Read: Malachi 2:10-end of 4; Joel 1-3
This is the end of the Old Testament so God tells us what will happen in the end. In a nutshell the wicked will be punished and the righteous rewarded. God relates the way they were unfaithful to their wives to the way they were unfaithful to him. God looks at Israel covenant he made with them like a marriage. They didn’t keep their end of the bargain even though he was faithful to them. God promised to send his messenger to prepare the way for the Messiah. We know that this is John the Baptist. He would teach against sin and bring repentance to make them ready to receive the Messiah.
Malachi describes the day of judgement. For those who feared the Lord and honored his name, they will be spared and rescued. It will be a time of great joy and healing for them…for us! For the arrogant who refused to humble themselves before God, they will be burned like chaff.
Amos calls the nation to repentance and tries to warn the people of judgment. He describes the last day as a day of doom and terror. He calls them to fast and repent because: “Who knows, Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse.”
After judgment always comes restoration so Amos sees the time of restoration after the battle. It will be a time of rejoicing and rebuilding.
Lord, let us see the end from the beginning. Help us to see that the battles we are in right now always come with a hope of restoration and rejoicing.
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