The face to the

ground is a posture of respect.

We are not told how long Daniel lay on the ground, but, eventually he felt a

hand touch him and lift him up. His body trembled as he remained on his

knees. A voice spoke to him: "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,

consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you and stand up for I

have now been sent to you” (verse 11). Daniel rose to his feet still

trembling.

As Daniel stood trembling, the man told him not to be afraid. He told

Daniel that from the first day that he set his mind to gain understanding and

to humble himself before the Lord, God had heard his prayers. The man

told Daniel that he had come in response to those prayers (verse 12).

What is particularly interesting here is that the heavenly being told Daniel

that he had been held back or resisted for twenty-one days by the prince of

the Persian kingdom (verse 13). We are led to believe that he would have

come to Daniel sooner, but the prince of Persia kept him back. This verse

raises several important questions.

What is the identity of the prince of Persia? This prince had resisted the

heavenly being that stood before Daniel. It would appear from this that the

prince of Persia was some sort of demonic spirit who was over the region of

Persia to carry out Satan’s desires. It was this demonic spirit that resisted

the angel or heavenly being that had come to Daniel in response to his

prayer.

It is important that we understand what is happening here. There is a battle

in the spiritual realm. The angels of God are at war with the demonic forces

of hell. The angel who had come to Daniel had been doing battle with the

demonic prince of Persia. The holy angel has been restrained for twenty-

one days. We are not told why the angel of God was not able to conquer this

prince sooner. The angel would have been detained even longer had it not

been for Michael, one of the chief angels of God who came to his aid.

Together they were able to resist the demonic prince of Persia, and the first

angel was able to continue his mission of explaining to Daniel the details of

the vision he had seen.

This passage gives us a glimpse of the spiritual battle that rages in the

spiritual realm. This battle is unseen to our human eye but it is very real.

The powerful leaders of Persia were not the real enemies. They were being

influenced by this demonic prince over Persia. Victory in the earthly realm

could only come when the battle was won in the spiritual realm. The real

battle was a spiritual battle.

We are reminded here that God allows the demonic forces a measure of

rebellion and obstruction against His will, just as God allows humans a

certain measure of free will against His commands. However, God is in

control and overrides the limited power of demons and humans whenever

He chooses to do so. Ultimately, God accomplishes all His purposes (Isaiah

46:10-11; Job 42:2).

As Daniel prayed, the battle in the heavens raged on. Unknown and unseen

to the naked eye, a great war was taking place. We should not underestimate

what happens when we pray. As we pray the spiritual forces of evil are

being bombarded in the spiritual world.

As Daniel listened to what the angel was saying, he bowed his head toward

the ground speechless (verse 15). As he stood there, someone who looked

like a man touched his lips. Daniel opened his eyes and began to speak.

Daniel told the angel how he was overcome with anguish because of the

vision he had just seen. He felt helpless. The vision left Daniel physically

and emotionally exhausted. In verse 17 Daniel did not even know how he

could speak to the angel standing before him. His strength was gone and he

could hardly breathe. Such was the intensity of the vision Daniel saw that

day.

The angel touched Daniel and said: "Do not be afraid, O man highly

esteemed. Peace! Be strong now; be strong" (verse 18). Even as the angel

spoke these words Daniel could feel his body being filled with strength. The

angel told Daniel that he would soon have to return to his battle with the

prince of Persia. When he had finished with the prince of Persia, the prince

of Greece would take his place. He told Daniel that only he and Michael the

angel were battling with these demonic forces. For the time being, however,

he had come to Daniel to tell him the things that were to come to pass.

I find it amazing that this angel would be sent to Daniel in response to his

prayer when there was such a terrible battle taking place. Obviously Daniel

was a vital part of the plan of God for victory over these demonic forces.

This chapter gives us a picture of the things that happen in the spiritual

realm. It shows us how in this realm there is an intense battle taking place.

It shows us that the angels of heaven are a vital part of that battle. These

matters are extremely complicated and we are only given glimpses of this

reality. Daniel shared with us his brief view into this dimension. What we

need to understand is that the results of the battle in the spiritual realm will

be evident on earth. We can be sure that there are angels fighting around us

and protecting us as well. The holy angels constantly attend to the purpose

of God in heaven and on earth. How encouraged we ought to know this.

For Consideration:

What does this chapter teach us about the spiritual battle that

rages in the spiritual realm?

How does knowing something of the nature of the battle that

rages affect how we do live as believers?

What does this chapter teach us about the futility of our own

human strength to fight this spiritual battle?

What is the importance of prayer in the spiritual battle around

us?

For Prayer:

Thank God for the ministry of His angels on our behalf.

Thank Him that He will win the battle.

Ask the Lord to show you in a deeper way the nature of the

battle that is around us.

Ask the Lord to help you to see the role He wants you to play

in the battle for souls.

11 - THE ANGEL'S

REVELATION: FROM

DARIUS TO SELEUCUS IV

Read Daniel 11:1-20

he angel who had come to see Daniel told him in the last chapter

that he had come to reveal the things that would happen in the

coming years. What is amazing here is that while the angel was

being resisted by demonic forces in the region, he knew all the details of

how the battle was going to unfold. He knew that the Lord would win the

battle, and he also knew that the unfolding of that wonderful plan would not

be without difficulty.

The angel began by telling Daniel how he had taken his stand to support

and protect Darius the Mede in the first year of his reign. It is interesting to

note here that though Darius was not a believer, the angel of the Lord was

given charge to protect and strengthen him anyway. Darius, as an

unbeliever, was an instrument in the hands of the Lord to accomplish His

purpose on the earth by allowing the people of Judah to return to the

Promised Land after their exile in Babylon.

In verse 2 the angel told Daniel that there would be three Persian kings and

then a fourth who would be richer and more powerful than the others. When

the fourth Persian king had gained power and wealth, he would stir up his

people against the nation of Greece. Commentators identify this fourth

Persian king as Xerxes (486-465 B.C.) who unsuccessfully attacked Greece.

Persia would never be the same after this defeat.

In verse 3 the angel explained to Daniel that after this fourth king, another

mighty king would appear who would rule with great power and do as he

pleased. This is identified with Alexander the Great of Greece who brought

Greece to the forefront as a world power after conquering Persia. In chapter

8 Alexander the Great is pictured as a goat that attacked the Persian ram

and trampled it underfoot.

Daniel is told in verse 4 that after this powerful leader (Alexander the

Great) appeared, his empire would be broken up and parceled out to the

four winds of the heaven. It would not go to his descendants. The empire he

left would not have the power it had under his control and would be

uprooted and given to others.

Historically, after the death of Alexander the Great this is exactly what

happened to his empire. Alexander's son was murdered and his kingdom

divided into four parts. The eastern region was given to Seleucus and

included the areas of Syria and Palestine. Cassander was given the regions

of Macedonia, Thessaly and Greece. Ptolemy ruled in Egypt and

Lysimachus ruled in Thrace and Asia Minor.

In verse 5-20 the angel focused on two of these kings whom he called “the

king of the South” and the “king of the North.” These directions are in

relation to Israel. The southern kingdom refers to Egypt where the

descendants of Ptolemy ruled, and the northern kingdom refers to Syria

where the descendants of Seleucus ruled. The Promised Land stood

geographically between these two great powers.

One of Ptolemy's satraps was a man by the name of Seleucus Nicator who

would eventually become the king of the North in the region of Babylon,

Media and Syria. His power would even surpass that or Ptolemy, under

whom he had served.

The angel told Daniel that after a certain number of years, there would be

an alliance between the king of the South (Ptolemy) and one of his former

commanders (Seleucus Nicator). This alliance would be the result of a

marriage. The daughter would not retain her power, and the power of her

husband would also be lost. This daughter would be "handed over" with all

who supported her.

Historians tell us that Ptolemy II, king of the region of Egypt was having

trouble with the king of the North, who at that time was Antiochus Theos, a

descendant of Seleucus Nicator. To stop this trouble, he attempted to form

an alliance by giving his daughter Berenice to Antiochus Theos who agreed

to this marriage and divorced his wife, Laodice, to marry Berenice. This

marriage sealed an agreement between the North and the South for a time.

Laodice, the divorced wife of Antiochus Theos, did not take well to being

cast aside for Berenice and this political alliance. Being an influential

woman, Laodice gained the support of a number of individuals and

organized a campaign against Berenice. Antiochus Theos was poisoned and

died. As for Berenice and her son, Laodice had them put to death and raised

her own son Seleucus II to take the throne.

In verse 7 the angel told Daniel that one from the family line of this

daughter of the North would attack the palace and be victorious over it.

Ptolemy III (Euergetes), brother of Berenice, later avenged the death of his

sister by attacking Syria. Daniel was told in verse 8 that this king would

seize the gods, metal images and other precious objects.

In verse 9 the angel explained to Daniel that the king of the North (Syria)

would attack the king of the South (Egypt) but would have to retreat to his

own country. His sons, however, would prepare for war and assemble a

massive army that would sweep across the land like a flood. The battle

would come as far as the "fortress." Historically, Seleucus II did attack

territory held by Egypt and regained a certain measure of control. His son

Antiochus III (Callinicus) would also wage war against Ptolemy IV of

Egypt but would be defeated even though he had a much bigger army (see

verse 11).

After his defeat of Antiochus III, Ptolemy IV would continue on his

rampage and slay many thousands of people. The angel tells Daniel that he

would not remain triumphant (verse 12). Egypt's defeat was coming.

In verse 13 Daniel was told that the king of the North (Antiochus III) would

gather a large army, larger than the one he had gathered to defend himself in

verse 10. The angel told Daniel that in those days many other nations would

rise up against the king of Egypt. Violent men among Daniel's own people

would also rebel against Egypt and join the forces of Antiochus III (verse

14). The Jews supported Antiochus III by providing him with supplies but

this attack did not accomplish what the Jews had hoped.

Egypt would retreat from the campaign against the North to the region of

Phoenicia. Antiochus III built up a siege ramp and defeated Egypt in the

area in about 200 BC. Egypt would be powerless to resist him and was

forced to surrender (verse 15).

Having conquered Egypt, Antiochus III would do as he pleased (verse 16).

For a time there would be no one to resist him and his military efforts. He

would even establish himself in the "Beautiful land." This reference to the

"Beautiful Land" may be a reference to the land of Judah. Antiochus III did

establish his rule over the land of Judah. It is said that because the Jews

helped him, by supplying him with provisions in his attempt to overthrow

the king of Egypt, he favoured them.

In an attempt to secure his kingdom and form an alliance with Egypt,

ending the war between them, Antiochus III determined that he was going

to give his daughter (Cleopatra) to Ptolemy V of Egypt. His hope was that

Cleopatra would control Ptolemy V for her father’s benefit. As it turned out

however, Cleopatra loved her husband Ptolemy V more than she loved her

father and the plans of Antiochus III failed (see verse 17).

Because his plans for Egypt had failed, Antiochus III would turn his

attention to the Mediterranean coastlands but this would bring him into

conflict with Rome. The angel told Daniel in verse 18 that Antiochus III

would become very proud. That pride would be broken by a Roman general

by the name of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus who defeated Antiochus

III in 190 BC (see verse 18). Antiochus III would return to his own country,

but verse 19 tells us that he would stumble and be no more.

After Antiochus III was defeat by the Roman general, Rome imposed a

tribute on him. This was part of the humbling of Antiochus III. Much of his

riches were taken away. We are told that Antiochus III had to resort to

pillaging to pay his debt. He was killed in an attempt to plunder a pagan

temple in Elymais. As verse 19 states he would “be seen no more."

When Seleucus IV succeeded Antiochus III, he heavily taxed his people to

pay Rome and to maintain the splendor of his kingdom. This was an

attempt to build up the wealth of the kingdom again and restore its glory.

We are told that Seleucus IV would attempt to plunder the temple of

Jerusalem for the glory of his kingdom. His Jewish tax collector,

Heliodorus, poisoned him. Verse 20 states that he did not die in battle. This

assassination set the stage for the Syrian persecution of the Jews that

followed.

In this first section of chapter 11, the angel told Daniel in great detail how

the event of the next years would unfold. These events unfolded exactly as

the angel said. We have details here regarding Persia, Greece, Syria and

Egypt. The events were predicted many years before they came to pass. The

details are very precise.

This reminds us that this world is not in the hands of the enemy. God

controls all the details of history. There will be no surprises for God. While

the path may seem long and hard, there is a divine plan. God is working out

the details of history to accomplish His perfect will. His angels are doing

battle against the forces of evil. If the Lord knows the details of the nations,

He also knows all the details of your life and mine. All things will work out

for the glory of God and the good of His people. This chapter ought to

reassure us of this fact.

For Consideration:

What do the prophetic details of this section reveal about

God’s knowledge and control of all that happens?

What comfort and encouragement do you receive from this

chapter in regards to your own personal life?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is an all-knowing God and that there

are no surprises for Him.

Thank the Lord that He knows all the details of your life.

Thank Him that victory is assured for His people.

12 - THE ANGEL'S

REVELATION: FROM

ANTIOCHUS IV TO

EPIPHANES

Read Daniel 11:21-45

s we continue to unfold the complex details of Daniel 11, we see

how world history came to pass exactly as the angel told Daniel.

Seleucus IV would be succeeded, as verse 21 says by a very

contemptible person who was not given the honour of royalty. Instead, he

would invade the kingdom and seize it by trickery and deceit. Historically,

Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.) would take the throne after

Seleucus IV. He was not the rightful heir to the throne but because the son

of Seleucus IV was held as hostage in Rome the throne was seized by

Antiochus IV. Antiochus Epiphanes corresponds to the little horn of chapter

8 (8:9-12, 23-25). Much attention is given to him in the text because he had

such a devastating effect in Israel.

We understand that Antiochus Epiphanes would often lure his victims by

offering them some sort of alliance and friendship and then break that

alliance. Verse 22 tells us that a great army would be swept away before

him, and a prince of the covenant would be destroyed. Historically, we

know that Antiochus Epiphanes was successful against the army of Egypt

and that he had a Jewish High priest killed.

Verses 23-27 speak about the conflict between Antiochus Epiphanes and

Ptolemy VI of Egypt. For a time Antiochus Epiphanes would be successful

in invading and conquering many territories. He would conquer loot and

divide his wealth among his leaders, encouraging their ongoing cooperation

with him (verse 24). Egypt, under Ptolemy VI would try to defend itself

against these attacks but would not succeed. In verse 26 the angel told

Daniel that those who ate the Egyptian king's provisions would destroy him.

Historically, they did this by giving Ptolemy VI bad counsel which led to

his defeat.

After this defeat, the two kings, Antiochus IV Epiphanes and Ptolemy VI,

would sit at the table to discuss their future (verse 27). The hearts of both of

these kings would be bent on evil and deception. They hated each other and

their deliberations would be filled with lies and deceit. Nothing good would

come from these discussions.

The angel told Daniel in verse 28 tells us that the king of the North

(Antiochus Epiphanes) would return to his country with great wealth. At

that time his heart would be set against the holy covenant. This seems to be

a reference to the people of God. He would take action against the Jews

before returning to Syria, his own country in the north.

In 168 BC Antiochus Epiphanes, on his way back to Syria from Egypt,

attacked Jerusalem. He killed 80,000 people, took 40,000 more prisoners

and sold another 40,000 as slaves. He entered the temple in Jerusalem and

sacrificed pigs on the altar to desecrate it. He boiled the pigs flesh and

sprinkled the broth throughout the temple. Before he left Jerusalem he took

the gold and silver vessels from the temple with him. This was a horrific act

of violent blasphemy against the God of the Jewish nation.

In verse 29 the angel told Daniel that Antiochus would again invade the

South but the outcome would be very different from the first time. He

would be opposed by ships from the western coastlands, and he would lose

heart (verse 30). Egypt, suspecting that Antiochus Epiphanes would return,

hired Greek mercenaries. A Roman fleet in the area also sided with Egypt.

Antiochus was forced to retreat and chose to vent his anger and frustration

on the people of Jerusalem again.

In verse 30 the angel prophesied that he would chose to show favour on

those who forsook the holy covenant. When Antiochus arrived in

Jerusalem, he discovered that the worship of God had been re-established

after he had desecrated the temple. This infuriated him. He had the temple

pillaged, killed the worshippers and abolished sacrifices (verse 31). He

attacked Jerusalem on the Sabbath and burned the city. He forbade Jews, on

pain of death, to practice the Mosaic Law and commanded them to conform

to the Greek religion. The temple in Jerusalem was consecrated to Zeus. In

the place of the altar used for burnt offerings, Antiochus Epiphanies erected

an idol of the Greek god Zeus. Antiochus identified himself with Zeus and

ordered people to worship him. This was a great abomination in the eyes of

the Jews and their God. This act was referred to as the “abomination that

causes desolation” (verse 31). Some commentators believe that both Daniel

and Jesus prophesied that this act was a preview of a similar abomination

by another oppressor of God’s people (9:27; Matthew 24:15).

These days would be terrible days for the Jewish people. There would be

those who would fall to the flattery and corruption of Antiochus Epiphanes.

The angel told Daniel however, that those who truly knew God would resist

this enemy (verse 32). They would not give in to his evil nor turn their

backs on their God. For their persistence, many would suffer. Some would

be killed by the sword; some would be burned to death; and some would be

captured and plundered (verse 33).

In this time of tremendous persecution and opposition, Judas Maccabeus, a

Jew, would rise up to defend his people against the persecution of

Antiochus Epiphanes. The Maccabeans were quite severe with those who

had turned their back on the Jewish faith. They were successful in raising

up an army to combat Antiochus Epiphanes. Even those Jews who were not

sincere found strength in Judas Maccabeus and joined him in the revolt.

While these weaker brothers had very likely conformed to that decree of

Antiochus Epiphanes and worshipped the idol of Zeus, they saw the popular

support that the Maccabeans were receiving and became willing to take a

stand against their foreign oppressor. They joined the resistance against

Antiochus Epiphanes.

The extent of the persecution was such that even the wise would stumble

under the cruel arm of Antiochus Epiphanes (verse 35). God allowed this

for a time so that His people would be purified. At the appointed time all

persecution would stop. The strongest among them would be tested because

God was purifying them. What is important for us to understand here is that

at the appointed time God would step in and break this evil.

In the meantime, this evil king would continue to do as he pleased (verse

36). He would exalt and magnify himself above every god and would even

say horrible things against the God of gods (the God of Israel). The

blasphemy of Antiochus Epiphanes would be great, but he would only be

successful until his time came to an end. God knew the day and hour when

this king would be broken. This matter was in God's hands.

Antiochus Epiphanes would not honour the gods of his fathers. He would

not honour the gods the men and women of his day sought after nor would

he worship any other god. Instead, he would exalt himself above them all

and lift himself up as a god, requiring that people bow down to him and

worship him (verse 37). His god was a god of the fortresses –the gods of

strength and force (verse 38). He wanted to control everything he saw, and

used all his treasures to become more dominant. Power was his idol, and

this was what he lived and fought for.

Antiochus Epiphanes would greatly honour those who acknowledged him

by offering them positions of power and prestige (verse 39). He would

divide up the land he had conquered and use it to reward those who gave

him what he wanted.

Verses 40-45 are difficult to understand. Most commentators agree that they

do not fit the history of Antiochus Epiphanes. This has led many to

understand the conclusion of this chapter to refer to the final days.

Antiochus Epiphanes, as a terrible enemy of the people of God, is seen as a

symbol of the Antichrist who is to come in the end times.

In verse 40, the angel told Daniel that in the time of the end, the king of the

South and the king of the North would storm out against a great enemy of

God's people with chariots, cavalry and a great fleet of ships. Despite this

opposition the enemy of God's people would continue his evil campaign.

He would invade Jerusalem (the Beautiful Land) and many other countries

would fall under his control. Edom, Moab and Ammon would, however, be

delivered from his hands. He would gain control over great wealth, taking

the wealth of the Egyptians, Libyans and Nubians.

In the height of his power, however, the angel told Daniel in verse 44 that

reports from the east and the north would alarm him. He would set out in

even greater fury to destroy and annihilate many more. He would ultimately

pitch his tent in the region of Jerusalem, but his end would come, and no

one would help him on the day of his defeat. As we have said, it is difficult

to reconcile these last events with the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. These

events, therefore, may look forward to another time in history. Many

commentators see here a reference to the time of the Antichrist that John

spoke of in the end times. If this is the case the particular details of this

passage will unfold in a future time.

Daniel realized that the coming days would be very difficult days for the

Jewish people. Tremendous persecution would break out against them.

Many would die. It is hard to understand why the Lord allows such evil

men like Antiochus Epiphanes to live. What is clear, however, is that the

Lord knew every detail of what was going to happen. The amount of details

here is astounding. Long before these things happened, they were told to

Daniel for him to record.

Nothing takes God by surprise. While we do not understand all the details

of these events and why the Lord allows them, we do know that God would

triumph in the end. In this, at least, we can take great courage.

For Consideration:

What comfort do you find in the fact that the details of these

events were predicted many years before they actually

happened?

Would you be able to face the persecution that the angel told

Daniel would take place in the land of Jerusalem?

What do we learn here about the terrible evil of Satan and

how he can use leaders to accomplish his evil plans?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that we see here that good will triumph over

evil in the end.

Ask the Lord to help you to be faithful in what He has called

you to do right now.

Thank Him that He has kept you in your difficulties.

Ask the Lord to bless and strengthen those who have to suffer

for their faith today.

13 - THE FINAL VICTORY

Read Daniel 12:1-13

aniel's vision came to a conclusion in chapter 12. Here we see

that the Lord will overcome and conquer the enemies of His

people. This chapter emphasizes the faithfulness of God to His

promise to Israel.

In verse 1 the angel continued to speak to Daniel and told him that in the

final days, Michael would arise. It is important that we note what this verse

tells us about Michael. Michael is a great prince who protects the people of

God. Michael is one of the chief angels of God in heaven. He is described

as an archangel in Jude 1:9. He is seen doing battle with the great dragon in

Revelation 12:7. Here we see that one of his responsibilities is to protect

and keep the people of God. What a comfort it is for us to know that the

angels of heaven are given charge over our welfare.

It is important to note here that while Michael was given charge over the

people of God, this did not mean that they would never have any difficulty

or struggle in life. We have seen already in this book of Daniel that there is

an intense struggle in the spiritual realms. We have seen the suffering that

the Jews endured under Antiochus Epiphanes. In verse 1 we are told that in

the end times, there would be a time of distress that had not happened since

the beginning of the nations.

What we need to see in verse 1 is that while the battle would be very fierce,

everyone whose name was “written in the book” would be delivered. No

further detail is given us here about this book. God would protect His

people and keep them during this difficulty. As the days of the end

approach, we can expect that there will be increasing struggle, but we can

also take comfort in the fact that God is able to care for His own.

In verse 2 the angel told Daniel that the day would come when those who

had been asleep would awake. There would be a resurrection from the dead.

Many would lose their lives for the Lord, but for these individuals there was

a wonderful hope of resurrection. Those who had been faithful would go on

to everlasting life. For those who had rejected the Lord, however, things

would be radically different. They would be raised to everlasting contempt

and judgement. This clearly is the teaching of the New Testament (Matthew

25:46; John 5:28-29).

Daniel was told that those who were wise would shine like the brightness of

the heavens and would lead many to righteousness (verse 3). There was a

wonderful hope for those who were wise. To be wise in this context was to

know God and be faithful to Him despite the terrible things that would

happen on the earth. A time of persecution and difficulty is not time to stop

sharing the love of God. On the contrary, this is time to be even bolder.

Daniel was told that he was to seal up the words of this prophecy until the

days of the end. The matters relating to the tribulation, final judgement and

the resurrection of the dead were not for the immediate future. These

matters were for a distant future. It was not necessary for the people of God

to understand all the details of this matter for the moment. The time would

come when these words would make sense.

The day was coming, the angel told Daniel, when knowledge would

increase on the earth and people would have a deep hunger for it (verse 4).

They would move here and there in search of knowledge. It would appear

that there is a connection between the sealed words of the scroll that Daniel

wrote and the knowledge the angel spoke of here. This has led some to

assume that the angel was speaking of a time when there would be a hunger

to understand the truth that Daniel was speaking about in this passage.

As Daniel spoke to the angel, he looked and there before him stood two

other angels, one on each side of a river. One of these angels spoke to a man

clothed in linen above the waters of the river and asked him how long it

would be before these things were accomplished (verse 6).

In response, the man in linen lifted up his right hand toward the heaven and

swore by Him who lived forever (God) that these events would take place

in “a time, times and half time. Commentators are generally agreed that the

term time" refers to a year, times refers to two hears and half a time refers to

half a year. In other words, the man in linen said that these things would

happen in three and a half years. Within that time the power over the holy

people would be broken. There was a limit to their persecution. The enemy

could not go beyond that time.

The apostle John saw the same thing in his vision in the book of Revelation.

We see, for example, in Revelation 11:1-2 that John told his readers that the

temple would be trampled for forty-two months or three and a half years.

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and

measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the

worshipers there.

But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has

been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city

for 42 months.

In Revelation 11:3 we are told that two witnesses would witness for 1,260

days or three and a half years.

And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will

prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

In Revelation 13:5 the beast that was to come would be given power to

exercise authority over the earth for forty-two months or three and a half

years.

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and

blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.

The same thing is prophesied here in verse 7. A persecution of God's people

would last for three and a half years and then be broken. The similarity of

this passage and the passages we have quoted in Revelation has led many to

believe that they refer to similar events. In the last days, there would be a

great persecution of the godly that will last for a period of “three and a half

years.” Not all believers will escape persecution. Some will be called to

suffer greatly. God will limit it, however, and He will be victorious in the

end.

Daniel was somewhat confused. He asks the angel for more details

concerning the end of this persecution and what would happen (verse 8).

Daniel was told to go his way. The details of this prophecy were sealed until

the time of the end. Only then would the prophecy be understood by the

people of God. God does not always burden us with details that are not

necessary for us to understand. When the time is right, He will reveal to His

people what was necessary.

The angel did tell Daniel in verse 10 that many would be purified, refined

and made spotless. Obviously, there was a purpose for this persecution of

three and a half years. God would use this time to purify His people. Notice,

however, that the wicked would continue in their wicked ways. The angel

predicted that some people would resist God to the end. Unlike the wise

righteous, who would understand what was happening, the wicked would

not be purified by this trial. The proud arrogance of the wicked would be

their downfall. While the persecution of God’s people would last for a

period of “three and a half years,” the judgement of the wicked will be

forever (Matthew 25:41; 46).

Daniel is reminded in verse 11 that from the time that the daily sacrifice

was abolished and the abomination was set up, there would be 1290 days or

three and a half years plus 30 days. The angel told Daniel that the person

who reached the end of 1335 days would be blessed. Some would have to

face this persecution longer than others. While they did have to endure

longer than some, their blessing would also be greater. God would reward

faithfulness.

As for Daniel, the angel told him that he was to go his way until the end

(verse 13). He would rest or die, and when the time was right, he would rise

up to receive his reward.

While the details of this prophecy can be somewhat confusing, we

understand that severe persecution was prophesied for the people of God.

These trials, though very difficult, would not last forever. The enemy was

only given a certain time to persecute the people of God and then would be

cut off. Michael the angel was given charge over God’s people. Those who

persevered to the end would be raised to eternal life. Those who rejected the

Lord would be raised to face eternal judgment.

There is a real battle before us. This battle will intensify as the days of the

end approach. May God give us strength to resist evil and look to Him who

is our shield and great reward.

For Consideration:

What does this passage teach us about the nature of the battle

that is raging around us?

What does this passage teach us about the difficulties that we

must sometimes face in this life?

Would you be able to resist the enemy in such times of

persecution?

What comfort do you find in the fact that the Lord limits the

persecution His people will have to endure?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you the grace to persevere to the end.

Thank Him that He has placed His angel over us to keep us in

these difficult times.

Thank Him that while the enemy may sometimes rage around

us His time is limited.

INTRODUCTION TO

HOSEA

Author:

he author of this book is identified in the first verse as Hosea the

son of Beeri. All we know about Hosea is recorded for us in this

book. He lived during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and

Hezekiah. This means that he lived and ministered before Israel was taken

into captivity and at the same time as Isaiah (see Isaiah 1:1).

Hosea married a woman by the name of Gomer. She was unfaithful to her

husband but gave him a number of children each bearing a prophetic name

that spoke of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God (see Hosea 1:3-11).

Background

Hosea lived at a time of spiritual compromise and evil in Israel. Uzziah the

king, began his reign serving the Lord God, but would turn from Him in his

later years. God afflicted him with leprosy and he lived in isolation for the

remainder of his days. King Jotham served the Lord but his son Ahaz led

the nation into the worship of the pagan god Baal. He also closed the doors

of the temple and gave away its sacred articles to gain the support of

Assyria. King Hezekiah did much to restore temple worship but, he too, in

his later years, was judged by God for entering into an ungodly alliance

with the nation of Egypt.

Hosea’s relationship with his wife would become a prophetic symbol of

Israel’s relationship with God. Gomer’s reputation as an unfaithful wife

would have been common knowledge in Israel. God used Hosea’s broken

relationship with his wife to show His people that they too had been

unfaithful in their relationship with Him. While the message was clear, it

would have been a difficult burden for Hosea to bear all his life. Hosea was

to love his unfaithful wife, however, just as God loved His unfaithful

people.

Importance Of The Books For Today:

Hosea’s prophetic message to the people of his day focuses on their

spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to God. He portrays God as a loving

husband with an adulterous wife who continually wanders from Him to

other gods. Hosea shows us the unfailing love of God despite our

wandering heart.

The book also shows us the length to which God goes to call the wanderer

back to Himself. The whole book is a plea from a jealous God to His people

to return to Him and experience His loving embrace.

Despite Hosea’s constant sense of betrayal and hurt caused by his wife, he

remained devoted to her. His life is an example for all who struggle in a

difficult relationship. It also calls us to consider how we deal with those in

ministry who struggle in family relationships. Here was a man of God

living in a broken family powerfully used of God. In our day he would

likely be asked to step down from ministry but God chose to lift him up.

While the book speaks with great tenderness and shows the longing of

God’s heart for His people, it also reminds us that there is a price to pay for

turning our backs on God. Israel would suffer the terrible consequences of

her rebellion but she could always be assured of His unfailing love. The

balance between judgement and unconditional love is one that is often

difficult for us to find in our day. Here in Hosea we see a wonderful

example of this balance.

14 - INTRODUCING THE

PROPHET

Read Hosea 1.1-11

et me introduce you to the prophet Hosea. He had a lengthy

ministry from about 755-710 BC during the reigns of Uzziah,

Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and Jeroboam king of

Israel. When Hosea began his ministry as prophet under Uzziah, God's

people were living in prosperity and ease. Hosea watched, however, as

Uzziah turned his heart from God. He agonized as Ahaz led Judah into

idolatry. He witnessed the spread of Baal worship throughout the land. He

stood by helplessly as the doors of the temple were barred shut. He was

stunned at the news that Ahaz had sacrificed his son on the altar to his

pagan gods. When Hezekiah came to the throne, Hosea breathed a sigh of

relief. What joy it must have brought to his heart to see repairs made to the

temple he loved so dearly. Never very far from his mind, however, was the

prophecy of Isaiah his contemporary who predicted the coming of Babylon

to take away the wealth of Judah. Concerning the kingdom of Israel, Hosea

watched Jeroboam lead his people for forty-one years into the evil practices

of the surrounding nations.

Hosea prophesied at a time when there was a general turning away from the

Lord in both Israel and Judah. Those kings, who began their reign by

serving God, fell quickly into pride. Particularly under the reign of Ahaz,

the nation of Judah reached its lowest point. With the temple doors closed,

the worship of Baal flourished. In the nation of Israel, God seemed to be the

farthest thing from the minds of His people.

Names in the Bible are very important. A name often represented the

character or ministry of the individual. Hosea’s name means "salvation" or

"deliverance." His calling was to proclaim a message of salvation and

deliverance to God’s people. Though they had fallen deeply into sin, Hosea

was to reach out to them and offer them deliverance and salvation from the

Lord.

The reputation of Hosea's wife left much to be desired. She was unfaithful

to her husband and was a prostitute. Verse 2 leads us to believe that she had

several children out of wedlock. God asked Hosea to adopt these children as

his own.

Their marriage was symbolic of the relationship between God and His

people. God had entered a covenant agreement with His people but, like

Hosea’s wife, they were unfaithful to Him. Hosea would experience in his

marriage what God experienced with Israel and Judah. His messages would

be filled with passion because of his experience with his own wife’s

adultery. The people to whom Hosea preached would see their

unfaithfulness to God mirrored in the prophet’s marriage. Hosea not only

spoke a prophetic message to his people but he also lived a prophetic

lifestyle mirroring what he spoke from God.

Hosea’s wife was Gomer. The word Gomer means "complete" or "to come

to an end." We cannot miss the significance of her name. The time of the

end was coming for God’s people. God would not hesitate to deal with them

according to their sins. There is a real contrast here in these names. Gomer

represents the completeness of sin and the inevitable judgement that

awaited the people of God. Hosea represented the deliverance and salvation

that could be theirs if they repented and turned to God. We will see more of

this symbolism in their marriage at a later point.

Hosea and Gomer had three children. Their first son was Jezreel, which

means “God will scatter” (verse 5). Hosea named him Jezreel as a

prediction of God’s judgement. Jezreel was also the name of an Israelite

town where Jehu of Israel massacred the entire family of King Ahab (see 2

Kings 9-10). God would punish the household of Jehu for this evil. The

name Jezreel not only looked back to the massacre of Ahab’s family

however, it also looked forward in time to another massacre that would take

place in the Valley of Jezreel. Here Israel's bow, a symbol of her military

force, would be broken by the conquering nation of Assyria in 722 BC.

Their second child was a girl named "Lo Ruhamah." Her name means "not

loved," or "no mercy." She reminded the people of Israel that the Lord

would no longer show love and mercy to them. The time of judgement had

come. They had every opportunity to repent of their sins, but they refused.

Now it was too late. While there was still hope for Judah, Israel’s fate was

sealed. What a shock this was to the people of Israel who felt that the

patience of God had no end.

"Lo Ammi" was the third child born to this couple. Lo Ammi literally

means "not my people." God had ceased to see these rebellious Israelites as

His people. They had broken their covenant relationship with Him. These

particular individuals were no longer His people, and He was no longer

their God. Those who refused to repent were without hope and without

God. Their judgement was sealed.

It is helpful to remember here that at this time the nation of Israel had

divided into two different kingdoms. The northern kingdom is referred to in

Scripture as Israel, Samaria and Ephraim. At this point in history, the

northern kingdom was very far from the Lord, and the Lord declared that

He would bring an end to it (verses 4 and 6). The southern kingdom was

called Judah and was less evil and had some good kings. God had not yet

declared an end to Judah (verse 7).

From verse 10 we understand that while there was no hope for these

particular individuals of Hosea’s day, God would not forget His covenant

with Abraham. A time was coming when these children would again be

called the "sons of God." A faithful remnant from the kingdoms of Israel

and Judah would be reunited under one leader. This prophecy was fulfilled

when both Israel and Judah returned from exile as one nation under the

ministry of Ezra and Nehemiah to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Jezreel had

symbolized a broken and massacred Israel. That broken nation, however,

would again rejoice in the goodness of God. After her discipline, God

would restore her.

Sin had led to the destruction of Israel. Because of her willful and persistent

rebellion, she would perish without God and without hope. She suffered the

consequences of her actions. By God’s grace, however, she would be given

another chance. Unlike Jehu, who wiped out the entire family of Ahab, God

would not punish the children for the sins of the fathers. While the fathers

would perish without God, He would renew His covenant with their

children.

God extends His gracious hand to us today. He freely offers us deliverance

and salvation. This offer, however, is a limited-time offer. There is a day

when God will cease His pleading and commence judgement. If you can

hear His voice today, do not harden your heart. The day may come when

you will no longer hear Him call.

For Consideration:

If you are married, what has your relationship with your

spouse taught you about God?

What impact do you think Gomer's lifestyle have on Hosea's

ministry? How would their relationship be accepted in a

modern church setting?

What price did Hosea's children have to pay because of

Hosea's ministry? Do children of pastors and missionaries

today have a price to pay?

What does this passage teach us about the grace and mercy of

God?

What does this passage teach us about the judgement of God?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to pray for your pastor, his wife and their

children. Ask God to help them with the challenges they face.

Ask God to help you to reflect His love for His people

through your marriage and your lifestyle.

Thank God for the commitment of Hosea to remain faithful

to God despite the problems he had in his own marriage and

life. Ask God to give you this type of commitment.

Thank the Lord that He is a God of wonderful compassion

and forgiveness.

Take a moment to pray for a friend or loved one who has not

yet accepted the Lord and received His forgiveness.

15 - THE DISCIPLINES OF

A LOVING FATHER

Read Hosea 2.1-15

ny parent knows that love and discipline walk hand in hand.

There are times in our lives when we experience the heavy hand

of God’s discipline. In these times we wonder if God has

forsaken us because He seems far away. Like a rebellious child, Israel had

wandered from God. Despite her sin, God still loved her. In love He would

discipline her to draw her back to Himself. The Israelites would again be

shown God’s mercy (verse 1).

In verse 2 Israel is pictured as a wife and mother, and God is her husband.

She had given herself to another, however, and ceased to be God's wife. She

broke her covenant vows and worshipped foreign gods. Hosea warned

Israel that if she did not repent, her punishment would be severe. God

warned her so that she would have every opportunity to repent.

Hosea told Israel that if she did not repent, God would strip her naked and

make her as barren as the desert (verse 3). Over the years God had richly

blessed Israel. She had been the envy of the nations. By her rebellion,

however, she exchanged her blessing for a curse. She would lose everything

and be exposed to the ridicule of other nations. Her beautiful land would be

reduced to a dry and parched wilderness that produced no crops and

supported no livestock.

God reminded Israel in verses 4-5 that the children she had conceived in

adultery did not belong to Him. God would not love them and protect them

as His covenant children. We should understand here that these children

were not innocent victims. God was not judging the children for the sins of

the parents. They had chosen to follow the way of their rebellious mother.

Like her, they lusted after other gods. Many generations of Israelites had

grown up in rebellion against their covenant with God. While children do

suffer many consequences for their parents’ sin, God deals with each person

on an individual basis.

God would not completely abandon the nation of Israel. Because of His

grace, He would keep her from destroying herself. He told her through

Hosea in verse 6 that He would block her path with thorn bushes. He would

wall her in so that she could not find her way. Though she sought her

lovers, she would never find them. Her lusts would never be satisfied

outside of God’s true, covenant love.

Maybe you too have had your moment of rebellion and wandering from the

Lord. In your wandering, however, you had no peace. Your lusts were never

satisfied and you had no contentment. Joy and satisfaction were far

removed from you. Your soul was irritated as God’s blessings were

removed. You realized that you were getting nowhere. God in his grace was

hedging you in and keeping you from destroying yourself. He was blocking

your with “thorn bushes.”

Israel would come to realize the blessings she had in her God. Broken, she

would return to her husband. She would return because God had not

forsaken her as a nation. She would return because God was a God of grace

and forgiveness. She would return because God loved her too much to let

her go.

The discipline of God would not be easy for Israel. Because she had not

recognized God as the source of her blessings, He would take away her

grain, wine, and oil (verse 8). He would remove His blessing from her. He

would expose her before her lovers so that they would turn from her. As

long as she had something to offer her lovers, they were more than willing

to remain with her. When she became destitute, however, they dropped her

like a dirty rag. Only when this happened would Israel turn her heart to

God. The removal of her blessings was a blessing in itself. This would be

the means through which she would be restored to her husband, but this

process would be a difficult one.

While Israel had turned her back on God, she continued to be involved in

her religious activities. She still practiced her yearly festivals and New

Moon celebrations. She observed the Sabbath days and appointed feasts. In

so doing, she blasphemed the name of the Lord because she mixed the

worship of God with the worship of false gods. The day was coming when

she would no longer be free to practice the Mosaic Law (verse 11). Assyria

would invade and take her temple and her religious objects from her. Her

land, with its deep religious significance, would be given to another. The

vines and the fig trees (symbols of the rich blessings of a covenant God)

would be ruined. The land of promise would be overrun by thickets and

wild animals. Israel had forsaken her covenant with God, and the day was

coming when she would justly suffer the consequences of her rebellious

acts (see 2 Kings 17:7-18; Deuteronomy 28). She had decked herself with

jewelry and sought after Baal, forsaking her one true God.

Hosea told his people in verse 14 that God would lure them into the desert.

The desert is a barren place. It is a place of humiliation. When God

humbled His people and brought them to the point where they were finally

willing to listen, He would speak tenderly to them. Hosea told his people

that the Valley of Achor would become a door of hope. Achor means

"trouble." It was in the Valley of Achor that God’s people mourned their

defeat at Ai because of Achan’s sin (see Joshua 7). In this valley of trouble

and mourning over sin, there would be a glimmer of hope. God would

extend His gracious hand to His people in forgiveness and renewed

blessing. There would again be victories for His children. In the Valley of

Achor songs of deliverance would rise from the lips of His people like those

they sang as they left the land of Egypt after four hundred years of bondage.

Israel would be restored. She would return to her husband (verse 16). These

victories would only come, however, when Israel had come to the place of

mourning for her sins. Here, by means of confession and forgiveness of sin,

God’s blessing would be restored.

Israel had abandoned her God. She had proven to be an unfaithful wife.

Though she was unfaithful, God would still be faithful to His covenant. He

would punish her and humbled her so that she would return to Him. Despite

her rebellion, He would speak tenderly to her (verse 14). He would not

allow anyone to take her from His hands (verse 10). In her trials she would

come to the place of repentance and confession of sin. When she repented

God would restore her to full communion with Him.

This passage is an illustration of the grace of God. He extends His

unmerited favour to His people. Through the prophet Hosea, He reaches out

to us as well. He calls all who have wandered dangerously away from the

fold to return. Though we wander from Him, He chases after us. He will not

let us go. With arms open wide, He calls us to Himself. Our rebellion has

been great, but His grace is abundantly greater. Don’t put him off another

minute. Cast off all resistance and pride and run to His open arms right now.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the discipline of God in our

lives? What is the purpose of that discipline?

God’s discipline is a proof of His love for us? Do you agree

with this statement? Why?

Can you think of a time when God hedged you in and kept

you from wandering dangerously away from Him? How did

He bring you back or keep you from falling?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for the times He has kept you from falling

away from Him and restored you to Himself.

Thank the Lord for His wonderful patience with us as His

people. Thank Him that His love for us does not diminish

even when we fall into sin.

Do you know a Christian who is wandering today? Ask God

to keep this person from wandering too far. Ask Him to do

what it takes to bring this individual back to Himself.

16 - RECONCILIATION

Read Hosea 2:16-3:5

ow would you describe your relationship with God? For some,

God is a distant master. Others see Him as a loving friend. At this

point in her history, Israel's relationship with God was on a

master/servant level. Israel's sin had driven a wedge between her and her

God. They related strictly on a business level. There was no intimacy.

The day was coming, however, when Israel would repent of her sins and

return to God. On that day Israel would call God her husband ("ishi," KJV).

She would no longer call him “master” ("baali," KJV). There is a big

difference between a master and a husband. The difference is principally

one of relationship. God was telling His people that the time would come

when they would no longer see Him as a harsh master but as a loving

husband.

Some commentators note that because the word for master (baali) is the

same word used to speak of the false gods of Baal worship, God was asking

the people to refrain from calling Him “master” so as not to confuse Him

with Baal. Other commentators believe that the people of God were mixing

their Jewish faith with Baal worship. God wanted nothing to do with this.

Hosea promised that the day was coming when the name of Baal would be

removed from the lips of His people (verse 17). Their hearts would be so

devoted to God that they would not even desire to speak the name of Baal

again. On that day God would pour out His blessings on them. He would

make a covenant with the beasts of the field and the creatures of the earth.

They would act favourably toward His people. Israel would live in safety

without fear of war. The bow and the sword would be abolished (verse 18).

God would enter an intimate and personal relationship with His people.

Notice what God said about this relationship through Hosea. First, this

relationship would be binding for all time. “I will betroth you to me

forever,” God told His people in verse 19. Nothing would separate His

people from Him.

Second, we see that this relationship would be "in righteousness and

justice." The prophet Ezekiel prophesied in Ezekiel 36:26-27 that God

would give His people a new heart:

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will

remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of

flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my

decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

The day was coming when all unfaithfulness and rebellion would cease.

God’s people would serve Him with a pure heart. Their lives would be so

changed that they would willingly conform to God’s standard of

righteousness and justice.

Third, this new relationship with Israel would be characterized by love

(verse 19). She would no longer serve God because she was required by law

to do so. She would serve Him out of a heart that truly loved Him. God too

would deal with her in compassion. Despite her shortcomings, God’s grace

would be showered on her.

Fourth, God’s people had been accused of spiritual adultery. They had been

responsible for breaking their covenant vows with God. This time, however,

things would change. This new relationship with God would be built on

faithfulness (verse 20). Their hearts would be consecrated to God. Nothing

would distract them from each other. Nothing would distract them from

serving and loving their Lord.

Finally, their new relationship would be built on the acknowledgment of the

Lord. What does it mean to acknowledge the Lord? It means that God’s

people would recognize Him in all they did. They would accept their

obligations toward Him and live under His watchful eye. They would be

conscious of His involvement in their everyday activities. Their hearts

would bow in thankfulness and praise to God for His working in both the

good and the bad of life.

Verses 21-22 tell us that Israel would again experience the blessing of God.

God would speak to the skies and the earth and they cause the ground to

produce crops. Jezreel would again be blessed. The name Jezreel, meaning

“God will scatter,” could possibly refer to the scattering of seed for crops.

The worship of the fertility god Baal was to assure the regular harvest of

crops. The curse of God prevailing on the land proved to God’s people that

Baal was powerless. God showed His people here that it was He who

provided for their harvest and not Baal. Their blessing would return only

when their relationship with Him was restored.

In verses 22 and 23 God made some promises to the children of Hosea and

Gomer. These prophetic promises, while given to Hosea’s children,

represented what God was going to do for Israel. Jezreel, the first child,

who represented the judgement of God on the land, would again experience

blessing. Lo-Ruhamah, Hosea's second child, whose name meant "not

loved,” would again know God's deep love. Lo Ammi, "not my people,”

would again be called the people of God.

In His judgement God would not forsake mercy. He would not abandon His

covenant. There was still a future for His people. He would reach out in

love and compassion to His people. To illustrate this reconciliation between

God and His people, the Lord asked Hosea to return to his wife (3:1). It

appears that she had been seeing another man. Despite her unfaithfulness,

Hosea was to take her back and love her as the Lord loved Israel. He

wanted to shower her with His love and blessing. He wanted to forgive her

for her adultery and the hurt she had caused Him.

We discover that Hosea had to buy his wife back (3:2). We are not given the

reason for this. What we need to understand, however, is that when Hosea

had first taken Gomer as his wife he paid a bridal price to her parents. She

had now given herself to another. Though she was rightfully Hosea’s, he

bought her back. This is what the Lord did for us. Though we were in the

wrong, He bought us back with his own life.

Because Hosea had bought her back, Gomer was no longer free to engage

in her adulterous relationships. For a certain period of time, Gomer was not

even permitted to have sexual relations with Hosea her husband.

Throughout this time, she was separated not only from her lovers but also

from her true husband. During this time of deprivation, Gomer would have

plenty of time to think.

This is what would happen to the people of God (3: 4). They too would go

through a period of deprivation. They would be deprived of political

leadership, with no king or prince to lead them. They would be without

sacrifice to offer the God of Israel or sacred stone to worship Baal (see 2

Kings 3:2). They would be without ephod and idol. The ephod was the

garment worn by the priest in his service of God. God’s people would be

without priest to lead them in worship of the true God and without idols to

worship the false gods. During this period of deprivation, like Gomer, God's

people would have plenty of time for reflection. This is what would happen

to God’s people when they were forced into exile.

What would be the result of this period of deprivation? Israel would come

trembling to God her husband. She would gain a new appreciation for Him

and His love for her. She would have time to reflect on her sin and

unfaithfulness. Her trembling is the result of her knowledge of personal

guilt. When she returned to the Lord, she would be forgiven and again

experience God’s blessings in her life.

God wanted a close and intimate relationship with His people. Though they

had turned their backs on Him, He still wanted them. He was willing to

forgive. There is hope for the wanderer in this passage. Through His

prophet Hosea, the Lord calls out to us today. He calls us to cease all our

wanderings and return to Him. He has redeemed us through the blood of

Christ. He will restore us in love.

For Consideration:

How would you describe your relationship with God? Is it a

master/servant relationship or a husband/wife relationship?

What does this passage tell us about the type of relationship

God desires with His people? What does He expect of us in

our relationship with Him?

What is God willing to do to redeem sinners?

What holds you back from intimate fellowship with God?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for His desire to enter into an intimate

fellowship with you.

Ask Him to reveal to you those things which hold you back

from experiencing this communion with Him.

Ask God to give you His heart for those who have hurt or

offended you. Ask Him to give you grace to forgive them,

just as He forgave you.

17 - SOWING SEEDS OF

EVIL

Read Hosea 4.1-5

hile visiting us some time ago, some relatives noticed some

beautiful flowers growing everywhere in the fields around us.

They were so attracted to these flowers that they took home a

package of seeds to plant in their yard. What they failed to understand,

however, was that these flowers, once rooted, will quickly take over an

entire field. Where I live, as beautiful as they are, they are considered to be

a nuisance. A very similar thing was happening in Israel. God's people were

planting seeds of evil. Very quickly they found themselves overwhelmed by

the wickedness they had been sowing in the nation.

The people of Israel had broken their covenant vows with God. They had

been unfaithful to Him by pursuing false gods and immoral religious

practices. Shrines to their foreign gods sprang up all over the land.

While some may fall into the sin of unfaithfulness in a moment of

weakness, the Israelites had gone beyond this. Not only had she been

unfaithful to God, they were also guilty of no longer loving Him. There was

no love for God in the land (verse 1).

What could be worse than unfaithfulness and loss of love for a spouse? It

would have to be a refusal to even acknowledge the years lived together in

joy and happiness. This is what had happened to God’s people. In the whole

land there was no acknowledgment of God. They had no desire to

remember Him. They had no desire to consult Him. They did not even

recognize that He was the source of their life. They had completely

removed the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from their minds, hearts and

lives.

What was the result of the removal of God from the hearts and minds of

God’s people? They were reaping what they had sowed. The land was filled

with cursing. Because there was no love for God in their midst, love for

each other diminished also, and the sinful nature was given free course.

Truth and mercy disappeared, and people began to curse each other and to

curse God and His law (verse 2).

Dishonesty and violence flourished (verse 2). To protect and prosper

themselves, God's people resorted to lying, murder, stealing and adultery.

They were willing to kill to get what they wanted. Personal property,

marriage, and the life of their neighbour were no longer respected. God

accused His people of breaking all bounds (verse 2). All principles of

respect for the property and person of another were thrown away. They

were a people with no boundaries. They did whatever they pleased. They

refused to be governed by law or moral principles.

God’s people brought a great curse on their land (verse 3). The blessing of

God was removed and the land mourned and wasted away. The harvest was

no longer what it used to be. The animals, birds and fish were perishing.

God told his people through Hosea that they were not to bring a charge

against another (verse 4). There was no one in their midst worthy of

bringing a charge against his or her fellow citizen. All of them were guilty.

They were like people who brought charges against a priest if it served their

purpose. They had no respect for God’s servants. According to

Deuteronomy 17:12 those who showed contempt for the servants of God

deserved to die:

The man who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest

who stands ministering there to the LORD your God must be

put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

The Israelites stumbled day and night (verse 5). Their lives were made

difficult by immorality at every level of society. They could no longer walk

in peace and prosperity in the Lord. They stumbled, like drunkards,

ashamed and humiliated. Their prophets stumbled with them. Their mother

(symbol of the nation) was being destroyed by the seeds of evil they had

been sowing.

The Israelites had sown the seeds of her own destruction. Wickedness

quickly took over their land. Satan will never be happy with just a little

corner but will expand his domination at every opportunity. Israel refused to

acknowledge and love God. Instead she sowed seeds of unfaithfulness.

Those seeds eventually took over and choked out her life.

For Consideration:

Why is it so important to deal with the sin in our lives?

What hope is there for a nation that does not acknowledge

God and sows seeds of unfaithfulness in the land?

Why do we justify our sinful actions?

What are the effect of Israel’s sin on the earth and the

economy of the land? Do you think your nation and its

economy would be different if people in obedience to the

Lord God? Explain.

For Prayer:

Does this section describe your nation? Take a moment to ask

the Lord to deal with the sin in your nation before it

completely takes over.

Ask the Lord to reveal any sin in your life that needs to be

confessed.

Thank God for the wonderful blessing He pours out on those

who love Him.

18 - ACCUSATIONS

AGAINST THE PRIESTS

Read Hosea 4:6-14

he priests were the teachers of knowledge. They were responsible

for instruction in the Word of God. Though they knew the Word of

the Lord, the priests of Hosea's day rejected it (verse 6). They did

not teach it to the people. The result was that the Israelites were physically

and spiritually perishing for lack of knowledge. Without this knowledge of

God’s Word, His people wandered dangerously far from truth. They filled

their minds instead with the pagan philosophies and religions of the nations

around them. The Israelites were unprotected from sin and fell quickly into

idolatry and error.

As the number of priests increased, so did their sin (verse 7). They

exchanged their “glory” for something disgraceful. The priest represented

God's glory to the people? He was given the sacred charge of teaching and

leading His people in the worship and service of the one true God. What a

privilege this was? There was no greater calling in life, but the splendour of

this ministry was set aside for the shame of idolatry. The glory of the

priest's ministry was lost because of sin. God’s people wandered into error

because of their lack of knowledge. The priests did nothing to stop them.

This resulted in the Lord’s blessing being removed from the land. The

priests were in large part responsible for this. They had failed in their

ministry. Because they had rejected the knowledge of the Word of God,

they had nothing to offer a people dying in sin. They were a disgrace to the

Jewish faith. Their once glorious ministry was now filled with shame and

dishonour.

Beyond this and even more important was the fact that God was the true

glory of the priest. The Lord ought to have been the priests’ delight and

glory. They turned their back on Him and chose rather to follow the pagan

ways of the nations around them. They exchanged the loving, holy God for

demonic, pagan deities.

Hosea went as far as to say that the priests fed on the sins of God's people,

that is, they profited from sin (verse 8). When a person sinned, he would

bring a sacrifice to the priest. The priest would get a portion of that sacrifice

for himself. Why should the priest worry that people were sinning when it

put food on his table? Like an undertaker in the midst of a plague, their

business was thriving. They did nothing to stop the people from sinning.

Their concern was not for the Word of the Lord but for themselves alone.

Verse 9 tells us that the Lord would judge these priests because of their sin.

It did not matter that they were priests. God’s sentence would not be any

lighter because they were His chosen servants. They would be treated like

the common person. They would pay for their evil deeds.

The whole nation suffered from a deep lack of knowledge. God’s blessing

was removed from the land. They ate but never seemed to have enough.

They continued in their prostitution but did not increase in number. All this

was happening because they had turned their back on God. They chose

wine over the Word of God (verse 11). They chose pleasure over the

knowledge of God.

In their wandering from God, His people had stooped so low that they

preferred a stick of wood to the true God. They rejected the Creator of the

universe and the God of their fathers to serve worthless idols.

They were led by a spirit of prostitution. They were unfaithful to the God of

their fathers. They sacrificed to foreign idols (verse 12). On the mountains,

hills, and in the shade of the trees in the forest, there was evidence of their

spiritual prostitution.

Immorality prevailed in the land. The wives and daughters gave themselves

to adultery and prostitution (verse 13). Their men consorted with harlots

and shrine prostitutes (verse 14). Prostitution and drunkenness were rituals

in the worship of Baal. God would give idolaters over to their immorality.

They were a people without understanding. In their spirit of prostitution,

they had rejected God and would come to ruin.

We see how far Israel had wandered from the truth. The whole land was

sick with sin. From the priest to the common person, all were guilty before

God. They were guilty because they had rejected God and the knowledge of

His Word. The priests were not teaching the Law of God but had turned to

idol worship themselves. The people had turned their back on the truth and

had given free rein to their sinful lusts and desires.

The land was in moral chaos and would “come to ruin” (verse 14). Despite

their sin in chapters 2 and 3 God promised that He would restore another

generation to righteousness. The nation’s sins were horrendous, but God

was going to do a gracious work again. He would bring Israel back to

Himself by removing the rebellion in her heart. Israel did not deserve this

mercy but she would receive it anyway.

Maybe today you too are wondering how it could be that God could ever

forgive you for the things you have done. No one really knows why God

would forgive a sinner. The fact is, however, that He does. This is all you

need to know. Run to His loving arms, repenting of your sins and praising

Him for His grace and forgiveness. In those arms you will find what you

would longs for.

For Consideration:

Review the accusations of God against His people. How does

your own nation measure up in light of this list?

To what extent do you feel that the blessing of God is

removed from our land today because of sin? What needs to

take place to stop this trend in your own society?

What comfort do you take from the fact that the Lord God is

willing to forgive us despite the depth of our sin against Him?

What does this passage teach us about the importance of the

Word of God in our personal lives and in the world? How has

God’s Word changed your life?

What does this passage teach us about the importance of

teaching and learning the Word of God?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to pray for your spiritual and political leaders.

Ask God to enable them to positively impact this culture for

the Lord.

Pray that God’s Spirit would move and bring revival to our

needy land.

Thank God for His patience with us. Thank Him that He is

willing to forgive us of our sin if we repent and call on the

name of the Lord.

Thank the Lord for the impact His Word has had on your life

personally.

Ask the Lord to restore an interest and hunger for the Word of

God again in your society and church.

19 - BAD COMPANY

Read Hosea 4.15-19

od compared Israel in this passage to a stubborn heifer (verse 16).

She had rebelled against the Lord and wanted her own way. God

wanted to be her shepherd and care for her, but she rejected His

love. Her sister Judah was closely watching Israel’s bad example and being

tempted to follow her ways. While God warned Judah not to be like her

sister, Judah fell into the same trap as Israel.

We cannot underestimate the influence of others in our lives. We too are

influenced by the company we keep. God understood this temptation in the

life of His people when He warned Judah not to go to Gilgal. The town of

Gilgal was a very important in the history of God's people. It was in Gilgal

that Israel first camped after entering the Promised Land. There they

reaffirmed their covenant relationship with God by circumcising all the

males who had been born in the wilderness. There they also celebrated that

first Passover in the new land (Joshua 4:19-20). Using Gilgal as his military

base, Joshua conquered the entire region of Canaan. This location

symbolized the victory of God over Israel’s enemies. It was here that Israel

saw the fulfillment of the promises of God to give them a land of their own.

Gilgal was temporarily used as a worship centre for the Lord (1 Samuel

10:8) but later became a centre for idol worship (Amos 4:4). This once-

great city turned its back on God and became known for its wickedness.

Listen to what Hosea would say about it in Hosea 9:15:

Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there.

Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house.

I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.

God did not want Judah to go to Gilgal because of its wickedness. He

challenged them to stay away from those places where they would be

tempted to sin. What a challenge this is for us today. There are places we

should not go as believers. Going to these places will only serve to tempt us

and draw us away from the Lord.

God also commanded Judah not to go to Beth Aven. The name Beth Aven

means "house of deceit or wickedness." While there was an actual location

named Beth Aven, nothing of significance is recorded in Scripture as

happening in this town. This has led commentators to believe that this name

is used by Hosea because of its meaning. God's people are challenged not to

go to the "house of wickedness." They were to separate themselves from

evil companions and live for God.

God warned His people in verse 15 not to swear any longer by His name.

By making oaths in the name of the Lord God when they refused to live for

him, they were guilty of blasphemy. God rejected their hypocrisy.

In verse 16 God declared that Israel refused Him as Shepherd. Although the

nation needed His protection, God would leave her as a lamb in the

wilderness (see Matthew 23:37). Hosea told his readers that Ephraim had

joined themselves to idols. (Ephraim was the largest tribe in Israel, the

northern kingdom and was often used to refer to Israel as a whole). She was

to be left alone. Judah was not to go to her or imitate her ways. She was

corrupt. Even when her drinks were gone she continued in her prostitution

(verse 18).

Alcohol is sometimes used as an excuse for sin. "I didn’t know what I was

doing because I was drunk." Ephraim could not use this excuse. The nation

knew full well what she was doing, and she did it anyway. Ephraim's rulers

did nothing about this evil. They loved her shameful ways. Those who

should have guided God’s people into the way of truth led them deeper into

error. Because of Israel’s sin, God would send a whirlwind (verse 19). This

whirlwind would come in the form of the nation of Assyria, which would

sweep them away from their land and bring them into exile. Despite an

outward show of religion, Ephraim would be brought to shame.

In this passage, God called His true people to separate themselves from

those who were not living for Him. He reminded them that they were a

special people called by His name. As His people, they were to remain holy.

May God give us grace to live for Him and honour His name.

For Consideration:

How much do you feel the church of our day is influenced by

the secular world? Give some examples.

Why do you suppose it is so easy to get caught up into the

influences around us? How can we avoid getting caught up in

sinful practices?

In what way has your faith been influenced by the people and

things around you? Give examples.

For Prayer:

Ask God to forgive you for the negative influence you have

had on others.

Ask Him to help you to have a positive influence for the

gospel on those around you.

Ask Him to protect you from the negative unspiritual

influences you see around you today.

20 - GUILTY!

Read Hosea 5:1-15

hapter 4 showed God’s people standing before their judge. One

accusation after another has been brought against them and they

had no defense. They know they were guilty of breaking God’s

law and awaited their sentence. The great Judge took His place. God called

the priests, members of the royal family, and citizens of Israel to hear the

sentence He would pronounce on the nation. They listened in silence as

God rendered His judgement.

His people are guilty on two counts. First, they had been a snare at Mizpah

(verse 1). According to Judges 20, Mizpah was where Israel engaged in

civil war with the tribe of Benjamin. This took place because wicked men

among them had raped the concubine of a visiting Levite priest. Israel was

horrified that such an act should be committed in their land. In just a few

days, the tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out by the other tribes for this

crime. Verse 2 presents us with the imagery of this great slaughter.

Archaeological digs have unearthed idols of the fertility goddess Astarte in

the region of Mizpah. This would indicate that those who were so quick to

judge their brothers would themselves fall into sin. The very town that

stood so firmly against evil bowed the knee herself to idols. She was being

accused of setting a snare for others. In other words, she was tempting

people to follow the ways of evil and turn from the one true God.

Second, God accused His people of being a net spread out on Tabor. History

indicates that the summit of Mount Tabor very likely housed a pagan shrine

in the days of Hosea. The imagery is of a hunter spreading out his net on the

mountaintop. Like the unsuspecting bird that flew by, God’s people were

being caught in this net of sin and spiritual adultery.

They could not hide their sin from God. He knew all about their spiritual

prostitution (verse 3). He watched as they rejected His Word and became

entrapped in the net of sin. He grieved as they give their hearts and minds to

the enemy. They were led by a spirit of religious prostitution (verse 4).

There was no more room for God in their lives. They no longer recognized

God or acknowledged Him (verse 5). They became a proud and self-

sufficient people. God removed His blessing and presence from their land.

While the people continued to offer sacrifices and practiced their religious

festivals, God had withdrawn Himself from them (verse 6). He would

devour them because of their blasphemy. Sin spread like a cancer

throughout their nation. They were unfaithful to the Lord, and their children

grew up as pagans (verse 7).

A war cry went out to the cities of Gibeah, Ramah, and Beth Aven (verse

8). They were to sound the warning trumpet to warn God’s people of the

coming judgement. Benjamin was to be on his guard. His neighbour to the

north (Ephraim) was going to be laid waste (see verse 9). Judgement for

Ephraim meant that the enemy was also close to Benjamin. God would pour

out His wrath on Benjamin as well for his sin. By moving boundary stones,

they had broken God’s law and dishonestly seized territory that was not

theirs. God would pour out His wrath on them for this (verse 10).

Ephraim would be oppressed and trampled by God on the day of

punishment because he was intent on going his own way (verse 11). Like a

moth, God would eat away his blessings (verse 12). Like rot God would

destroy his inheritance in Judah (verse 12). Like a ferocious lion, God

would attack both Ephraim and Judah (verse 14). In His anger God would

rip Israel apart. In the day of God’s judgement there would be no one to

save God’s people. Ephraim would run to Assyria for help but to no avail

(verse 13). Assyria would not be able to heal God’s people of what was

essentially a spiritual problem. Only God could heal them, but they refused

to turn to Him.

By their persistent rebellion, they had driven God from their midst. God

would leave them and return to His place until His people admitted their

guilt and sought His face (verse 15). Only then would they recognize just

how much they needed Him. Their misery would cause them to run back to

God and seek His face. There would be a day of revival and renewal for

God’s rebellious people.

God disciplined His people to draw them to Himself. He withdrew His

presence from them in grace so that they would see their need of Him and

repent. He is a long-suffering God. His discipline would be harsh for His

people but it is not final. He is a jealous God. He would not share His

people with another god. He loved them too much.

For Consideration:

How many problems in our society are the result of our

driving God from our midst?

If what we are experiencing in our society is a spiritual

problem, what needs to take place for our society to be

restored?

What do we learn here about the wrath and discipline of

God? Have you ever felt His discipline? Explain.

God accused His people of driving Him from their midst.

How did this happen? What are the indications of His

presence being withdrawn from us?

For Prayer:

Ask God to open the hearts and minds of people in your

nation to see that Christ alone is the solution to national

problems.

Thank the Lord that He loves us enough to discipline us and

draw us back to Himself.

What are the sins of your nation? Take a moment to pray that

God would touch your nation and draw it to Himself.

21 - FALSE PIETY

Read Hosea 6.1-10

hen we lived overseas we became somewhat familiar with the

tropical fruit that grew up all around us. I was always amazed

to see how quickly the papaya trees in our yard grew. One of

the things I noticed, however, was that there were certain papaya trees that

never seemed to produce fruit. These trees would grow up tall and healthy

but appeared destined for a life of fruitlessness. Israel was like this. She had

all the outward signs but she bore no spiritual fruit.

God had often called His people to repentance. They had heard His voice

many times. Notice their response to God: "Come, let us return to the

Lord," they said. God's mercy and grace appeared to have no limit. Though

God had torn them to pieces, they believed He would heal them. Though He

had injured them, He would bind up their wounds (verse 1). They had

suffered under the heavy hand of God’s discipline, but God did not take

pleasure in inflicting them. There was a purpose in what He was doing. The

pain and hurt were to force them back to Him. God injured them in love.

God’s people believed that He would come to them in revival in two or

three days, that is, very quickly.

In verse 3 the call went out to acknowledge God and to press on to know

Him better. This requires submission to His will. This is a daily struggle for

the believer. Acknowledging God also involves recognizing God's hand in

all that takes place in our lives. We should accept His hand in both the good

and the bad of life (see Job 2:10). To acknowledge God is to live for Him

and to recognize and praise Him for His daily intervention in our lives.

God’s people were called here to persevere in acknowledging God.

God’s people believed that God would visit them. As surely as the sun rose

in the morning, so God would return to His people. In Hosea 5:15 God told

them that He would leave them. God’s people believed that He would be

right back among them again. He would come to them as surely as the

spring or winter rains to bring renewal and refreshing.

All of this talk seems to be very sincere. God’s people speak here about

returning to God and acknowledging Him. They spoke of renewal and

revival. They spoke the right words. They said the right things, but they

could not fool God. When God looked at their heart, He saw something

different. While these people honoured God with their lips, their heart was

far from Him (Isaiah 29:13).

"Your love is like the morning mist and the early dew that disappears,” God

told His people in verse 4. The morning mist, like the early dew, lasts only

for a short while. When the sun comes up, the mist and the dew disappear.

This was what the love of God’s people was like. It was not a love that

would endure. It was very fleeting.

Notice second that God would do to them what they did to His prophets. He

would cut them to pieces. He would kill them with the words of His mouth.

This judgement would come like lightning, in great speed and blinding

power. Their fancy religious talk would not fool God. He looked beyond

their outward appearance to the attitude of their heart.

Despite their rebellion, God's people had not stopped being religious. They

continued to offer sacrifices and speak of religious things. Burnt offerings

were multiplied in the land. They looked very healthy on the outside. Their

offerings, however, had lost their significance.

In verse 6 Hosea told his people that God desired mercy and not sacrifice.

Sacrifices and offerings were being presented to God by people who neither

loved Him nor their neighbours. These people showed no mercy to those

around them. Mercy is kindness shown to the undeserving? It seems that

God's people were offering sacrifices when they were not in a right

relationship with their neighbours. Maybe they did not think that their

neighbours deserved compassion, but this is what mercy is all about.

Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 5:23-24 that if they came to the temple

to make offerings and remembered that their brother had something against

them, they were to leave their gift at the altar and be reconciled with him

before worshipping the Lord. Here in this Hosea passage, God condemned

His people for coming to worship Him when they had refused to show

mercy and compassion to their fellow citizens. They went through the

motions of religion but did not have a hearts that was in tune with God’s

commands regarding their brothers and sisters.

God had entered a covenant agreement with this people. He kept all His

promises, but God’s people refused to keep theirs. God had given them

everything they needed. Like Adam, however, they turned their back on

God and His blessings and were unfaithful to Him (verse 7).

The Israelite town of Gilead was a city filled with wicked men. It was

stained with footprints of blood because of the violence that was taking

place there (verse 8). Marauders would lie in ambush, and murder had

become quite common in the land (verse 9).

The priests were as guilty as the common people. According to verse 9, the

priests murdered and committed shameful crimes to advance their own

interest. They had no fear of God in their hearts. The road to Shechem was

the road that connected Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of

Israel to the pagan religious centre of Bethel. Here these priests openly

practiced idolatry.

When God looked on His people He saw a horrible thing. He saw how

Ephraim had given herself to prostitution (verse 10). She had turned her

back on the Lord her God. She gave her heart to another lover. She was

defiled in her lust for other gods and broke her covenant vow with God. In

verse 11 the Lord reminded Judah that she also would have a day of

reckoning because of her sin.

God wanted to restore His people and forgive their sin. He wanted to see

them live in His blessing. The problem, however, was that His people

refused to be healed. They loved their sin too much. They persevered in

rebellion. For this reason they could not be healed. Their sins had blocked

the blessing of God. They spoke well and looked good on the outside but

they produced no spiritual fruit. They would be judged for their hypocrisy.

How easy it is to deceive ourselves into thinking that all is well and that we

are under the blessing of God. Only by humbling ourselves and seeing

things God’s way can we know the fullness of His blessing.

For Consideration:

Israel spoke the right words but she was far from God. Could

this be true of the church of our day? How easy is it for us to

deceive ourselves into thinking that all is right when we are

in reality very far from God and His blessing?

What do we learn here about the grace, mercy and patience of

God?

God looks at the heart. Why do you suppose we think we can

keep sin hidden in our heart?

For Prayer:

Ask God to help you see things as He sees them. Ask Him to

help you to move beyond words to sincere character and

actions.

Thank Him for His patience with us despite our shortcomings

and failures.

Ask God to enable you to bear fruit for Him today. Ask Him

to show you where you have failed and confess this to Him.

22 - ISRAEL'S CRIME

Read Hosea 6:11-7:1-16

he apostle James compared the Word of God to a mirror. A mirror

shows us what we are really like. Sometimes we are surprised at

what the mirror reveals about us. In this section, God set His

people in front of the mirror of His Word. They would be confronted with

the harsh reality of their sin. Let’s look with them into this mirror.

As we begin it is important that we understand that God wanted to heal His

people of their sin and evil. In Hosea 6:11 and in 7:1, He told them clearly

that whenever He wanted to restore their fortunes or heal them, new sins

were exposed. The love of God’s people for their sin and their refusal to

repent and deal with their sins kept God’s healing from them. God would

not bless them in their sin. In chapter 7 Hosea exposed the crimes of His

people.

God’s people did not hesitate to lie, cheat and deceive to promote their own

personal interests (verse 1). In regards to honesty and integrity, they were

no different from the unbeliever. They could not be trusted. People were not

safe even in the confines of their houses in Israel. Thieves would break in

and steal their possessions. They could not walk down the street without

fear of bandits robbing them.

God saw every crime they committed. He reminds His people: "I remember

all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before me"

(verse 2). Nothing was hid from an all-seeing God. He saw every sinful

action they committed.

The leadership of Israel in Hosea’s day delighted in evil (verse 3). They did

nothing to promote righteousness in their nation. In fact, they themselves

committed shameful acts. Righteous people had no recourse in the

government if they wanted justice because there was too much profit and

pleasure in wickedness.

In verse 4 God compares His people’s sin to a fire that did not need to be

stirred in order to remain hot. Normally a baker would carefully watch his

fire to be sure it would not go out while he was making his bread. This was

not the case for God’s people. The flame of their adulterous passion for evil

burned brightly. It did not need to be stirred. It smoldered all night and still

burned brightly in the morning.

Those who should have been setting an example for the people joined them

in their sinful activities. Verses 5-7 describe a plot against a king.

Historically, four of Israel’s final kings were assassinated (2 Kings 15). The

princes become drunk with wine and joined hands with mockers. These

mockers shook their fist at God in word and deed. They had no reverence

for the principles of godliness or for the authority of the king or their God.

They lived for the pleasures of the moment and cared nothing for eternity.

The result of this ungodliness was that the leaders were being devoured.

They no longer commanded the respect of the people. They ignored the

principles of God's Word, and, one by one they fell from power. God’s

blessing could no longer rest on their reigns. Even though God had removed

His blessing, Israel’s leaders refused to call on His name. They chose to die

in rebellion.

God’s intention was that Israel be different from the surrounding nations

and separate herself from their sinful practices. She had been chosen of God

and was the object of His special attention (Exodus 19:3-6). She was to be a

light to the nations and an ambassador to the world (Isaiah 49:6). She had

fallen short of her great calling. She had chosen to mix with the nations and

soon became just like them.

God compared His people to the cooking of flat cakes or pancakes (verse

8). While cooking a pancake it is important that it be turned over so that

both sides are cooked. When a pancake is not turned over, the result is that

one side is burned and the other side uncooked. When this happens it is

spoiled and cannot be eaten. This is what had happened to Ephraim. Her

mixing with the nations had destroyed her usefulness to God as a blessing

to the nations (see Genesis 12:3). On the one hand she appeared to live for

God, and on the other, she lived for the world. Like the cake burned on one

side and uncooked on the other, Ephraim was completely ruined.

God’s presence in her midst was Israel’s strength. Her association with

these nations, however, had driven God's presence away. These nations

were causing God's people to turn from the principles of His Word. The

result was a weak people devoid of spiritual strength and vitality.

God’s people were becoming old before their time (verse 9). Even as

physical strength diminishes with age, so these people were losing their

spiritual strength and vitality. The worst part about it all was that they did

not realize what was happening to them. They did not even notice that they

were drifting away from God and becoming weak and helpless (see verse

9).

How subtle is the enemy’s work in our lives. He saps our strength ever so

slowly. We may not even notice the change. One day we take a good look

into the mirror and notice how old and sickly we really are. Our love for

God is no longer alive and fresh. We find ourselves helplessly trapped in

sin. We wonder how we arrived at this point. God’s people had given into

the enemy one temptation at a time. Now they were helplessly trapped.

Israel’s great sin was arrogance (verse 10). Someone has said that pride is

the center of all sin. This was the sin of Israel. She refused to humble

herself and return to God, her only protector. The people of Israel were

blind to what was happening. The nation was dying by becoming enslaved

to other nations, but the people did not realize the seriousness of the

situation. They believed that foreign alliances would protect them against

their enemies. What they did not know was that these allied nations were

their enemies.

God compared Ephraim to a senseless dove (verses 11-12). The dove is one

of the easiest birds to catch. This was what Ephraim was like. Without

discernment she would fall into any trap the enemy set. One moment she

would turn to Assyria and her sinful ways and another moment she would

turn to Egypt. God would discipline Israel for the sin of turning away from

Him. He would spread out His net and draw her down to the ground.

God’s people had strayed from Him. They had been fascinated by the sins

of the nations around them. Like a wandering children whose curiosity got

the best of them, Israel refused to listen to the voice of God warning them

about the dangers ahead. The result of their wandering and rebellion was

devastating (verse 13).

Despite their rebellion, the Lord God longed to bring Israel to Himself. His

arms were wide open to receive them but they refused to return. Instead,

they told lies about Him. We are not told what these lies were. We do

understand, however, that there were false prophets in Israel who spoke

their own word in the name of the Lord. This may be in part a reference to

these individuals? Were these false prophets telling the people of God that

everything would all right when in reality things were very wrong? What is

clear is that God’s people refused to hear and speak the truth about God.

Their denial of the truth kept them from experiencing His blessing.

God’s people wailed on their beds, but they would not cry out to Him (verse

14). They knew in their hearts that things were not right, but they refused to

do anything about it. They knew that their rebellion was wrong and they

experienced the pain of separation from God, but they loved their sins too

much. They refused to repent. Instead they gritted their teeth and persisted

in their sin.

In verse 14 we are told that Israel assembled for grain and new wine (a sign

of God’s blessing), but they turned from God. They wanted the best of

God’s blessings and, at the same time, the pleasure of their sin. They could

not have both.

God was the source of their strength. They owed every breath to Him. He

had instructed them in the way He wanted them to live, but they refused His

way. Instead, they used the strength He gave them to rebel against Him

(verse 15).

In the final analysis, they refused the Most High. They turned their backs on

the great God of this universe who loved them. They were like a faulty bow

that missed the mark (verse 16). They could not be trusted with God’s

blessings. Their leaders would perish and the nation would be ridiculed and

mocked.

God showed His people through Hosea what they were really like by

placing them in front of the mirror of His Word. You cannot read this

section of Scripture without seeing the broken heart of God. "What can I do

with you, Ephraim?" He asked in Hosea 6:4, "your love is like morning

mist, like the early dew that disappears.” God wanted to restore their

fortunes but their sins were in the way (7:1). He longed to redeem them but

they spoke lies about Him (7:13). How rebellious they had become.

Maybe you too are like Israel. Maybe today you need to see afresh the grace

of God. In the midst of sin, He calls out. He longs to redeem. He longs for

intimacy with you as His child. What sin is holding you back? Ask Him to

help you yield your heart to Him today.

For Consideration:

What does this section teach us about the patience and long-

suffering of God?

Why is it important that we let the Word of God be our

mirror?

What does this passage teach us about how sin blocks the

blessing of God in our lives?

What is the heart of God for His children? What kind of

relationship does God want with His children?

Review the list of accusations against God’s people in this

section. Which of these accusations apply to our own

society? Which apply to you personally? Give specific

examples.

For Prayer:

Take a moment to pray for your nation. Ask God to deal with

some of the particular issues you are facing today.

Thank Him for His patience with us even when we have

wandered from Him.

Ask God to reveal any sin in you that He wants to deal with

today. Ask Him to cleanse you and draw you into a deeper

relationship with Him.

23 - FRUITLESS FAITH

Read Hosea 8.1-14

t the beginning of chapter 8, God called for the sounding of the

trumpet. The trumpet was sounded in ancient times to warn of an

approaching enemy. The enemy in this case was represented by

an eagle. The eagle is a bird of prey. It flies over its victim and swoops

down to devour. The eagle represented the judgement of God in the form of

the Assyrians who would dive down to devour Israel.

Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 28:49-52:

The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from

the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation

whose language you will not understand, a fierce-looking

nation without respect for the old or pity for the young. They

will devour the young of your livestock and the crops of your

land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new

wine or oil, nor any calves of your herds or lambs of your

flocks until you are ruined. They will lay siege to all the cities

throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you

trust fall down. They will besiege all the cities throughout the

land the LORD your God is giving you.

A day of judgement was coming for the people of God. This is not to say,

however, that the people of Israel were not a religious people. In verse 2 she

said: “O our God, we acknowledge you!” While they acknowledged God

with their mouths, they had rejected what was good (verse 3). Israel’s

religion had become a useless repetition of words only and not of deeds.

The nation perceived itself to be very different from how God perceived it.

In our culture we teach our children to be independent. We feel we have

raised them well if they grow up being able to make their own decisions

and live their own lives independently of their parents. When it comes to

God, however, this is not how things work. The more mature we are

spiritually the more dependent on Him we become. Israel was seeking her

independence from God. God’s people did not consult Him when it came to

the matter of choosing political leaders (verse 4). God wanted to be

involved in the decisions His people made. Israel claimed to acknowledge

God, but their actions showed this was not true—they did not consulted

Him in their important decisions.

God had blessed His people with great wealth and prosperity. While these

things were good in themselves, God accused His people of using what He

had given them to make idols (verse 4). This was another area of her life

where Israel did not seek the Lord. Israel had failed to acknowledge God in

the use of her resources. All we have really belongs to God. He alone has

the right to do as He pleases with what He has given to us. We need to seek

Him in how we use our resources. Israel had failed to do so.

Israel’s idol was a calf god. A calf-idol had been set up by Jeroboam, to

keep Israel from worshipping the true God (1 Kings 12:28-30). God told

Samaria—the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel—to throw away

their calf-idol (verse 5). He reminded them that the day was coming when

their idol would be destroyed. They were investing their lives and resources

in a false and demonic religious system that had no power to help them or

save their souls.

God was very angry with His people for their idolatry. Israel would be

punished for the blasphemous disobedience and refusal to acknowledge the

God of their covenant. In verses 7-10 God warned His people of the

dangers of rejecting Him.

Hosea described Israel as having sown the wind (verse 7). What is the result

of planting wind in the ground? What fruit would you expect to get? God's

people were wasting their lives and resources. They were not wisely

investing in eternal matters. Israel would stand condemned before God with

nothing to show for having been a people in covenant with the all-powerful

God of creation. Because Israel had sown the wind, Hosea warned her that

the nation would reap a whirlwind in the form of God’s wrath.

God compared His people to stocks of grain with no head. What is the good

of a stock of grain with no head? The stock cannot be eaten. It is good only

to be thrown to the cattle or burned. This was God’s description of Israel.

They had become useless to the Lord God. There was no spiritual fruit in

their lives.

Through continued rebellion Israel had driven the presence of God from

her. God used the nation of Assyria to invade Israel and deport its

inhabitants to various parts of the Assyrian Empire. Israel alone was to

blame for this. She had turned from the Lord’s protection and gone to other

nations to form alliances (verse 9). Israel was tempted by the philosophies

and sins of these foreign nations and gradually lost all distinctiveness as a

people of God. In the end her enemies swallowed her up and she wasted

away under their oppression (verse 10).

This is very different from what they were under the reign of King David

and King Solomon. Israel had been the envy of every nation on the earth.

God’s people were feared and revered as mighty and powerful. They had

lost everything and became an oppressed and miserable people, wasting

away because they had refused to turn to their God and acknowledge Him.

Religion formed an important part of Israel's everyday life. Their religion,

however, was not a true religion. Ephraim filled the land with altars (verse

11). When the people brought their sin offerings to these altars, they were

mocking the Lord and His covenant of faithfulness to them. These

rebellious Israelites performed pagan religious rituals with hearts that were

far from God.

Though Israel had received the law of God, this law had become foreign to

them (verse 12). They lived the way they wanted and disregarded the

commandments of God. The law of God was a stranger in their midst. Like

the dusty Bible on the shelf, it was never consulted. The people did not

acknowledge God because they enjoyed the pleasure of their sin.

God refused to accept their sacrifices because they were not being offered

by those who showed true repentance (verse 13). Their religion was

blasphemous. God saw their wicked hearts and hated their hypocrisy.

Though Israel had built richly adorned palaces, she forgot the Lord God

(verse 14). She had become so absorbed in her own interests that she had no

time for her Maker. Judah built her fortified towns. She felt that she did not

need the Lord God to be her strength. She too had abandoned her Creator.

What would be the result of this sin? God would consume their fortresses.

All the strongholds and her palaces would tumble to the ground. Israel’s day

of strength and power would be no more. She would stand naked before

God. Her fancy buildings and fortresses would be of no use to her in the

day of judgement.

Here before us is a religious people who are not right with God. They

considered themselves to be the people of God but they did not consult

Him. They did not invest in spiritual matters. They went through the

motions of religion, but their hearts were untouched by the truth of the

Word of God. God was not pleased with them. Their impression of

themselves differed greatly from God's impression of them. This passage

challenges us to consider our own relationship with the Lord. It's not what

we think about ourselves that matters but rather what God thinks about our

spiritual condition.

For Consideration:

What is God looking for in His people? How does God

expect His people to express their relationship with Him?

Do you need God’s help in an area of weakness in your life?

What is it in particular?

What does this passage teach us about our need to seek God

in all things?

Take a look at your own life. Is your life fruitful for the Lord?

Explain.

What is the importance of our heart and attitude in the

practice of our faith?

For Prayer:

Has the Lord challenged you from this section of Scripture?

Ask Him to help you make things right in a weak area of your

life.

Ask God to give you a sincere and honest heart before Him.

Thank God for His patience with us despite our many

failures.

24 - ISRAEL'S

PUNISHMENT

Read Hosea 9.1-17

quick look at the unbelieving world around us will show us that

the unbeliever lives for temporary pleasures. This is the

philosophy of an unbelieving age. There is, however, life after

death, and all people will stand accountable to God for how they life their

lives. As God’s chosen nation, Israel was not to join in the celebrations of

the nations around her (verse 1). What is the reason for this? Did God not

want is people to rejoice and enjoy the good things He had provided? The

context of this chapter indicates that God’s people were forbidden this

privilege for two reasons.

The first reason had to do with what God’s people were enjoying. We saw

in the last chapter that the people of Israel were guilty of taking pleasure in

their sins and unfaithfulness to God. They had been led astray into

prostitution and spiritual adultery. They became attracted to the immorality

of pagan religion and lost sight of God and his holy commands. The

Canaanites practiced their fertility rites on the threshing floors of the land.

In these locations they engaged in immoral sexual practices to ensure the

fertility of the earth. Israel was involved in these festivities. She too

invoked these fertility gods. No longer did she recognize God as the source

of the harvest. She was rejoicing in rebellion against God.

The second reason Israel was not to rejoice like the nations was because of

what was about to happen. God would remove fertility from the land. There

would not be enough crops to feed the people (verse 2). These were

covenantal curses that God had promised for unfaithfulness (Deuteronomy

28:38-42). They would lose their land to the Assyrians. They would live in

exile, eating the unclean food of strangers (verse 3). They were not to

rejoice because they were about to lose everything they had. Their sin and

rebellion had brought these curses on them.

Israel was God’s chosen nation. She was the object of His special attention.

She had received His law. She had been chosen to be a light to the nations.

Because of her position and knowledge of the truth, Israel’s crime was more

serious than that of the nations. There is an obligation attached to being

called by God’s name. Israel had failed as God’s representative and

blasphemed the name of God in the eyes of the nations. God would not

leave this unpunished.

As His representatives, we are to live for His honour and glory. To refuse to

do so is to blaspheme the name we represent. Your sins as a believer and

representative of God in this world are not to be taken lightly. You carry his

name with you wherever you go.

God was no longer pleased with their religious service. He refused to accept

their insincere offerings and sacrifices (verse 4). Because they blasphemed

His name, God refused their worship. Their sacrifices no longer pleased

Him because they were not offered with hearts that were in communion

with Him. Their sacrifices were like the bread of mourners. The bread of

mourners was bread that had been touched by those who had been defiled

by a dead body. Because this bread was unclean, it could not be eaten (see

Deuteronomy 26:14). The sacrifices the people brought to the temple of the

Lord were unclean like the bread of mourners. God did not want these

unclean sacrifices. He told them to keep their sacrifices for themselves as

food. He would not accept them.

In verse 5 the Lord asked the people: “What will you do on the days of the

appointed feasts, on the festival days of the Lord?” (verse 5)? The

Assyrians were going to invade their land and deport them. They would no

longer be able to properly worship God according to the Law of Moses.

What would they do when their freedom to worship was taken from them?

God’s people had been guilty and would be punished by God. Hosea

described the punishment that awaited God’s people because of their sin.

Those the Assyrians or Babylonians did not capture would be taken by

Egypt (Memphis), Hosea told them in verse 6. In the days of Jeremiah this

is exactly what took place. The people who remained in the land after its

conquest by Assyria and Babylon decided to return to Egypt. God told them

through Jeremiah that they would perish in the land of Egypt because they

did not put their trust in Him (see Jeremiah 41-44).

The land the Lord their God had given their ancestors would be overtaken

by thorns and briars (verse 6). The treasures they were forced to leave

behind would be stolen or destroyed. The land would become a wasteland.

Thorns would overrun their tents because there was no one to cultivate and

care for the land.

The sins of God’s people were many. They had resisted the Lord God and

His purposes for them. They had become hostile to His purposes. They

considered God’s prophets to be fools and maniacs (verse 7). God had sent

these prophets to be His watchmen for the nation. They called the people to

repentance and warned of God’s coming judgement. But instead of

welcoming them, God’s people were hostile to these true prophets and

made their ministries difficult (verse 8).

A day of reckoning was coming for the people of God. God would not

forget their wickedness (verse 9). He compared these people to the evil men

of Gibeah whose crimes were well known (see Judges 19). God forgives

and forgets all confessed sin but He will punish us for living in rebellion

and persevering in wickedness. If Israel did not repent she would receive a

just punishment for her rebellion. Nothing short of confession and

repentance would stop this from taking place.

Verse 10 is a rose among thorns. We have seen the terrible anger and

judgement of God in the above verses. Here in verse 10 we catch a glimpse

of God’s heart of compassion and love for His people. When God first

chose Israel, it was a time of great delight for Him, like finding grapes in

the midst of a desert. What excitement filled His heart in those early days of

the nation. Like a farmer seeing the first fruit on his fig trees, so it was

when God saw Israel begin to bud. God loved His people. He took great

pleasure and delight in them. His people, however, followed the ways of

Baal and became an abomination in His eyes (see Numbers 25:1-5). The

smile of God’s loving approval was quickly changed into a frown of wrath.

Because His people resisted all efforts to draw them back to repentance,

God had to punish them. Ephraim’s glory would flee. Like a bird that takes

flight and disappears, so would be the glory of Ephraim (verse 11). God's

blessing of children would be removed and Ephraim (name for Israel)

would be left barren and desolate.

Those children who were born would suffer. Many would die and never

reach adulthood. Those mothers who did conceive would miscarry or lose

their children to the murdering invaders (verses 12-13). Those who give

birth would have dry breasts (verse 14). They would have nothing to feed

their children. With God’s presence removed from them, His people would

wither up and die. They had forgotten that they owed everything to God. By

breaking His covenant with them, they passed the death sentence on

themselves.

Verse 15 speaks very powerfully of the intense hatred of God for the terrible

sins of His people: “Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them

there.” Gilgal had become a centre for idol worship and symbolized Israel’s

spiritual adultery. As a result, God drove them from His presence. Israel

refused every opportunity to return to God. The only recourse now was to

banish them from His presence and turn His affections from them (verse

15).

God’s people were of no more use to Him. They were unfruitful (verse 16).

They rebelliously chose to follow the ways of the pagan nations around

them, which God hated. God had no choice but to turn His back on them

and reject them as sinners unwilling to receive His forgiveness. This is not

to say that God had forever abandoned His people, the Israelites. There

would be renewed calls through the prophets to return to their covenant

relationship with God. As for those in Hosea’s generation, they would be

judged—taken from the land and scattered among the other nations (verse

17; see Deuteronomy 28:62-66).

This passage is a challenge to those of us who belong to the Lord. As His

representatives, we have the responsibility to live for Him and represent His

name in all we do. The punishment described in this chapter is very severe

but so is the crime. God's people had forgotten that they were His

representatives and that He is the source of their every blessing. Much is

required from those who have been given much (see Luke 12:48).

For Consideration:

How would you evaluate Christianity today? Are we good

representatives of God and His character? What are our

weaknesses?

What comfort do you find in the fact that while God rejected

the generation of Hosea’s day, He would renew His offer of

fellowship to other generations? Do you believe that your

generation has been faithful to the Lord God? Explain.

What sins have driven a wedge between us and God’s

blessings? If we truly humbled ourselves as believers before

the Lord, what blessings would you expect to see?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you be a good representative of His

name. Confess your personal shortcomings and ask for His

enabling in these areas of your life.

Thank the Lord that He is a just God who will not accept sin

and evil. Ask Him to search your heart to see if there is any

sin that needs to be confessed.

Thank the Lord for His intense delight in you as His child.

Thank Him that He considers you like “grapes in the desert.”

25 - IT IS TIME TO SEEK

THE LORD

Read Hosea 10.1-15

osea compared Israel to a spreading vine bringing forth fruit. She

grew in number and influence under God's blessing. The

problem, however, was that the more she was blessed, the more

she loved her blessing and turned from God. The more her fruit increased,

the more she built altars to strange gods (verse 1). As Israel prospered, she

adorned her sacred places of idol worship. Israel’s blessings should have

increased her gratitude to God, but the blessings increased her

independence and drove her farther away.

The prophet told his people that they were guilty and would pay the price

for forsaking the Lord. Their altars and sacred stones would be demolished

(verse 2). God told His people that He would destroy their objects of

worship. He would punish His people for their religious and social crimes

against His holy law.

In the day of God’s judgement, His people would have no one to turn to.

Their king would not be able to help them when God unleashed His anger

(verse 3). The people would see that an earthly king was helpless against

God’s wrath.

The whole nation was steeped in deceit (verse 4). A person’s word could

not be trusted. God's people made promises and agreements but did not

keep them. Lawsuits sprung up throughout the land as people broke their

word with each other. These lawsuits are compared to poisonous weeds

springing up in a plowed field. The whole nation was overcome by these

weeds of deception. They choked out the blessing of God.

In verse 5 Hosea prophesied that in the capital city of Samaria, the citizens

would live in fear when they saw that their calf-idol had been taken from

them. They had bowed down to this idol for protection and blessing since

their conception as a nation. The Assyrians would invade and take away

their nation and their god. Their idol would serve as tribute to the king of

Assyria (verse 6). The people of God would be ashamed and disgraced

because their idols would not help them in their day of trouble.

Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, and its king would

be taken away into exile. Like a twig taken by the water current, God’s

people would be helpless against their enemy. Their high places, where they

bowed to their foreign gods, would be destroyed. Thorns would cover their

altars. God’s people would be brought to utter hopelessness. They would

despair of life. Hosea told them that the day was coming when they would

cry out to the mountains and hills to fall on them so that they could perish

and not endure the terrible judgment of God. Jesus used the same words in

Luke 23:30 about a final day of judgement.

God's people had sinned against Him since the days of Gibeah (verse 9). In

Judges 19-21 we see that it was in the region of Gibeah that Israel engaged

in civil war against the tribe of Benjamin because of its immorality. Gibeah

was a symbol of rebellion against the standard God had laid out for His

people. It also was a symbol of slaughter and judgement. It was the place

where brother turned against brother.

Hosea warned his people that the Lord God would punish them for their sin.

Nations would gather against them. They would be put in bonds for their

double sin (verse 10). Jeremiah used a similar expression in Jeremiah 2:13:

My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me,

the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns,

broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

What is the double sin of the people of God? Was it not, first, that they had

forsaken God and secondly, that they had turned to idols?

Ephraim is compared in verse 11 to a trained heifer that threshed the grain.

Threshing was the process by which the grain was separated from the straw.

This was done either by beating the straw or by having oxen trample it.

According to Deuteronomy 25:4, the ox that threshed was to be permitted to

eat as it worked. Obviously, for an ox, this would be a very pleasant task. It

could eat all he wanted as it threshed the grain. This is a picture of God’s

people under His loving care. They enjoyed the blessing and bounty of

God. They were happy to serve as long as they were getting something out

of it for themselves. God told them, however, that those days were over and

they would have to wear a yoke (verse 11). They would no longer have the

pleasant task of threshing the grain. They would be driven ahead of a plow.

Things would be difficult for them because they had turned from God. No

longer would they see the richness of God’s blessing. Their daily existence

would be one of difficulty and pain.

In verse 12 God called His people to repentance. They had been sowing

seeds of sin all their lives. It was time to repent and make some major

changes. The Israelites were called to live for the Lord their God and to sow

seeds of righteousness. They were challenged to break up the hardened

ground of their hearts. In so doing, two things would happen: they would

reap the fruit of his unfailing love, and the Lord himself would show His

righteousness on them.

God promised that if His people humbled themselves in His sight and broke

up the hardened ground of their lives, then He will shower righteousness on

them. Notice that this righteousness would come from God and that it

would be showered on His people. Righteousness only comes after our

hardened hearts have been broken. We can never become what God wants

us to become until we die to ourselves and our pride. There are those who

believe that they have the personal power to live the life God expects of

them. They seek to establish their own righteousness. God promised to

shower His righteousness on those who would humble themselves before

Him. This is not something we do for ourselves. Righteousness is a work of

God in us. It is not what we do for God but what He does for us.

What was the response of Israel to this pleading of God? In verse 13 we

read that she continued to plant wickedness. Israel turned her back on her

God and the righteousness He promised to give her. Because she planted

wickedness, she reaped the fruit of wickedness in her land. The seeds they

planted produced deception and wickedness throughout the country. Israel

did things in her own way. She was not interested in the principles of God’s

Word, and she would reap what she had sown.

Israel trusted in her own strength. She did not see her need of God. She felt

she was big enough to make up her own mind and fight her own battles.

She would soon find out how much she needed God. God would rise up

against her and her fortresses would be devastated (verse 14). Hosea

reminded his people of days gone by when they were devastated because

they did not trust in their God. He reminded them of how, on one occasion,

their children were dashed to the ground by the cruelty of their enemy

(verse 14).

There was no future apart from God for the nation of Israel. Hosea warned

them that they were on the wrong path. The path they tread lead to

devastation and death.

The warning is clear. We cannot afford to ignore what God is telling us

through His Word. To turn our backs on God is dangerous. The warning

goes out from the lips of the prophet Hosea. He challenged his people to

break up your unplowed hearts and soften them towards the things of God.

He called them to repentance. It was not too late. If they turned to their

God, He was willing to shower them with His righteousness and blessings.

For Consideration:

What is the difference between a righteousness that comes

from God and our own efforts to be right with God?

Do you feel that as Christians we often live by law, seeking to

merit God’s favour? What is the difference between serving

the Lord to merit His favour and serving out of a heart that

overflows with gratitude?

There were those in Hosea’s day who served God only for

what they could get out of Him. Is it possible for us to fall

into this same trap today?

What are the blessings promised in this section of Scripture

to those who humble themselves before the Lord?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord that His righteousness is

showered on all who will humbly come to Him. Thank Him

that He gives us His righteousness.

Verse 8 reminds us of the terror of those not living for the

Lord when He returns. Take a moment to pray for someone

who does not know the Lord. Ask God to reveal Himself to

them.

Ask God to examine your motivation for serving Him. Ask

Him to give you a pure and holy motivation to serve Him out

of love and devotion.

26 - GRACE IN

REBELLION

Read Hosea 11.1-12

ave you ever shared one of those moments with your family

where you reflected on the fond memories of the past? Maybe it

was the moment your first child was born. Maybe it was the loss

of a first tooth. There are many happy memories stored away in our minds.

This is something of what the Lord God is doing here in this chapter.

God took His people back in time to the beginnings of Israel as a nation. He

compared Israel to a young child, dearly loved by a father. God told them of

how He, with great care, took Israel out of the land of Egypt and was proud

to call him “my son” (verse 1).

The joy of verse 1, however, was quickly turned to grief, because His son

did not love his father (verse 2). The more God called His son to come to

His side, the more Israel ran from his father. Israel turned from the one true

God to false gods and began sacrificing to the Baals (see Deuteronomy

8:14-20).

God’s heart was broken by the rebellion of Israel His child. "It was I who

taught Ephraim to walk," (verse 3). He had taken Israel by the arms and

kept them from falling. He had picked them up when he fell and brushed off

the dirt from wounded knees.

God always led His child with kindness and love. Hosea reminds us in

verse 4 of how God took the yoke off Israel's neck and bent down Himself

to feed Him. The picture here is of an individual feeding an ox. In order for

the ox to properly eat, the owner would take the yoke off its neck. God not

only took off Israel’s yoke but He also bent down to feed and care for them.

This is the role of a servant. God’s love and tenderness never lacked toward

His son Israel.

Despite God’s great kindness and compassion toward His people, they

consistently turned their back on Him. The result was that they would be

driven from His presence. They would return to captivity and bondage

(Egypt) from where He had rescued them (verse 5). Assyria would rule over

them. The sword would flash in their city, breaking down their gates (verse

6). The great plans they had for themselves would come to an end under the

judgement of the Lord. All this would happen because they insisted on

wandering from the Lord. They were determined to follow the path of

rebellion (verse 7). God would not answer cries from insincere, wicked

hearts.

Despite their rebellion, God’s love remained solid and unmoved. His heart

broke within Him as He considered His judgement of Israel. "How can I

give you up, Ephraim" He asked. "How can I hand you over, Israel?" While

God had every right to treat His people like the cities of Admah and

Zeboiim, it brought Him great pain. According to Deuteronomy 29:23 these

two cities were destroyed with the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah:

The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—

nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on

it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah,

Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in fierce

anger.

While the anger of the Lord should have prevailed, it was His compassion

that was stirred. He chose not to carry out His fierce anger (verse 9). God

has fierce anger against sin. Let us never doubt this for a moment. Here,

however, we see that He is also a God of unmerited favour toward sinners.

Unlike humans, God’s extends His grace to those who have hated Him and

blasphemed His name. Although Israel would be punished, God would also

show His loving kindness again to His chosen people.

This did not mean that God would ignore the sins of Hosea’s generation.

They would know His stern discipline. He would roar like a lion (verse 10).

In so doing He would call His children to account for their actions. The day

was coming, however, when God would pour out a spirit of repentance and

His trembling nation would return to Him in repentance.

Verse 11 tells us that God’s people would come like birds from Egypt and

doves from Assyria. Could this be a reference to the swiftness with which

they would come to Him? The dove is a bird of peace and is a very timid

bird. This is also how God’s people would come. While they would come to

Him in swiftness, they would, like a timid dove, be fully aware of their sin.

When they came to the Lord in this manner, they would experience His

renewed blessing. They would again settled in their homes and know the

smile of God on their lives.

In Hosea’s day God’s people were quite happy to live in their rebellion and

not seek Him. Ephraim surrounded God with lies and deceit. Judah was an

unruly child and resisted her heavenly father (verse 12; some versions

translate this verse differently). God was always faithful to the covenant

with His people, and He punished them according to His promise.

Ultimately God would pour out a spirit of repentance in the midst of their

rebellion. Instead of destroying them as they deserved, they would be

forgiven and restored to a right relationship with their God. Like a good

shepherd God, would chase after the wandering sheep. Out of love for His

people, God blocked their path lest they be completely overcome by sin.

Praise be to a God who watches over His people and never breaks His

promises.

For Consideration:

How have you been aware of God’s grace and mercy in your

life in recent weeks? Give an example.

What evidence do you see in this section that proves God

takes great personal interest in you as His child?

Do you have any reason to believe from this section that God

would ever abandon you? Why?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for the evidences of His grace and love

toward you. Thank Him that His love for you never changes.

Ask God to pour out a spirit of repentance on your land.

Ask God to help you to love and forgive your friends and

neighbours, as He has done for you.

Take a moment to thank the Lord that He is such a forgiving

God. Thank Him for forgiving you personally.

27 - MORE SIN

Read Hosea 11.12-12.14

wonder what God felt when He found Himself surrounded by the

thing He hated most, sin and deceit. In the last chapter we saw that

Israel was surrounding a holy God with their sin and evil (11:12).

Everywhere God looked, there was sin in the land. What would stop Him

from lashing out in anger and righteous indignation?

Ephraim was feeding on the wind (verse 1). Have you ever caught the wind

in your hands? Can the wind provide nourishment for the body? This is a

picture of futility. God’s people were wasting their time and energy

pursuing evil. In the end, all their effort would be to no avail. They could

not compete against God and win.

Lies and violence were on the increase in the land of Ephraim. What they

could not get by lying, they would take by violent means. Principles of

honesty and respect had been cast aside. Greed and pride ruled in contrast

to the integrity and humility commanded in God’s laws.

God had promised to be their strong tower (Psalm 61:3). Everything they

needed they could find in Him. What an honour and privilege it was to be

His children. Nothing could harm them under His protection. They had

everything they could ever have hoped for and more. God’s people,

however, were seeking military protection from other nations. They entered

a treaty with Assyria and sent oil to Egypt to enlist her support.

How willing God is to reach out to us in our need. His unending resources

are at our disposal. How often do we claim those resources? If we are

honest, we would probably find ourselves as guilty as the people of

Ephraim. When we have nowhere else to go we turn to God. How this must

grieve Him. A missionary friend once said: "It’s not that we don’t pray, it’s

that we don’t make it the first thing we do." How often do we wait until we

are backed into a corner before coming to God? How much pain and agony

we would avoid if we made prayer and seeking God our first step.

God’s people had turned to others. In so doing, they turned away from God.

God would repay them according to their deeds (verse 2). Even as a child in

the womb, their forefather Judah had grasped his brother’s heel (see

Genesis 25.26). Throughout the lives of Jacob and Esau there was bitterness

and deceit between them. This bitterness was passed on to the descendants

of Jacob and Esau. Jacob was a self-seeker, and this attitude drove him to

struggle with God. In pride Jacob would take on anyone who stood in his

way.

Not all of Jacob’s grasping was bad. His natural perseverance caused him to

seek a blessing from an angel after a long fight with him (Genesis 32:24-

26). Jacob refused to allow the angel to go until he had blessed him. Hosea

told his listeners that Jacob begged for the favour of God with tears (verse

4). God answered his desperate, humble prayer and blessed Jacob. The

problem, however, was that Jacob’s strong point was also his greatest

weakness. While his aggression did cause him to struggle for God, it would

at other times cause him to struggle against God. At this point in their lives,

Judah was struggling against their Creator. They needed to return to Him as

Jacob returned to Bethel and heard God speak (Genesis 35:14). The Lord

God of Jacob is the Lord of hosts, the Lord Almighty who controls all the

powers of heaven and earth (verse 5). This was Israel’s God, whom she had

deserted.

Hosea called Israel to return to the Lord Almighty (verse 6). Like Judah,

Israel had forgotten love and justice. As we have already mentioned, Jacob

was born holding onto the heel of his brother. Throughout their life as a

nation, Judah wanted to be first. She would not hesitate to step on others to

get her own way. Love and justice were cast aside in this pursuit of

individual interests. In verse 6 God called His people back to His laws.

God’s people needed to learn to humbly wait on God’s time. That meant

that they were to seek their God in all things. They were to learn not to run

ahead of God and His purpose.

We have already seen that love and justice had been forgotten in the pursuit

of personal interests. Honesty and integrity were also cast aside (verse 7).

The merchants of the land used inaccurate scaled to cheat and defraud their

customers. This did not go unnoticed by God.

Dishonesty and fraud did make them wealthy. In fact, Ephraim boasted of

wealth and felt secure in worldly possessions. The people believed that their

money could protect them. They thought they could buy their way out of

any problem.

In verse 9 God reminded His people of the days when they came out of

Egypt. In those days they did not have fancy houses but lived in tents. They

did not own property but roamed from one place to another in the desert. In

those days, they were entirely dependent on God for their daily sustenance.

While the Jews to whom Hosea was presently speaking had not themselves

experienced this wandering in the wilderness, they had heard about it and

commemorated it by living in tents at certain times of the year (Leviticus

23:42-43). God reminded His people that they would once again live in

tents like their forefathers. The day was coming when they would be

stripped of their fancy houses and land. In that day of judgement, they

would be forced to depend on God one day at a time.

God warned His people, through the prophets, of a coming judgement, but

they would not listen (verse 10). He sent prophets with visions. They spoke

to God’s people in parables so that they could understand, but they were not

interested in God’s Word. These people were not sinning out of ignorance

but in direct defiance of God’s spoken word.

The city of Gilead had become a very wicked city (verse 11). Its citizens

were useless to God. In Gilgal their pagan altars were multiplying

throughout the land. A day of wrath was coming. On that day their altars

would be pulled down and piled like stones on a plowed field. Their false

gods would be useless to them on the day of God’s judgement.

When Jacob deceived his brother by stealing his birthright and blessing, he

was forced flee his homeland to save his life. In that time God cared for him

and provided him with a wife (verse 12). Later in the land of Egypt, under

the heavy oppression of Pharaoh, God graciously sent a prophet named

Moses to rescue His people (verse 13). He delivered them by signs and

wonders and gave them a land of their own.

You would have thought that His people would be eternally indebted to God

for His goodness to them, but this was not the case. Ephraim had bitterly

provoked the Lord to anger (verse 14). Israel, who had been showered with

kindness, became guilty of the worst crimes. She who had received God’s

grace from her conception as a nation repaid Him by showing contempt for

His name. God would not leave them unpunished. He would hold them

accountable for their actions and return them to slavery in foreign nations

where He had found them.

We owe our lives to God. We have been forgiven much and we owe Him

much in return. He has rescued us from hell. He has given us life in Christ.

What a horrible thing it is to turn our backs on Him.

What can we offer in return for all he has done for us? Let us who have

been forgiven much love much (see Luke 7:47). Let us cast aside personal

interest and self-gratification. Let us give ourselves wholly to Him who

gave Himself for us. Anything short of this is sin.

For Consideration:

Compare God’s people here in this section to your own

society on the following terms: 1) masters of their own

destiny, 2) striving after the wind, 3) self-sufficiency, 4)

stepping on others to promote self, and 5) materialism and

dependence on wealth not God.

What causes us to wander from God? Are there any particular

areas were you have been guilty of wandering from God?

What do we learn here about the love, compassion and justice

of God?

Have you ever been caught in the trap of dependence on the

things of this world and not on God?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to reveal any area of your life in which you are

not seeking Him. Ask Him to give you grace to repent and

seek Him.

Thank the Lord for His mercy and compassion even when we

stumble and fall.

Do you know someone who has been wandering from the

Lord today? Take a moment to pray that the Lord would

restore that person to Himself.

28 - REBELLIOUS

EPHRAIM

Read Hosea 13.1-16

f all the tribes of Israel, Ephraim was the greatest. Ephraim was

the largest tribe and when Ephraim spoke people listened.

Ephraim had authority among the people of God and was an

exalted tribe (verse 1). When the nation of Israel split into two kingdoms,

the ten northern tribes were often referred to as Ephraim. God had poured

out His blessing on these people.

What was Ephraim's response to this wonderful privilege and blessing of

God? They turned their back on God to serve Baal (verse 1). Ephraim led

the other tribes into Baal worship, and this sin brought death to them as a

nation. When the people turned to idolatry, they died. They died to their

usefulness to God and they died to their relationship with God. They also

died physically as a nation. Their physical blessings were removed and they

no longer enjoyed the privileges they once knew under God.

As time went on, Ephraim and the other Israelites became more and more

entangled in sin (verse 2). Their craftsmen took pride in fashioning idols of

silver. They even offered human sacrifices (2 Kings 16:3; Jeremiah 32:35).

They kissed the calf-idols, thus showing their reverence and love for that

which God hated. The people of Israel became like the nations around

them. Their witness and testimony for the Lord God was destroyed. They

were indistinguishable from their unbelieving neighbours. They lost all love

and desire for the true God and His holy laws. Their hearts went after

demonic gods. How this grieved God who had created and chosen them as

His own.

God would not sit idly by and watch His people continue in sin. God

compared them to the morning mist and the early dew that disappeared. As

great as they had been, they would be no more. Israel would cease to exist

as quickly as the disappearing dew in the morning sun. The nation would be

blown away like the chaff swirling around on the threshing floor. God’s

people would offer no resistance. They would be helpless before the wind

of God’s fury and would disappear like smoke escaping through an open

window (verse 3).

God had always cared for His people. When they were being oppressed and

beaten by the Egyptians, God reached out and saved them (verse 4). He

brought them out of the land of their slavery. He guided them through the

desert (verse 5). When they were hungry, He fed them (verse 6). For forty

years He provided for their every need as they wandered through the

wilderness. Never once had He failed them. Because they were well cared

for, they soon became proud. In their pride they forgot who fed them. They

forgot that behind their greatness was the grace and mercy of a loving and

gracious God.

God would deal with His unfaithful people in fury. He would pounce on

them like a lion. Like a leopard stocking his prey, God would be a constant

threat to them (verse 7). They would pay the price for their rebellion. God

would attack them like a mother bear robbed of her cubs (verse 8). Like a

lion, He would devour them. Like a wild animal He would rip them to

pieces. They would be destroyed because they turned their backs on their

covenant God and only helper. “You are destroyed, O Israel, because you

are against me” (verse 9).

In the day of God’s wrath, their kings would not be able to save them (verse

10). Many years ago they had cried out to God for a king. They told the

prophet Samuel that they wanted to be like the nations (1 Samuel 8). God

did not refuse them this privilege. While this was not His desire for them,

their stubborn insistence pushed God to teach them the hard way. The Lord

gave them a king in anger. They learned that their dependence on a human

king, instead of the Lord alone, brought them only sin and destruction. In

the day of God’s judgement, where were these human protectors? What

could they do for God’s people in their day of divine wrath?

There is a lesson for us here. There are times when God will give us over to

our stubborn wills. He calls us to live in obedience, but, if we persist in

disobedience, He may turn us over to our evil desires to learn the hard way.

In the end we will suffer loss.

Hosea told his readers in verse 12 that Ephraim’s guilt had been stored up.

God’s people had piled one sin on another. God had not stopped them. They

had the responsibility of choice in this matter. While God did not stop their

sin, He did keep a record of all their wrongs. They would one day give an

account of their actions.

In verse 13 Hosea compared God’s discipline of Ephraim to childbirth.

Through these birth pains of discipline God had been calling His people to

leave the comfortable womb of sin. The Lord, as the mother, was also in

pain trying to bring forth this child to new life, but Ephraim refused to hear

God’s voice. He refused to come to the opening of the womb and so He

would perish.

God promised in verse 14 that those who received His discipline would be

rescued from the power of the grave. God would not forsake them in their

trial. Not even death could defeat them if they were His and listened to

Him.

Despite these promises Ephraim refused the discipline of the Lord. Hosea

told these unfaithful people that an east wind would blow over them from

the desert. Assyria was located to the east. The Assyrians would plunder

Israel, looting their storehouses and their treasures (verse 15). Samaria, the

capital of the northern kingdom, would suffer the full consequences of

rebellion against God. Her people would fall by the sword. Her little

children would perish as they were dashed to the ground. Their pregnant

women would be ripped open by the sword of their enemy (verse 16). Their

devastation would be terrible. The foreign nation that rose up against her

would have no compassion.

A horrible picture of judgement is presented to God’s people here. We

cannot read this chapter without remembering that God is a holy God and

must judge sin. This chapter, however, is also filled with hope. We are also

presented here with a loving God. He was the God who rescued His people

from the bondage of Egypt. He was the God who provided for their every

need as they wandered through the wilderness. He was the God who

delighted in exalting His child Ephraim. He was the God who promised

victory over death. In Him there is blessing beyond measure. Outside of

Him there is only judgement and wrath.

For Consideration:

Consider for a moment the fragility of life? Can you think of

a practical example of how someone, in an instant, lost all

they held dear?

What keeps God from removing His blessings from us and

our society?

Give an example of how the pain of God’s discipline drew

you closer to Him.

What does this passage teach us about the hardness of human

hearts and the lure of sin?

What do we learn here about the love of God for His people?

What does the passage teach us about the holy justice of

God?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for His blessings. Name a few of them.

Are you going through a trial right now? Thank the Lord that

He promises to work this out for your good.

Thank the Lord for how He has drawn you closer to Himself

through trials.

Ask the Lord to give you a heart that is sensitive to Him.

Do you know someone who has wandered from the Lord

God? Take a moment to pray that the Lord would draw this

person back to Himself.

29 - THE CONCLUSION OF

THE MATTER

Read Hosea 14.1-9

e come to the conclusion of this prophecy of Hosea. The list of

sins has been accumulating from chapter to chapter. The wrath

of God has been revealed. God’s people remain stubborn in

their resistance against the Holy One of Israel. Listen to God’s final word to

this prodigal nation.

In verse 1 God called His people to return to Him. After all they have done,

the door was still open for them to return to their covenant relationship with

the Lord through repentance and obedience. God’s people had sinned

grievously against Him. Their lack of repentance had been their downfall.

God had not abandoned them and was still their God. He wanted them to

return to Him and His arms were open wide to receive them. His grace

seems to have no limit. His love for His people is constant and unmerited.

In verse 2 Hosea challenged his people to approach God boldly and ask

Him to receive them. This was a real step of faith for those who had been

guilty of so much sin and rebellion. Notice that God required that they ask

for forgiveness. Too many people expect that they will be forgiven without

asking. We should never assume this.

Hosea told His people in verse 3 how they were to approach this holy and

just God. He told them to come first realizing that He was their only hope.

He told them to confess that Assyria could not help them. Assyria was a

dominant world power of the day so it was a real temptation for the people

of God to run to Assyria for help. God required that His people recognize

that no one else could protect them. He required that they put their full

confidence and trust in Him alone.

The second step of repentance is also found in verse 3. Here God told His

people to admit their sin and turn from it to follow Him alone. He wanted to

hear them say that they would never again place their faith in pagan gods.

They were to give their full attention to the God of Israel. He alone was to

be their God. He wanted His people not only to recognize that they had

been wrong but also to turn from those sins never to return. They were

never again to say, “Our gods,” when looking at the work of their own

hands. In other words, they were never again to make or put their trust in an

idol made with human hands.

This did not mean that they needed to be perfect before they came to God.

God promised in verse 4 to heal their backsliding and to love them freely.

This is important. They could not heal their sinful ways through self-effort.

They needed to come to the Lord for healing. God would shape them into

His image when they returned to Him. They were to come with a repentant

and willing spirit, but it was God who would have to make them into the

people they needed to be.

All too many people think that they have to be perfect for God to accept

them. This is not the case. God accepts us as we are and shapes us into what

we should be. The Lord is looking for those who recognize their sinful

ways. He is looking for those who desire to turn from sin to Him. We come

as we are. We come with our sin and waywardness and place it at His feet.

God is in the business of healing sinful hearts. What joy it should give us

today that God wants to give us victory over the sins that enslave us. God

promised His people in verse 4 that He will turn His anger from them and

love them freely. All they had to do was confess their sin, recognize God as

their only hope, and come to Him for healing.

If Israel came and sought His face, God promised to be like the dew (verse

5). In chapter 6 God compared the love of His people to the dew that

disappeared quickly in the morning, but here a different picture is intended.

Although the dew disappears quickly, it has a very positive effect on the

earth. The dew waters and refreshes the earth. This is what God was saying

to His people. He was telling them that He would be like dew on a parched

earth. He would come to them to refresh and bring vitality. The result would

be that the nation would again blossom like a lily and a cedar sending down

their roots deeply into the earth. Israel would become beautiful, strong and

a blessing to others (verses 6-7). The fragrance of God’s people would

spread throughout the earth.

What was it that kept Israel from experiencing this prosperity? In verse 8

Hosea announced that it was idols. God’s people could never experience

His blessing of God with these idols in their lives. Turning from God’s law

had led them only to despair and hopelessness. God was offering them

fruitfulness and prosperity. If they would turn from their gods, God would

be like a great tree for them. The tree was used for construction purposes

and is here a sign of prosperity and blessing. God wanted His people to

enjoy prosperity again. He wanted their homes to be rebuilt. He wanted

them again to flourish but their idols prevented this.

"Who is wise? He will realize these things," Hosea told his readers in verse

9. The ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous will walk in them.

Throughout this book God called His prodigal nation to Himself. We have

seen how real His wrath is against those who persist in evil. We have also

seen how He pleaded with His people to return to Him and experience His

forgiveness. Wise people will hear this call and give themselves to seeking

God with all their heart. On these wise people, the blessing of God will be

poured out in abundance.

For Consideration:

What does this final chapter tell us about God’s desire for His

people?

How does God want us to approach Him according to this

chapter?

What does this section teach us about God’s desire to give us

an abundant life? Do you presently experience this

abundance? What keeps you from it?

For Prayer:

Ask God to help you to experience the full life promised to

His people here in this section. Ask Him to help you to

become aware of those things that keep you from that

fullness.

Thank the Lord that He is a God of rich blessing and infinite

mercy.

Do you know someone who is wandering away from God?

Take a moment to pray that the Lord God would draw this

individual to Himself.

INTRODUCTION TO JOEL

Author:

e know very little about the author of this book. His name is

given to us in the first verse. He is Joel the son of Pethuel.

From the context of the prophecy, it would appear that he lived

in the region of Jerusalem prior to the captivity of the Jews. We gather this

from the frequent mention of Judah, Zion and Jerusalem in his words (see

2:1, 32; 3:1, 20) and the prophecy of a coming invasion.

Background

Because we know very little about the author of the book, it is difficult to

know the circumstances and times in which he lived. We do know that he

warned the people of his day about a great army approaching. This could

possibly be a reference to the invasion of Assyria and Babylon who would

bring Israel into captivity. The call of Joel to repent and turn from sin shows

us that he lived in a time of spiritual decline. The people of God had

obviously been wandering from God and His purposes for their lives.

Importance Of The Book For Today:

Joel’s prophecies not only relate to the people of his day but also to the New

Testament times and days yet to come. Peter quoted one of Joel’s

prophecies in Acts 2:14-21 telling those who had witnessed the coming of

the Holy Spirit that what they saw was in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.

Joel predicted the coming of God’s Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

Beyond this, Joel’s prophecies also spoke of the second coming of the Lord

Jesus. In Joel 2:19-21 we read how he predicted signs in the heavens and on

the earth before the return of the Lord. Jesus would repeat this prophecy in

His own words in Matthew 24:29.

Joel’s prophecy speaks to the people of God and warns them of judgement

if they did not repent. He shows us that even as believers we are

accountable to God for our actions. He calls believers to repent and return

to the Lord and promises great blessing for those who truly seek him.

30 - VICTORY IN

HUMILITY

Read Joel 1.1-20

his is the prophecy of the prophet Joel. His name means "Jehovah

is God." Joel was the son of Pethuel of whom we know nothing.

In this prophecy Joel described a terrible calamity that had come

on the land. "Has anything like this ever happened your days, or in the days

of your forefathers?" Joel asked in verse 2. These were times to be

remembered. What was Joel speaking about?

Joel went on to describe a great plague of locusts. Verse 4 can be quite

difficult to understand. There are four different Hebrew words used in this

verse to describe the insects that infested the land. Each of these words

refers, in some way, to a locust. The first word is the word "gazam." This

word is translated in the King James Version by the word "palmerworm." A

palmerworm is a locust in its caterpillar stage. The word comes from a root

word meaning “to devour” and describes the action of the locust at this

stage of its growth cycle.

The second word used in the verse is the word "arbeh." It refers to a locust

in its grasshopper stage. The word comes from a word meaning to multiply

or to increase rapidly. The third word in verse 4 is the word "yeleq." This

word is translated in the King James Version by the word "cankerworm."

The cankerworm is a young locust at yet another stage of development. It is

believed that at this stage the locust would not yet have developed its

wings. The Greek translation of the Old Testament (called the Septuagint)

translates this word by "unwinged locust."

The final word used here is the Hebrew word "chaciyl." The King James

Version of the Bible translates this by the word "caterpillar." The New King

James Version seems to capture the sense of this verse best when it reads:

“What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten;

what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten;

and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has

eaten.”

Joel is describing for us a major plague of locusts. These locusts have

infested the land coming in swarms, laying their eggs and devouring the

vegetation. In time the eggs hatched, and the young larvae emerge. In turn,

they devour what their parents have left behind.

How serious was this plague of locusts? Joel turned his attention in verse 5

to the drunkards of the land. He told them that they were to awaken from

their drunken stupor and weep because of what was taking place in the land.

The vines had been taken from them. There would be no new wine in the

land. The locusts had taken the wine from their lips.

The locusts are compared to a great nation invading the land of Israel (verse

6). They were so numerous they could not be counted. They were powerful

and destroyed everything in their path. They had teeth like a lion with

which they devoured the vines and fig trees. They stripped the bark off the

trees of the land and left the branches white and dying.

The whole land mourned. Joel called on the people of the land to mourn

like a virgin whose future husband had been taken from her (verse 8). The

priests were to mourn because the grain and drink offerings had been cut off

from the house of the Lord (verse 9). There was nothing to offer to the Lord

because the locusts had consumed the crops. All the fields were ruined

(verse 10). The grain, the new wine and the oil had failed. The farmers and

vine growers were called to mourn because the wheat and the barley harvest

had been destroyed (verse 11). The vine and the fig tree had withered, as

had the pomegranate, palm and apple trees (verse 12). All the trees of the

field were dying, having been stripped by this great army of locusts. There

was no cause for rejoicing in the land at the time of harvest. Joy had been

replaced with despair because the land lay in ruins.

In verses 16-20 the prophet continues with this theme of devastation. It

appears from these verses that the plague of locusts was only part of the

problem. There had been no rain in the land and drought had caused the

land to wither away. All the food had been cut off (verse 16). Joy and

gladness were removed from the house of God. The planted seeds shriveled

up beneath the surface of the ground. The storehouses were in ruins. The

grain that remained in the granaries was dried up and useless (verse 17).

The cattle mourned and were slowly starving to death. There were no

pastures for them to feed on (verse 18). The land, cattle and people suffered

tremendously under this heavy discipline of the Lord (see Romans 8:18-22).

Fire devoured the dried pastures and burned the trees of the fields (verse

19). The wild animals panted and perished for lack of water. The streams in

the land had dried up (verse 20).

The picture before us is one of utter desolation. The hand of God had been

removed from the land. The proud people of Judah had been humbled under

the discipline of God. God had threatened locust plagues if His covenant

people proved unfaithful (Deuteronomy 28:38; 42). God’s people were

helpless to do anything to remedy this situation. They are held completely

at the mercy of a holy God. Why had this taken place? Was there any hope

for God’s people? Verses 13-15 give us some answers to these questions.

Through his prophet Joel, God called the priests to put on sackcloth to

mourn and wail (verse 13). They are invited to spend the night before the

Lord their God at the temple in Jerusalem. As spiritual leaders of God’s

people, they are asked to proclaim a great fast (verse 14). The elders and

people of the land were to gather for this solemn occasion. On that day they

were to humble themselves and call out to the Lord their God. The day of

the Lord was near, and it was a day of destruction from the Almighty.

What did this fast represent for the people of God? It represented their

recognition that they were helpless before the enemy. Abstinence from food

and other pleasures rendered them physically and emotionally weak,

symbolizing that they did not need human strength for this battle. If victory

was to be theirs, it would not be in their personal strength. In this weakened

condition they come to God sincerely pleading for His strength and

enabling.

A great victory is won when we humble ourselves and recognize our need

of God. We do not gain God’s approval by inflicting ourselves with pain

and suffering in our abstinence from food. We do not fast so that God will

take pity on us and grant our request. The great value of fasting is found in

what it accomplishes in us; it shows us how weak and frail we are. This

weakened state is an affront to our pride and self-dependence. It reminds us

of our limitations and causes us to look to Almighty God. It also reminds us

that victory is not in our human strength but in the Lord God who delights

in coming to the aid of the humble and meek. The apostle James tells us in

James 4:6:

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God

opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Hope of victory for these Israelites would not be found in themselves. They

had to come to a point where they realized that their hope was in God alone.

God’s people could do nothing to change their situation. They could not

hold discussions with the locusts. They could not make it rain. No amount

of human wisdom or strength could remedy their situation. Only in God

could they find victory. Sometimes God will bring us to the end of

ourselves to show us how much we really need Him.

For Consideration:

Have you ever forgotten how much you need God and are

dependent on Him? Why is it so easy to trust in our own

strength and wisdom?

What “locusts” do we have to deal with today? What is it that

strips you of spiritual blessings today?

Why is it so hard for us to recognize our total dependence on

God?

What role did repentance play in restoring God’s blessings to

His people? What do we need to repent of today?

For Prayer:

Confess any attitude of pride that this passage may have

revealed in you.

Recognize before God how frail we really are. Praise Him for

the blessings He has given you today.

Thank the Lord that He is willing to restore our blessing to us

if we come to Him with repentant hearts.

31 - THE APPROACHING

ARMY

Read Joel 2:1-11

terrible thing was about to happen in the land. This was a day for

fear and trembling. The trumpet of warning was to sound in

Zion. The day of the Lord was coming. This day would be a day

of wrath and judgement. It was a day of great darkness and gloom,

blackness and clouds (verse 2). Like dawn spreading across the mountains,

a large army was advancing toward God’s people. Never before in the

history of the nation had they seen such a massive and powerful army.

Never again would they see such a mighty force. It may be that this recent

locust plague (chapter 1) predicted another coming devastation from the

Lord—the invasion and capture of Judah by the Babylonians.

As this great army moved, fire went before it, devouring everything in sight

(verse 3). In front of the army lay the paradise God had given His people

(referred to here as the Garden of Eden). As the army moved through this

paradise, it devoured everything and left behind a desert wasteland. Nothing

escaped their destruction. What was this great army that approached the

people of God? The context indicates that it is the army of locusts referred

to in the first chapter.

These locusts had the appearance of horses (verse 4). Joel compared them

to horses because of how they advanced. They galloped like horses in a

cavalry. Have you ever seen a charging horse? It comes with great speed

intent on destruction. These locusts approached with the speed and intent of

a charging war horse.

The locusts are compared to a horse also because of the noise they made. A

person could hear them coming. The noise of their approach was like an

army of chariots rushing into battle. In verse 5 Joel compared the swarming

locusts to the sound of an approaching fire consuming everything in its path

(verse 5).

There is a third reason why these locusts were compared to horses. This

reason has to do with the way they could leap over the obstacles strewn on

their pathway. When there is an obstacle in front of a horse, it leaps over it

and continues its path. Nothing hindered the approach of this army of

locusts. They flew over entire mountains as they approached the people of

God.

At the sight of this great army, the nations were in anguish (verse 6). Their

faces turned pale with fear. They charged like warriors. They were not

distracted from their course but marched straight ahead. When walls were

in their way, they simply climbed the walls. They broke into the city of

God. They ran along the wall of the city of Jerusalem. Like thieves, they

broke into houses and helped themselves to whatever they desired (verse 9).

By virtue of their numbers, the people of God are helpless against their

attack.

What is most surprising here is the person who is at the head of this great

invasion. Verse 11 tells us that the Lord God Himself led this great force.

As He moved the earth shook and the sky trembled. The sun and the moon

are darkened as the Lord moved out in judgement of His own people. No

one could resist the Lord and His great army. The forces at His disposal

were beyond number. Each of His soldiers was mighty and powerful. This

was a terrible day for the people of God. Their own God had turned His

hand of judgement against them. There was nothing they could do to stop it.

What do we learn from this passage? The first thing we need to remember

is that each of us, like the children of Israel in Joel’s day, was guilty before

God. We were His enemies by virtue of our sins. He was marching against

us, and we could do nothing to resist Him. His strength and power are

beyond our ability to resist. To all appearances, like Judah facing the

invasion of locusts, we too were doomed to destruction. As rebellious

sinners, we were at the mercy of a holy God who hates sin. Were it not for

the Lord Jesus, who became our mediator and provided a means whereby

God and humankind could be reconciled, we would have all perished under

the wrath of God (Ephesians 2:1-5).

The second thing we need to be reminded of here is that those who are

under God’s judgement in this passage were the people of God. Don’t think

that because you are a Christian you will not have to answer to God. The

Lord Jesus said that “men will have to give account on the day of

judgement for every careless word they have spoken” (Matthew 12:36). The

apostle Paul told the church in Corinth:

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly

stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it

is, because the Day will bring it to light, it will be revealed with

fire, and the fire will test the quality of every man’s work. If

what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is

burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved but only

as one escaping through the flames” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

The apostle Paul challenged in Rome not to take their relationship with the

Lord for granted.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be

grafted in,” Granted. But they were broken off because of

unbelief, and you sand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be

afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will

not spare you either (Romans 11:19-21).

Paul spoke of how God’s people of the Old Testament period were cut off

because of their unbelief. We who are under grace and have the knowledge

of the Lord Jesus Christ are under an even greater obligation today. If God

disciplined His people in the Old Testament, will He not do the same today?

Will He not demand and accounting from His own children?

As children of God we are accountable to Him for our actions in a way the

unbeliever is not. As His children, we have a great obligation to live for

Him and serve Him. It is a serious thing to turn our back on the Lord who

saved us. There is more damage caused to the work of God by believers

who persist in sin than there is from the unbeliever. The writer to the

Hebrews warned his readers in Hebrews 10:28-29 about treating the blood

of Christ that sanctifies them as unholy:

Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses died without mercy on

the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more

severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has

trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an

unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and

who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

The prophet Joel called for the trumpet to be sounded in Zion. It was a

warning to the people of God as the Lord advanced against them. Let us

take heed to the warning given to the people of God in the days of Joel so

that we don’t fall under the Lord’s strict judgement.

For Consideration:

For what sins do you feel the church of our day will be

judged by God?

Take a moment to consider where you stand personally

before God. Are there things you need to make right before

Him?

Why should we be thankful that God is a God of holy

judgement?

How did the Lord Jesus save us from the wrath of God?

For Prayer:

Thank God that even though this chapter describes the

judgement each of us deserves, there is forgiveness in Christ.

Ask God to strengthen you to live for Him as He requires.

Ask God to renew His church before it becomes the object of

His great judgement, like Judah.

Take a moment to thank the Lord that He is a holy and just

God who will punish sin.

32 - RETURN TO ME

Read Joel 2.12-27

ne of the tremendous truths of the Christian faith is that despite

our rebellion, there is forgiveness and acceptance in the Lord if

we confess our sin. No matter how far we have wandered,

through the door of repentance, God will receive us with open arms. We

catch a glimpse of this compassion and patience of God in this section of

Joel. After warning His people of the dangers to come, God then called

them to return to him. His love for them is constant and unconditional.

"Even now,” declared the Lord, ‘return to me." Even though the enemy

army was on its way, it was still not too late. The offer of forgiveness and

restoration was still open. God did not take delight in judging His people.

Notice in verses 12 and 13 how God’s people were to return. God expected

that they return to Him with all their heart. He demanded that they return to

Him with fasting and weeping (verse 12). What did this fasting and

weeping represent? It represented their repentance and great sorrow for sin.

As they came to Him, they needed to recognize their sin. Their hearts were

to be broken because of their rebellion against the Holy One. Joel told His

people in verse 13 that God was not at all interested in their outward show

of religion. They were to rend their hearts and not their garments. It is easy

enough to put on a great show of repentance. This would fool people, but it

would not fool God. God was not at all interested in their heartless

demonstrations of piety. If they came to Him, it would have to be with a

sincere heart.

Repentant Judah could return because God was a God of compassion and

graciousness (verse 13). He is slow to anger and always full of love. He

does not delight in sending calamity and judgement. It is His character to

forgive. This would only take place, however, if His people truly repented

of their sins. Even now that the enemy army was approaching, if the people

returned to God with all their hearts, He might yet have pity on them (verse

14). In His sovereignty and grace, God could still avert His judgement and

give His people a blessing. From a plentiful harvest they would be able to

offer grain and drink offerings, as offerings of thanksgiving and praise to

the Lord.

A call went out in verse 15 to the entire land. Everyone was to come to a

solemn assembly. An invitation was extended to the elders, as the political

leaders, as well as the children and nursing babies. Even the newlyweds

who would normally have been excused from such assemblies

(Deuteronomy 24:5) were to be present that day. No one was exempt.

As they gathered before the Lord, the priest was to lead them in a prayer of

repentance. Notice in verse 17 that the priests were to weep between the

temple porch and the altar. The fact that they are weeping indicates that

they had been broken-hearted by their own sins as well as those of the

people. They could not lead the people of God in repentance if they

themselves were not repentant. The porch of the temple was where the

common people would gather. As they gathered in the great porch, they

stood before the altar of the Lord. It was there that sacrifices were made for

the sins of the people. The altar was a constant reminder that the

punishment for sin was death. As they stood before this altar of sacrifice,

the priest was to beg God to spare His people though their sins had been

great and they merited His wrath. With tears, they were to plead with God

for forgiveness and grace for themselves and the people.

Joel told Judah what the response of the Lord would be toward those who

truly repented in this way. He told them in verse 18 that God’s jealousy

would be incited for His people. His heart would be moved by their genuine

tears of repentance. He would have pity on them and pour out His blessings

on the land.

The repentance of God’s people would restore the productivity of the land.

If God’s people truly returned to Him, they would see a great healing of

their nation (verse 19). The Lord would bless their crops. His people would

be satisfied fully with His abundant blessing. Nothing would be lacking.

Never again would they be the scorn of the nations; instead they would

become the envy of their neighbours.

In verse 20 Joel told his people that if they repented, God would drive away

their enemy. This great army of invaders would be pushed back into a

barren land and into the sea. The stench of their decaying corpses would

rise into the air and God’s people would be freed from their oppression.

Peace and security would again return to the land. There would be no cause

for fear. The wild animals would no longer perish (verse 22). The trees and

the vines would again produce their fruit. The inhabitants of the land could

live in security and peace because the Lord their God would provide for

their every need. God’s people would have every reason to rejoice and be

glad. The rains would come in their time. Farmers would again come with

their grain to the threshing floors. The wine vats of the land would overflow

with an abundance of new wine (verse 24). God’s blessing would be

showered on them as a people, and they would rejoice in His goodness.

God would restore to them all the years the locust had taken from them

(verse 25). It was as though the blessings withheld while they were living in

sin were being stored up in their account for the day of their repentance. On

that day the storehouses were opened and this accumulated blessing was

poured out on them. God did not need to make up for the years the locust

had taken from His people. His people were guilty of sin and had paid the

price for that sin. God gave to His people what they do not deserve. We can

take great courage from this verse. Have you wasted years of your life? Are

you ashamed of what you have done? He can multiply the fruit of your

righteousness in the years that remain. Your life can still count for

something. He can use the years that remain in ways you never thought

possible.

Notice finally that God would restore praise and thanksgiving to the land

(verse 26). Once again a right relationship would exist between God and

His people. Their hearts would be full of gratitude and worship to the Holy

One of Israel who forgave them of their sins and worked wonders in their

midst. They would know that the God of Israel was the one true God and

that there was no other god beside Him. They would have great reason to

lift their heads high. When they were restored to a right relationship with

God, they had no reason to be ashamed (verse 27).

What a contrast this section of Scripture is to the last section. In verses 1-11

Joel spoke of devastation and hopelessness. Here in verses 12-27 we see

hope and blessing. God was presenting His people with an option. They

could choose either blessing or cursing. The only thing that separated them

from the blessing of God was repentance. Their sin had separated them

from God. It had driven a wedge between them and the blessings God

wanted to pour out on them. (See Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

What sin separates you from experiencing the full measure of God’s

blessing in your life today? Spiritual prosperity, peace, security, gladness

and thanksgiving can be your present experience. The key is repentance and

turning from sin. Take a moment now to consider what it is that hinders you

from experiencing this fullness in your life today. Confess that sin, let God

heal the hurt and pour out His blessing on your life.

For Consideration:

What blessings would you expect to see in your land if its

inhabitants turned from sin to serve God?

What is it that keeps your nation from turning to God?

Is there anything that keeps you from experiencing God’s full

blessing today?

What does this passage teach us about the grace and

forgiveness of God?

What do we learn here about the importance of our heart

attitude as we seek God?

For Prayer:

Thank God for His grace and mercy despite our sin.

Ask Him to bless the years that remain to you. Ask Him to

restore to you any wasted years you may have lived.

Thank Him that He is jealous for our attention and affection.

Ask God to search your heart to reveal to you any particular

sin that grieves His heart. Ask Him to help you to deal with

that sin.

33 - THE OUTPOURING OF

THE SPIRIT

Read Joel 2.28-32

he result of repentance in the nation of Israel would be peace and

prosperity in the land. This was only the beginning of what God

had in store for His people. As God's people humbled themselves

and repented of their sin, the Holy Spirit would be poured on them. What a

day that would be. Notice what Joel told his people would happen on that

day.

The Holy Spirit would be poured on all people (verse 28). He would not

come to Jews alone. This was not easy for the people of Joel’s day to

understand. They felt that salvation was for the Jew only while the Gentile

was unworthy of God’s Spirit. The day was coming, however, when the

Gentile would have an equal standing with the Jew.

When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, Peter told

them that what they saw was the fulfillment of these words of Joel (Acts

2.16-21). Throughout the book of Acts, we see the Spirit of God coming to

Gentile believers, much to the surprise of the Jews. We are seeing in our

day the fulfillment of this prophecy as the Spirit of God reaches across

racial and cultural barriers, bringing salvation and spiritual life to people of

every nation and language.

Notice second that God’s Spirit would be poured out on all people

regardless of social standing. In Old Testament times prophecy was a

special gift given to a select group. When God wanted to speak to His

people he did so through His prophets. When the Spirit of God came this

time, however, it would not be to a special group. This time He would fall

on common people. Their sons and daughters would be touched by the

Spirit of God and speak the word of God like the prophets. Their old men

would have dreams from the Lord, as the Spirit of the Lord ministered to

them. Even the lowest servants of their household would experience the

outpouring of the Spirit of God on their lives. God’s Spirit would not be

limited to a select group but would come to the educated and the

uneducated without distinction. Both the priest and the household servant

would be empowered by the same Spirit.

God would show great wonders in the sky and on the earth (verses 30-31).

These wonders would culminate in blood, fire and smoke. The blood is

human blood. The fire and smoke is all that remains of their possessions. A

great judgement was coming. Joel prophesied that a day was coming when

the sun would be turned to darkness and the moon to blood. This was a day

to be feared. The light of the sun would be snuffed out by the breath of God.

The moon’s light would be no more. The inhabitants of the earth would be

left in darkness. Terror and panic would fill the hearts of men and women as

they came under the heavy hand of God’s judgement. All these signs are

evidence of God’s divine judgement (Exodus 19:16-18; Matthew 24:29-30;

Revelation 6:12-17).

What are we to make of all this? Israel saw a partial fulfillment of this

prophecy when she was invaded by the Assyrians and Babylonians and sent

into exile. The ultimate fulfillment, however, is yet to come. Notice that this

prophecy of judgement was to take place after the outpouring of the Holy

Spirit. If the prophecy relating to the outpouring of the Spirit took place, as

Peter said, on the day of Pentecost, it follows that we can expect that the

remainder of this prophecy will see its fulfillment in the future.

Presently the Spirit of God is being poured out on every nation. People

from every tribe and language are coming to know the Lord Jesus and

receiving the Holy Spirit. Why was the Holy Spirit given to us? Acts 1:8

gives us the answer:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on

you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all

Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit was given so that we can be witnesses for the Lord Jesus.

The Holy Spirit comes to empower us to be witnesses to Christ and His

work. We are living in exciting times. Since the day of Pentecost, the Holy

Spirit of God has been calling and equipping saints and moving them out to

the far corners of the earth with the message of the gospel. Never before has

the world seen such a great movement of the Holy Spirit. Each day, all over

the world, thousands of men, women, boys and girls are coming to know

the Jesus. The Spirit of God is being poured out on all people.

We have seen that following the outpouring of God’s Spirit there will be a

day of judgement and accounting—a “dreadful day of the Lord” (verse 31).

God now extends His gracious hand to each of us. Now is the day of

salvation. Now, by His Spirit, He offers us peace with God and forgiveness

of sin. The day is coming, however, when the whole world will be judged.

Joel’s prophecy is already partially fulfilled and the remainder of His

prophecy will also come to pass. We may even see this day of judgement in

our lifetime.

The day of God’s judgement will be a horrible day. It is described here as a

day of blood, fire and smoke. Maybe as you read this you are wondering

how you can be sure that you will be safe in that day. Joel told his readers

that there is a means of escape. “Everyone who calls on the name of the

Lord would be saved.”

What does it mean to call on the Lord? Picture a man hanging over the edge

of a cliff, ready at any moment to fall to his death. He has come to the end

of his human strength in his attempts to save himself. His hands are losing

their grip and he is ready at any moment to fall to his death. He now knows

that it is impossible to save himself from his inevitable end. In despair he

cries out for help, knowing that if ever he is going to be saved from this

terrible disaster, it will only be at the hand of God. He calls out knowing

that God alone is his hope.

Joel tells us that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be

saved. Have you come to the end of your human resources? Do you realize

that there is no hope of ever escaping judgement by your own strength and

good works? Do you feel your hands losing grip? Are you aware of your

inevitable end? It is to you that Joel is still speaking. There are many who

call out to God who are not ready to abandon themselves completely to

Him. They still feel that they can save themselves. God may very well leave

them to try. When they see it this is impossible, they will then, in all

sincerity, call out to Him.

While in the first half of verse 32 Joel told his listeners that they needed to

call out to the Lord to be saved, in the second half of the verse he told them

that deliverance would be for those whom the Lord called. Who does the

calling here? Are we to call on the name of the Lord or is He to call us?

This verse tells us that both of these statements are true. As sinners we dare

not approach a holy God without an invitation. In the days of the Persian

Empire, only the person who was invited had the right to enter into the

king’s presence (see Esther 4:11). While the king had to first invite an

individual into his presence, that individual had to accept the invitation.

When I called on the Lord for my salvation, I had the distinct impression

that He was first calling me. I knew that He had placed His hand on my life

and was melting away my resistance. I called on Him because He was first

calling me. Our salvation is a combination of God’s calling out to us

individually and personally and our acceptance of that invitation by calling

back or responding to Him (see John 6:65; 1 John 4:19).

Have you ever heard that call from God? Has His Spirit been speaking to

your heart? Has the King invited you into His presence? To reject His offer

is to perish in sin. To accept it is to know forgiveness and freedom from

eternal judgement. Our only hope is to call on the name of the Lord. There

is deliverance and freedom for all who hear His call and accept His

invitation.

For Consideration:

What change has the Holy Spirit made in your life? What

evidence is there in your life of the presence of the Holy

Spirit?

How are you being a witness for the Lord Jesus today?

What do we learn here about the judgement of God? Why do

you suppose there is a diminishing emphasis in preaching

today on the judgement to come?

Why has God given us His Holy Spirit?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to ask the Lord how you can reach out in the

power of the Holy Spirit to someone who does not know

Him.

Thank the Lord that He has given us His Holy Spirit to

empower and comfort us.

Thank the Lord that He is a God of justice and holiness.

Thank Him that He will punish sin.

34 - THE VALLEY OF

JEHOSHAPHAT

Read Joel 3.1-16

There is something about being family that unites us. Brothers and sisters

who cannot get along in normal times will stand up in defense of each other

when attacked by an outsider. Joel prophesied that the day was coming

when the great God of this universe would seek revenge on those who had

insulted and harmed His children. God’s people often rebelled against Him

but they were still His children. He would take their defense.

God called the nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (verse 2). The name

Jehoshaphat means "the Lord judges." It is best to see this valley as a place

of judgement and not a particular valley in Israel. In the Valley of

Jehoshaphat (valley of judgment) the Lord God would bring His sentence

against the nations who had oppressed His people.

God’s people had, over the course of history, been oppressed by other

nations. In Biblical times, the nations of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia,

Greece, and Rome all played roles in persecuting and scattering God's

people. In more recent history, many other nations have oppressed God’s

chosen ones. By extension, the church too has suffered, and will suffer at

the hands of the nations. In the history of the church, God’s people have lost

homes and families for His cause. While at present we may not see justice

in all this, God has not turned a blind eye to the hurts of His people. Joel

prophesied that the day was coming when God would call the nations to

account for their actions.

Notice how these foreign nations treated the people of God. Verse 3 tells us

that they cast lots for them. When the disciples were looking for a

replacement for Judas, they chose two eligible men and cast lots to select

one of them. In so doing, they placed the decision in the hands of the Lord

(Acts 1:24-26). This is not the case here. These nations cast lots for God's

people as the soldiers cast lots for the cloak of Jesus (Mark 15:24). They

reduced the destiny of God’s children to a game. Where was this Jew going

to go? In whose house would he serve as slave? What about that beautiful

young Jewish girl? Who is going to get her? To decide, they played a game.

The winner got his pick. How humiliating this was for the people of God.

As God watched this whole procedure, His anger boiled within Him. A day

of accounting was coming. These nations would answer for what they had

done to the children of the King.

This dehumanization can also be seen in how they treated the young Jewish

children. To satisfy their sexual appetites, these foreigners traded boys for

prostitutes (verse 3). These men cared nothing about the future of these

young boys. They were willing to subject them to a lifetime of abuse for a

moment of pleasure. God was justly angered by this treatment of His

people.

While the young Jewish boys were being traded for prostitutes, the young

Jewish girls were being traded for wine in verse 3. What would happen to

these young girls? Either they would be reduced to slavery or sexually

abused. Once again, the nations cared nothing about these young girls. They

traded a young Jewish girl for a bottle of wine. To satisfy their lust for

alcohol, they were willing to subject a young girl to a lifetime of slavery or

sexual abuse. God would take vengeance on these crimes against His

people.

In verse 4, God passes His sentence on the people of Tyre, Sidon and the

region of Philistia. "Now what have you against me?" God asked. "Are you

repaying me for something I have done?" These nations could be sure of

one thing—their judgement would come swiftly. The nations were stealing

the wealth that God had given to His people. They stripped God’s temple of

its gold and silver and took it to adorn their own temples (verse 5). They

were a greedy people. They adorned themselves at the expense of others.

For this God would judge them.

In verse 6 we read that these nations did not hesitate to sell the Jews to the

Greeks (very likely as slaves). These Greeks took them far away from the

land God had given them as an inheritance. God saw what was taking place.

God would return on their heads what they had done to His people (verse

7). God would return these Jewish captives to their land. He would endow

them with strength, and they would become His instruments to judge the

nations.

A call goes forth in verse 9. It is a call to arms. The warriors are aroused

from their sleep. The fighting men of the nations were to assemble for

immediate attack. The people of the land were to gather anything that could

be made into a weapon of war. Plowshares and pruning hooks were to be

shaped into spears and swords (verse 10). Even the weaklings and cowards

were to stand up and fight for their lives.

The nations were to gather in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (verses 11-12).

There God would swing the sickle of His righteous anger. The time of

harvest would come. Like grapes placed in the wine press, the Lord would

trample His enemies until their blood, like juice, overflowed the vats and

spilt over the side.

Joel foresaw the day of judgement. Multitudes had gathered before the Lord

in the valley of decision where the Lord would determine their fate (verse

14). The sun and the stars would cease to shine (verse 15). The earth would

be cast into the blackness of divine wrath. The land would tremble as the

Lord moved out in wrath on the nations. This would be a terrible day of

vengeance. The only ones who would be safe on that day were the people of

God (verse 16). God would be a refuge and stronghold for them.

What do these verses teach us today? They teach us two important lessons.

The first of these lessons relates to how much the Lord loves His people.

The reason for this terrible judgement was because of how the nations

treated God’s children. In the prophecy of Zechariah 2:8, God told His

people that anyone who touched them touched the "apple of his eye."

Similarly, Jesus told His readers in Matthew 25:40 that what we do to the

least of His children we do to Him.

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for

one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

This is a terrifying thought. How we need to understand that God takes it

very personally when we mistreat one of His children. He will hold us

accountable for how we treat His loved ones. This section of Joel shows us

how angry God becomes when His people are hurt.

This passage teaches us second that there is a day of judgement coming.

Verse 16 tells us that the Lord will be a refuge and a stronghold for His

people on that day of wrath. Only His children will escape unharmed. Are

you sure today that you are a child of God? You need to be sure. Only His

children will pass through this judgement. We do not know when this day

will come on us. When it comes it will be too late. Now is the time to

become a child of God. This is not something you can do for yourself. You

have no more power to become a child of God than you had to become a

child of your earthly parents.

How, then can you become a child of God? You must recognize that you

will never get to heaven as you are. In your natural state you are a child of

this world, and this world is at enmity with God. You need to be born again

spiritually as a new person. This new spiritual life is the life of the Spirit of

God who takes up residence in you when you ask God to save you. This life

is a gift of God offered freely to all who truly call on Him. What a

difference it makes when this gift of new life is given. As His children we

are forgiven and our future is secure.

For Consideration:

What does this section teach us about the importance of

maintaining a good relationship with fellow believers?

What do we learn here about how God thinks about us as His

children?

What encouragement do you find in the fact that God will

judge sin and evil? Where would we be today if God did not

judge sin? Could we trust such a God?

For Prayer:

If you have never experienced new life in Christ, call on Him

now asking Him to make you His child.

If you have been guilty of offending a child of God, ask for

forgiveness.

Is there someone you have trouble loving? Ask God for

strength to love His children as He loves them.

35 - A BRIGHT FUTURE

FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

Read Joel 3.17-21

oel began his prophecy by reminding God's people of a great swarm

of locusts coming to devour their land. These locusts would devastate

everything in their path. God would lead this great force into

judgement against His people. (Joel 1:1-2.11) The result would be that His

people would repent of their sin and turn to Him. God would restore them

and forgive their sin (2:12-27). When He had restored His people, God

would then draw near to them and pour out His Spirit on them (2:28-32).

During the days following the outpouring of His Spirit, God would enter

into judgement against the nations who had oppressed His chosen ones

(3:1-16). He would grant His people justice. When all these things took

place, the people of God would know that God was truly in their midst

(verse 17).

There were, no doubt, many times when the people of God wondered if

God was really there. As the locusts invaded the land, they wondered if God

really loved them. When their children were being sold as slaves and

carried away from the land the Lord had promised them, they wondered

whether the Lord had abandoned them. In time, however, they would see

that the Lord is always faithful to His promises.

Maybe you are in the same situation today. Maybe you just can’t believe

that the Lord really loves you. "If He loved me," you say, "why does He

allow me to suffer as I do?" This is a legitimate question. It is a question we

cannot presently answer. In time, however, as we remain faithful, we will

see that the Lord does care. We will see how our pain fits into His great

overall plan. When the time is right you too will know that God does indeed

“dwell in Zion” (verse 17). He is seated on His throne. He works out all

things for our good.

Joel prophesied that that the day was coming when Jerusalem would be

holy (verse 17). What does it mean to be holy? Holiness refers to being

consecrated to God and His will for our lives. In that day, foreigners would

no longer invade God's people. The day was coming when God’s people

would be free from anything or anyone who would seek to harm them or

take them away from their God. While this passage may have a direct

earthly significance to the Jewish people, it also has a deep spiritual

significance for all of us who are God’s people. In Revelation 21:1-4 the

apostle John speaks of a New Jerusalem coming down from heaven.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven

and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer

any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down

out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed

for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne

saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live

with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be

with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their

eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or

pain, for the old order of things has passed away.””

John reminds us in the above passage that the presence of the Lord would

dwell in this New Jerusalem. There would be no more tears. No foreigner to

the grace of God would ever be allowed to enter the city. According to

Revelation 21:25-27, only those who are holy, that is, consecrated to God,

will dwell there.

On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night

there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does

what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are

written in the Lamb's book of life.

What a wonderful promise God gives to his people. As God’s people, we

will share in the blessings promised to Israel. We too will dwell in this New

Jerusalem in the presence of God where we will live in perfect peace and

contentment.

Joel went on to describe this New Jerusalem in verse 18. The mountains of

this city would drip with new wine. New wine comes from a fresh crop of

grapes. This is a sign of real prosperity. Prior to this the locusts had stripped

the land bare. Their new wine was dried up (1:10). The day was coming

when God’s people would live in prosperity and abundance. The earth

would be released from its curse and produce her crops in abundance.

Joel 1:18 tells us that, in the day of God’s wrath, the cattle moaned because

they had no pasture. When the cattle have no pasture, they do not produce

milk. The day was coming, however, when the hills would again spring

forth with green grass. The cattle would graze in these green pastures. They

would, in turn, produce an abundance of milk. This again is a sign of the

rich blessing of God on the land.

Joel 1:20 tells us that the streams of the land had dried up. There was no

water for the people to drink. All around them was a dry, barren wasteland.

The day was coming when all this would change. The rains of God’s

blessing would again be poured down on the earth, quenching the thirst of

the dried wasteland and overflowing into the streams and rivers of the land.

The desert would become a garden. The wasteland would flourish with

abundant crops. God’s people would quench their thirst and bathe in the

abundance of fresh water.

In those days a fountain would flow out of the house of the Lord, and water

the valley of acacias (Valley of Shittim, KJV). The word “shittim” is the

Hebrew word for "acacias." This water comes from the house of the Lord.

There is no question as to the source of this blessing. God Himself sent this

fountain to water the great acacia trees. It may be of significance that acacia

wood was used in the construction of the temple and the Ark of the

Covenant (Exodus 25).

What we see here is a picture of prosperity and blessing flowing from the

throne of God. God’s people are free from their enemies and live in a land

flowing with new wine and milk. Verse 20 tells us that their land would be

inhabited forever. No one would be able to take away their inheritance.

Their sins would be forgiven, and they would live forever in peace with

God (verse 21). As for the nations who had oppressed God’s people, theirs

was a different future. Egypt would be desolate, and Edom would become a

desert wasteland (verse 19).

As we have walked our way through this prophecy of Joel, we have moved

from a barren wasteland devoured by locusts in chapter 1 to a land flowing

with new wine and milk in chapter 3. The transition from barrenness to

blessing comes in chapter 2 where Israel recognized her sin and returned to

the Lord for forgiveness. All that separated her from the outpouring of

God’s abundance was her need of forgiveness. That forgiveness was offered

freely to her when she repented.

Maybe you are in the same situation today. Has your experience been one of

desolation and spiritual barrenness? There is hope for you in the book of

Joel. God desires to pour His Spirit on you. His Spirit will quench all the

thirsty places in your heart and fill you to overflowing with peace and

spiritual prosperity. Before the pouring out of the Spirit, however, there is a

call to repentance. Repentance is all that separates you from the great

blessing of God in your life. Joel places before us an option. What will it

be? Will it be locusts or will it be new wine?

For Consideration:

What blessings does Joel promise to those who repented of

their sin? Are you experiencing these blessings today?

Describe some changes that have come about in your life

since you came to Christ.

What role does repentance have in the restoration of blessings

to God’s people?

What picture does Joel give us of heaven in this final section

of his prophecy?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord for the bright future that

awaits all those who put their trust in him.

Ask God to reveal any sin in you that separates you from His

richest blessing.

Ask God to help you to live daily with a repentant heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Light To My Path Book Distribution

Light To My Path (LTMP) is a book writing and

distribution ministry reaching out to needy

Christian workers in Asia, Latin America, and

Africa. Many Christian workers in developing

countries do not have the resources necessary to

obtain Bible training or purchase Bible study

materials for their ministries and personal

encouragement.

F. Wayne Mac Leod is a member of Action

International Ministries and has been writing

these books with a goal to distribute them to needy pastors and Christian

workers around the world. To date tens of thousands of books are being

used in preaching, teaching, evangelism and encouragement of local

believers in over sixty countries. Books have now been translated into a

number of languages. The goal is to make them available to as many

believers as possible.

The ministry of LTMP is a faith based ministry and we trust the Lord for

the resources necessary to distribute the books for the encouragement and

strengthening of believers around the world. Would you pray that the Lord

would open doors for the translation and further distribution of these books?

For more information about Light To My Path Book Distribution visit our

website at www.lighttomypath.ca