Bible reading for Nov 10 -- 11
Nov 10 -- Joel 2 and Psalm 142
Nov 11 -- Joel 3 and Psalm 143
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"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. " (Joel 2:28-29)
REPENTANCE, AND OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT (ch 2). The pestilence is like the invasion of a mighty locust army (vv 1-11; cf Rev 9). Hosea calls for repentance from the people -- all people and all ages (vv 12-17). The Lord promises restoration (vv 18-27), and the coming age (the church age and beyond) would be marked by the Holy Spirit indwelling all believers, not just kings and prophets (vv 28-32; cf Acts 2). Following this outpouring would be another Day of the Lord, the final one, "great and awesome" (v 31; cf Matt 24; 1 Thess 5:2-3). And in preparation for that judgment we are told, "...everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved" (v 32; Rom 10:13). That's to be our message today!
THE VALLEY OF DECISION (ch 3). The valley of Jehoshaphat (vv 2, 12) is the place of the Lord's judgment, where nations will be gathered. Constable writes, "God’s judgment on unbelievers would accompany the spiritual renewal and deliverance of His own in the future day of the Lord. As God promised to wipe out the locusts for despoiling Judah, now He promised to do the same to the nations that had despoiled Judah (cf. Zeph. 3:8; Ezek. 38—39; Matt. 25:31-46). 'Like a photographer, Joel has used a wide-angle lens for the overall picture in 2:30-32. Then he zooms in for a close look at the Day of the Lord, with its mixture of judgment and grace, in chapter three'" (NET Bible notes). And afterwards, "...the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD" (v 18; cf Ezek 47; Rev 22). As the Apostle Paul wrote, "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God" (Rom 8:9).
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"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." (Psalm 143:8)
WEARY AND FAINT (Ps 142-143). Both of these psalms reflect the believer's weariness in this world. David is seeking to walk on God's path (Ps 142:3; 143:8-10), but he's at the point of nearly fainting and falling into a trap (142:3; 143:7). He feels as if no one cares (142:4)! Haven't we been there at one time or another? Perhaps even now! Note the images: a trap, a prison, fainting, and parched land. David declares that the Lord himself is his portion and refuge (142:4-5; 143:9). God is his only hope. He thirsts for God as a dry land thirsts for rain! He desires deliverance, but more, he seeks the strength and discernment to keep doing God's will. It can be weary business living for the Lord in this world. And, praise God, he has given us his Spirit to lead us on level ground (Rom 8:10-14; 26-27; Heb 10:35-36; 12:12-13).
TODAY'S QUOTE. "God’s holiness can be encountered safely only within Christ, which is where, at one and the same time, we also come face-to-face with the love of God." (David F. Wells, God in the Whirlwind)
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Image credit: photo by Kal Visuals on Unsplash. About this newsletter: I'm Sandy Young, and I post three times a week on my Bible reading, following the Robert Murray M'Cheyne (RMM) two-year reading schedule, as arranged by D. A. Carson. Subscribe for email at Buttondown.email/Sandy. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. A very helpful resource is the NET Bible with its excellent notes at netbible.org.
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