We are getting His word into our testimony.
John declares in Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death.” We are picking up speed in our journey through the Bible this week. Matthew shares the Sermon on the Mount (the Kingdom of God’s constitution) and we venture into Jesus’ ministry up to his sending out of the Twelve. Revelation brings us to the trumpets and a detailed description of the overcoming saints. In 2 Samuel, we witness the consequences of David’s sin and God’s mercy to David as he repeatedly calls on God for mercy. “It’s complicated.” This is what the Lord said to me years ago regarding the consequences of David’s folly.
Proverbs compare wisdom and folly, and then present promises which are rich in ageless truths. Wisdom calls to us today. We finish Hosea and Joel, and we come into Amos this week, where we witness the call to repentance, sacred assembly, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and the latter-rain blessing.
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GOSPELS
Matthew 5 – 10
The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ treatise on the Kingdom of God moves us from eternal actions to actions that begin in the heart, and the conduct by which we are now judged. Chapters 8 and 9 are Jesus’ ministry in it is popularity, forgiveness, miracles, and the call to multiply harvesters through prayer to the Lord of the harvest. In Chapter 10, the Lord chooses the Twelve and sends them out.
REVELATION
Revelation 8 – 14
This prophecy of this book calls us to be overcomers in every area of life and continues with the trumpets. Then the mighty angels, the seven thunders (which John is told not to write down), and the small book he is given to eat. Again, he must prophesy about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings, the two witnesses, the woman and the dragon, with the overcoming saints. I read Revelation 12 as three descriptions of the interceding church, triumphant over “the accuser of the brethren.” Chapters 13 and 14 are descriptions of the Beast, the false prophet, the image, and the number of the Beast. Then to the three angels and their proclamations and the reaping of the earth.
HISTORY
2 Samuel 13 – 20
David sinks into a funk of judgment that is much about his being shut down in his soul. First, his son, Amnon rapes his sister, Tamar, then her brother Absalom murders Amnon. Absalom flees to Geshur as David’s heart longs for reconciliation but doesn’t know how to get there. Joab, David’s general, tries to help and he brings Absalom back to Jerusalem through a shrewd move that leaves Absalom in Jerusalem, but separate from his father David. After two years they meet, kind of reconcile, but not really. Absalom begins his campaign to win the heart of Israel and leads a coup to drive David out of Jerusalem. David begins to return to his senses, refuses to let the Ark come, but instead trusts Himself to the mercies of God. Absalom is killed, and David is in bitter grief but must pull himself together to be king. He returns to Jerusalem, shows kindness, and is welcomed back amid strife. Another rebel rises and David deals decisively with Sheba.
These events all occur over 11 or so years. As I read through them and saw the many moments where things went wrong, or how they might have gone differently, the Lord just said, “I am speaking over these family issues. It’s complicated.”
POETRY
Proverbs 10 – 15
Here is timeless wisdom that should be read slowly with lots of amens. Agreement with truth is the beginning of wisdom, in humility and the fear of the Lord: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverb 9:10).
PROPHETS
Hosea 14
This last chapter is a prophecy of full returning and recovery directed to Israel from the Lord, and promised restoration. Read this chapter slowly and watch for all the actions that take place prophetically. Hosea pleads, “O Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips” (Hosea 14:1, 2). There is more that follows and an epilogue to direct us all.
Joel 1 – 3
Joel leads Israel out of the natural disaster that the locusts brought. He then prophesies the coming of God’s great army, into repentance and weeping between the porch and the altar, “Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them.’ Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” (Joel 2:17). This is followed by a declaration of the promises of blessing, to the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit witnessed in Acts 2.
Amos 1 – 2
Chapters 1 and 2 are judgments against the nations, with reasons given, “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment” (Amos 1:3a). This opening statement is repeated eight times to eight different nations.
