Amos 2 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Amos 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/amo/2/1/s_881001

Meditate on verse 4.

 

Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Judah

 and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because

they rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept His

 statutes; their lies also have led them astray,

 those after which their fathers walked.

 

The pattern continues in the second chapter of Amos: “Thus says the LORD, ‘For three transgressions and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because…’” (vs. 1, 4, 6).  Sadly, Judah and Israel are now included with the six Gentile nations in God’s judgement (Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6).  Sadder still is the fact that Judah and Israel have God’s Law; they are God’s chosen people; they know better, yet like the heathen nations surrounding them, they pile sin on top of sin, ignoring God’s Word and incurring His wrath.

 

Just like Amos 1, the sins listed in this chapter are still committed today:  desecration of human remains, rejecting God’s Law and ignoring His statutes, following lies, human trafficking, extortion, immorality, idolatry, and oppression (vs. 1, 4, 6-8).  This list of sins is overwhelming and so tragic, and most of God’s indictments are against His people who know better.  “O LORD, remove the blinders from our eyes, so we can examine our lives and repent of our sins against You.”

 

Use the words from Amos 2:4 and 13, asking God for forgiveness and restoration as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please forgive me for rejecting Your Law

 and not keeping Your statutes.  Do not

 let lies lead me astray.  Do not let me walk in the

 lies of this world.  LORD, I want to bring

You joy and not weigh You down as a wagon is

weighed down when filled with sheaves. 

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amos 1 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Amos 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/amo/1/1/s_880001

Meditate on verses 1a, 2a, and 3a.

 

The words of Amos, who was among the

 sheepherders from Tekoa.

 He said, "The LORD roars from Zion

and from Jerusalem He utters His voice.”

 Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions

 of Damascus and for four I will

not revoke its punishment.”

 

Amos raised sheep, and by his own admission, was not groomed to be a prophet (Amos 7:14), but God used this humble sheepherder to speak to His people 2,800 years ago, and his words still speak to us today.  Ask the LORD to use His Words to shepherd you to be the Godly person He wants you to be.

 

The LORD addressed five people groups in this chapter, some you can find in today’s news:  Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon (vs. 3, 6, 9, 11, 13).  Their sins were numerous and still plague us today:  trampling on others, deportation of entire populations, breaking covenants, no compassion, uncontrolled anger, and killing babies in the womb (vs. 3, 6, 9, 11, 13). 

 

God repeated Himself five times concerning these sins saying:

 

Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions

and for four, I will not revoke its

punishment.  So, I will…”

—Amos 1:3-4, 6-7, 9-14

 

Let God’s repeated phrases penetrate your mind and heart and appeal to Him with Amos 1:2 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, You roar from Zion, and from

 Jerusalem, You utter Your voice.  Please roar

and utter Your voice in ____________ and my life. 

Let us heed Your Words so our pasture grounds

 can stop mourning and our summits no longer dry up.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

Joel 3 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joel 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/joe/3/1/s_879001

Meditate on verse 13.

 

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. 

Come, tread, for the wine press is full; the vats

overflow, for their wickedness is great.

 

The meditation verse sounds similar to these verses in Isaiah and Revelation:

 

 I (the LORD) have trodden the wine trough alone,

and from the peoples there was no

man with Me. I also trod them in My anger

 and trampled them in My wrath, and their

 lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, and

 I stained all My raiment.  I trod down the peoples

 in My anger and made them drunk in My wrath,

 and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.

—Isaiah 63:3, 6

 

So, the angel swung his sickle to the earth

 and gathered the clusters from the

vine of the earth and threw them into the

 great wine press of the wrath of God.  

And the wine press was trodden outside

 the city, and blood came out from the

wine press, up to the horses' bridles, for

 a distance of two hundred miles.

—Revelation 14:19-20

 

Let there be no doubt a day is coming when all the wicked, those who are not made righteous through the blood of Jesus, will be trampled in His wrath.  Pray for them, using Joel 3:14 as their faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, there are multitudes, multitudes

 in the valley of decision!  For

the day of the LORD is near in the valley

 of decision.  LORD, ______________ is

 in the valley of decision!  Let them

choose You before it is too late.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joel 2 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joel 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/joe/2/1/s_878001

Meditate on verse 32a.

 

And it will come about that whoever calls

 on the name of the LORD will be delivered.

 

“LORD” in the meditation verse is the Hebrew word Yehovah; it means “the self-Existent, Eternal One,” and it is the proper name of the one true God.¹   This most holy name for God is first seen in Genesis 2:4:

 

This is the account of the heavens

 and the earth when they were

 created, in the day that the

LORD God made earth and heaven.

 

And, this is the name Paul ascribes to Jesus in Romans 10 where he quotes Joel 2:32:

 

If you confess with your mouth Jesus

 as LORD, and believe in your

heart that God raised Him

from the dead, you will be saved,

for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE

NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

—Romans 10:9, 13

 

Jesus is God, the self-Existent, Eternal One, Creator and Savior of the world.  Appeal to Him with Joel 2:11-14 and 32 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, You utter Your voice before Your army; surely

Your camp is very great.  Make ________ and me strong

 as we carry out Your Word.  The day of the LORD is indeed

great and very awesome, and who can endure it? 

Let ____________ return to You with all their heart and

with fasting, weeping, and mourning.  Let us rend

our hearts and not our garments and return to You, LORD

 our God, for You are gracious and compassionate, slow to

 anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting

of evil.  LORD, please turn and relent and

leave a blessing behind You.  Please let ______________ call

 on Your name, LORD, so they will be delivered.

In Your name, LORD Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

Joel 1 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joel 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/joe/1/1/s_877001

Meditate on verses 2 and 15.

 

Hear this, O elders, and listen, all

 inhabitants of the land. 

Has anything like

this happened in your days or in your

 fathers' days?  Alas for the day!  For the

day of the LORD is near, and it will

 come as destruction from the Almighty.

 

Judah was in the midst of famine and plague when God said, “Wake-up!” (v. 5).  The gnawing, swarming, creeping, stripping locusts they experienced would be mild compared to the coming day of the LORD (vs. 4, 15). 

 

But the day of the LORD will come like a

 thief, in which the heavens

will pass away with a roar and

the elements will be destroyed

 with intense heat, and the earth

 and its works will be burned up.

—2 Peter 3:10

 

What is going on in the world right now?  As we write this devotional, a devastating virus is wreaking havoc around the world, causing much fear and concern.  God wants us to use these events—plagues, famines, wildfires, disease—to tell our children and grandchildren about the LORD, so they will tell the next generation because the day of the LORD is coming when it will be too late to receive the LORD’s salvation (2 Peter 3:14-15).

 

Pray Joel 1:2-3, 15, and 19 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, has anything like this happened in my days

 or in my father’s days?  Let me tell

my children about it and let them tell their

 children and their children to the next

generation.  For the day of the LORD is near, and

 it will come as destruction from

You, the Almighty.  To You, O LORD, I cry! 

Please save ____________ before it is too late.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

Daniel 12 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Daniel 12.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/dan/12/1/s_862001

Meditate on this command in verse 13.

 

But as for you, go to the end.

 

Ponder these truths about Daniel:

 

*  God introduced Daniel when he was approximately 15 years old, a youth who made up his mind not to defile himself (Daniel 1:3-8).

 

*  Daniel served under pagan, human kings - 8 kings and 2 world kingdoms for approximately 66 years (Daniel 1:21; 5:30-31).  

 

*  Daniel interpreted the dreams and visions of kings from the age of 16 until he was in his 80’s (Dan. 2; 4; 5).

 

*  Daniel was given visions of kings and kingdoms (at least 20 kings and 5 kingdoms) from the time he was approximately 67 years old until he was 85 years old (Daniel 7-12).

 

*Daniel’s calling when he was in his 80’s (v. 13): “Go to the end!”

 

God’s calling on your life is the same - keep going!  No matter how old or young you are, God wants faithful people to make up their mind to faithfully serve Him, giving a lost world insight into who He is. 

 

Pray Daniel 12:10 and 13 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, purge, purify, and refine _________ and me.

Please give us insight to understand.

Strengthen us to go to the end.  Let us enter into rest and

rise again for our allotted portion at the end of the age.

Because we belong to You, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Daniel 11 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Daniel 11.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/dan/11/1/s_861001

Meditate on verses 32b-33a.

 

The people who know their God will display

 strength and take action.  Those who have

 insight among the people will give

understanding to the many.

 

When God gave Daniel the visions in Daniel 7-12, the world was ruled by Persia.  Soon Greece would conquer the world followed by the Roman empire.  The first part of this chapter prophesies the fall of the Persian empire followed by the rise of the Greek empire.  Starting with verse 36, the focus shifts to end time events.  The king who magnifies himself and speaks monstrous things against God is the Little Horn in Daniel 7:8, the insolent king in Daniel 8:23, the man of lawlessness and the son of destruction in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the antichrist in 1 John 2:18, and the beast in Revelation 13.  Be aware of his tactics so you are not deceived and turned to godlessness (v. 32).

 

Be encouraged as you see God’s Word being fulfilled before your eyes.  As you read and study the Bible, “give understanding to the many” (v. 33). 

 

Pray Daniel 11:32-33 and 35 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, do not let __________ and me be deceived by

smooth words and turned to godlessness. 

Let us never act wickedly toward Your covenant.

 Make us people who know You, God.

 Let us display strength and take action. 

Give us insight among the people so we can give

 understanding to the many.  LORD, when we fall, use

 it to refine, purge, and make us pure until the end time

 because it is still to come at the appointed time.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Daniel 10 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Daniel 10.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/dan/10/1/s_860001

Meditate on verse 12.

 

Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for

from the first day that you set your heart on

understanding this and on humbling

yourself before your God, your words were

heard, and I have come in response to your words.

 

Contrast Daniel’s anguish and lack of strength with the man in linen’s care for Daniel.  Daniel was at the end of himself, yet despite being so weak and scared, Daniel set his mind to understand God’s message.  God sent the man in linen in response to Daniel’s prayers, strengthening and giving him even more understanding of God’s Word.

 

Do not grow weary and lose heart in prayer and reading the Bible.  As you abide in Christ and His Word, God will touch you again and strengthen you (v. 18).  A miracle happens every time you feel like you cannot take another step, yet you open your Bible to receive God’s peace, strength, and encouragement for another day.

 

Pray Daniel 10:12, 18-19, and 21 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please make ___________ and me like Daniel. 

Let us set our hearts on understanding Your Word

 and humbling ourselves before You, God.

LORD, hear our prayers and come in response to

our words.  Please touch us again and strengthen us.

Let us hear You say, ‘O ___________ of high

esteem, do not be afraid.  Peace be

with you; take courage and be courageous!’

As soon as You speak to us, we receive strength. 

LORD, continue to speak because You

have strengthened us.  Continue to tell us

what is in Your Writing of Truth.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Daniel 9 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Daniel 9.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/dan/9/1/s_859001

Meditate on verses 2-3.

 

I, Daniel, observed in the books the number

of the years which was revealed as the Word of the LORD

 to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the

desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

So, I gave my attention to the LORD God to seek Him

 by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

 

Daniel read God’s Word given to the prophet Jeremiah.  You can read those same Words in Jeremiah 25:8-14.  Observing God’s Word caused Daniel to pay attention to God, which made Daniel aware of his own sinfulness, bringing him to a place of confession and prayer (vs. 3-19).  During his intense prayer time, Gabriel appeared and gave Daniel a foundational prophecy for understanding end times (vs. 24-27) and revealed an incredible truth to Daniel:

 

He (Gabriel) gave me instruction and talked with me and said,

 "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding.

At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued,

and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed;

 so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.

—Daniel 9:22-23

 

When Daniel  began praying, God told Gabriel to go and give Daniel insight with understanding into the message and vision.  God does the same for you as you observe His Word, paying attention to and talking to Him.

 

Pray Daniel 9:19 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“O LORD, hear!  O LORD, forgive! 

O LORD, listen and take action! 

For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay

because ___________ and I are called

 by Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel 8 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Daniel 8.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/dan/8/1/s_858001

Meditate on verses 16 and 19.

 

And I heard the voice of a man between

 the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said,

 "Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision."

He said, "Behold, I am going to let you know what

 will occur at the final period of the indignation,

for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.

 

Thankfully, God lets us glimpse into the future, for it gives us confidence as we see the world falling apart that things are actually coming together for that glorious day when Christ the Cornerstone fulfills the statue vision in Daniel 2 (Acts 4:11).

 

Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was

cut out of the mountain without hands and

that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the

clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has

made known to the king what will

 take place in the future, so the dream is true,

 and its interpretation is trustworthy.

—Daniel 2:45

 

Keep in mind these are appointed times ordained by the Commander of the host, the Commander of your life (vs. 11, 19).  So, do not fear when you see the Prince of princes being opposed because He will break the opposer; you have God’s Word on it (v. 25).

 

Pray Daniel 8:16 and 25 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, give ____________ and me an understanding

of the visions in Your Word.  Do not let us

be deceived by Satan’s shrewdness. 

Do not let his influence cause deceit to

succeed in our lives.  Do not let us be like him,

magnifying ourselves in our heart. 

Do not let us be at ease so he is able to

 destroy us.  Prince of princes, we look forward

 to the day the opposer is broken.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell