The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.
6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Meditation
Jesus became poor to make you rich in love. Paul discusses “genuine love” by describing the work of Jesus this way: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:8-9). God’s grace is what we are saturated in, to become rich in God’s love.
 
Jesus was poor. Shortly after his birth Mary went to the temple to offer a sacrifice “according to the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves and two young pigeons” (Luke 2:22-24). Today’s chapter on purification procedures after childbirth is the Old Testament background informing us that this offering is a provision for a poor family who could not afford a lamb for sacrifice (8). Jesus was born into poverty to make people born again rich in love.
 
Jesus had no place to rest His head during His ministry (Matthew 8:20). Jesus preached from borrowed boats, multiplied borrowed food, rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt, washed the disciples feet with a borrowed towel, and was buried in a borrowed tomb.
 
By faith we more than borrow Christ’s righteousness and are adopted as children, freely given God’s Spirit to receive God’s eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:11-14). God’s inheritance is His eternal riches for all who believe! Children adopted into His family through the work of Christ. In God’s family we are rich in love!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What surprises you about the poverty of Jesus?
 
-How does acknowledging our own poverty of righteousness give us faith to receive Christ’s righteousness?
 
-Have you received the riches of God’s unconditional love in Christ? Why or why not? Jesus became poor to make you rich in love. Open your hands and hearts to receive His eternal blessings!
 
Key Verse
8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Final Instructions and Benediction12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
 
Meditation
Jesus will return in glory to fully establish His Kingdom in justice and righteousness. Until Jesus returns the importance of Christian community is highlighted by the teaching to wait by building one another up.
 
“Encourage one another and build one another up,” writes Paul (11). Anticipation of the return of King Jesus is justification of the teaching. We do not know the time of Christ’s return (1-3) but we are told it should unite Christians. Christians are “children of light” (4-5) and we must stay awake (6-7), ready for Christ to come in glory. Individually this means we have faith (8-9). Collectively this means we come together (10-11).
 
Jesus joins Paul in teaching that no one knows when He will return (Matthew 24:36-44). The point is to empower Christians to encourage and edify one another. To prepare for Christ’s return is not to calculate timing but catalyze community and connectivity, to live in corporate hope and love.
 
The series of specifics included in “encouraging one another and building one another up” has something for everyone (12-28). Every Christian has a role in edifying Christ’s Body! Christians honor leadership, live at peace with one another, and care for the congregation by caring for specific needs and “seeking to do good to one another and to everyone” (15).
 
Richly Dwelling
-The return of Jesus is promised! How does this revelation give you hope?
 
-God’s word does not offer details on Christ’s return but direction for life together. How can you encourage other Christians and build others up?
 
-Which of the final specific steps offered by Paul sits in your soul, gaining traction for godliness in your life? How can you act on one today?
 
Key Verse
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

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This is what the Lord God showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit. 2 And he said, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then the Lord said to me,
“The end[a] has come upon my people Israel;
    I will never again pass by them.
3 The songs of the temple[b] shall become wailings[c] in that day,”
declares the Lord God.
“So many dead bodies!”
“They are thrown everywhere!”
“Silence!”
 
4 Hear this, you who trample on the needy
    and bring the poor of the land to an end,
5 saying, “When will the new moon be over,
    that we may sell grain?
And the Sabbath,
    that we may offer wheat for sale,
that we may make the ephah small and the shekel[d] great
    and deal deceitfully with false balances,
6 that we may buy the poor for silver
    and the needy for a pair of sandals
    and sell the chaff of the wheat?”
7 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
“Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
8 Shall not the land tremble on this account,
    and everyone mourn who dwells in it,
and all of it rise like the Nile,
    and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt?”
 
9 “And on that day,” declares the Lord God,
    “I will make the sun go down at noon
    and darken the earth in broad daylight.
10 I will turn your feasts into mourning
    and all your songs into lamentation;
I will bring sackcloth on every waist
    and baldness on every head;
I will make it like the mourning for an only son
    and the end of it like a bitter day.
11 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God,
    “when I will send a famine on the land--
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
    but of hearing the words of the Lord.

12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
    and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord,
    but they shall not find it.
13 “In that day the lovely virgins and the young men
    shall faint for thirst.
14 Those who swear by the Guilt of Samaria,
    and say, ‘As your god lives, O Dan,’
and, ‘As the Way of Beersheba lives,’
    they shall fall, and never rise again.”
 
Meditation
Have you ever camped in a tent in the middle of the National Forest? It can be a glorious yet sometimes painful experience… as was the case this summer for our family. We had hiked two full days already, and on our last night, cold, pouring rain settled in over our little camp spot by an alpine lake. The darkness was penetrating as we waited for dawn. After a long night we eagerly waited for water to boil for coffee and the sun to rise for warmth. We stood between darkness and dawn waiting for light to come.
 
Amos’s words of the darkness of judgment are penetrating, leaving us longing for light. The basket of summer fruit he sees (1) symbolizes the end. In Hebrew the words sound the same, “summer fruit” and “end.” Ripened fruit has been harvested. The season is changing. The Day of Judgment is near.
 
The social injustices of Israel are focused with specificity. Business folks who love religious feasts move quickly back to work where they oppress the poor and trample the needy (4-6). The coming day of judgment for Israel was a day of darkness (9) where feasts turned into mourning. On the day of darkness the sun went down at noon, darkness in broad daylight.  Where is the dawn of Hope?
 
Light comes through the covenant love of God. The Day of Judgment for Israel is satisfied in the work of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus took the wrath of God against sin so all who trust Jesus for salvation can experience God’s covenant love. As Jesus died darkness came at mid-day (Mark 15:33) so dawn can come for children of God.
 
Jesus alone transforms darkness to light!
 
Richly Dwelling
-What from this chapter is difficult for you to digest?
 
-Where do you stand in life where you are eagerly awaiting dawn, the light of love and hope to rise on the horizon?
 
-Jesus entered darkness to give us light! How does God’s grace give you strength to stand and wait for dawn? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
9 “And on that day,” declares the Lord God,  “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2     Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.
 
Meditation
God is personal, gathering us to Himself for restorative relationship. God is perpetual, making eternal promises for every generation of His people. God is global, inviting everyone from everywhere to enter into His gates with thanksgiving. God wants you to know and trust His infinite and intimate love.
 
“All the earth” is commanded to join the chorus of joyful noise, serving the Lord with gladness and coming into His presence with thanksgiving (1-2).
 
“All generations” are to know the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever, His faithfulness to His children and our children’s children (4-5).
 
“We are His… the sheep of His pasture” (3).  God knows the sheep of His pasture personally. Corporately we come into His fold as His flock, following His voice and trusting His leading.
 
God gathers sheep from every corner of the globe and from all generations to serve the Lord with gladness and come into His presence with thanksgiving. God’s mercy is more than we can imagine! “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies they never come to an end.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) We trust God’s steadfast love as creator and shepherd (3). We praise God as His people, the sheep of His pasture.
 
God is good and his love endures forever. God is faithful, the same yesterday, today, and forever. God made you. God will guide you, guard you, feed you, and lead you. Give thanks! And bless His name.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you more moved by the intimate love and leading of God or His infinite rule over all things, everyone, and everywhere for eternity?
 
- “We are His” people and the sheep of His pasture. How does this give you security to trust Him as shepherd? Be specific.
 
-The trajectory of this Psalm is worship, praise, and thanksgiving. Do the truths of these verses lead to joy, praise, and thanksgiving? Why or why not? How does the finished work of Jesus make a difference?
 
Key Verse
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!... 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations

The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; 6 they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
The Lord God Will Seek Them Out11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy.  I will feed them in justice.
17 “As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet?19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20 “Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.
The Lord's Covenant of Peace25 “I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.26 And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. 27 And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. 29 And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. 30 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God.31 And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.”
 
Meditation
Jesus wants you to know Him as your good shepherd who loves you, knows you, and lays down His life for you (John 10:1-15).  Jesus promises to be with you as a Shepherd, to gather, feed, guard, and lead you. Today’s reading is the ancient promise of God’s eternal plan to reveal Himself as our Good Shepherd.
 
Israel was in trouble because false shepherds used God’s flock for personal flourishing (1-9). God promises to redeem and rescue His sheep (10) with vivid description. God makes an urgent appeal for you to trust Him as “the human sheep of His pasture” (31).
 
God Himself promises to search, seek, rescue, and return lost sheep (11-12). God Himself promises to gather and guide His sheep to green pastures (13-15). God Himself will give rest, bind the broken, strengthen the weak, and judge between the sheep (16-19). God promises to set over His sheep one shepherd, His servant David, who is God (23-24). Jesus is this Good Shepherd!
 
The Lord is our Shepherd and He will not leave us in want (Psalm 23). Jesus is the Great shepherd by the blood of the eternal covenant (Hebrews 13:20). We are God’s people, the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3). Jesus came to seek the lost sheep (Matthew 15:24) and to be the Chief Shepherd of the church (1 Peter 5:2).
 
Jesus wants you to hear His voice and follow His lead. Jesus is present and He promises to protect and provide. Jesus is good, and you can trust Him.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What description of God’s promises for the sheep in His pasture stand out to you the most? Why?
 
-Do you identify with the poor shepherds in verses 1-9, or see points of identification in the church today?
 
-We need a true and good shepherd! Jesus is this shepherd. How can you trust Him more to lead you, guard you, and feed you? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
31 And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.”

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Josiah Repairs the Temple3 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the Lord, saying, 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people. 5 And let it be given into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord, and let them give it to the workmen who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house 6 (that is, to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons), and let them use it for buying timber and quarried stone to repair the house. 7 But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.”
Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law8 And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter), and they talked with her. 15 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’” And they brought back word to the king.
 
Meditation
“God gives more grace,” proclaims James (James 4:6) before the apostle admonishes the Church to humble themselves before the Lord. James promises that when we, “humble ourselves before the Lord, He will exalt you” (James 4:6-10).
 
Like you and me, Josiah needed more grace, sacred space to humble himself before the Lord. When Josiah was 26 years old (1-3) he sent a commission to clean and repair the temple (4-7). Hilkiah the high priest “found the book of the law in the house of the Lord” and sent it to the king (8-10). When king Josiah heard Moses’ words read he was convicted, tearing his clothes in repentance and humbling Himself before the Lord (11-14). The words of the law offered no hope for a wicked and rebellious people (15-17). God’s character offered some mercy to a soft heart humbled before His word (18-20).
 
“Because your heart was penitent and you humbled yourself before the Lord… your eyes should not see disaster” said the Lord. A heart that hears God’s word and humbles itself before God’s authority experiences God’s grace and mercy.
 
“God gives grace to the humble,” writes Peter (1 Peter 5:5-6). This promise is possible because Christ humbled Himself to take the penalty of our pride, sin that has stained our soul. Through the work of Jesus we can be forgiven and begin again, experiencing grace to find space to hear God’s word in our hearts and humble ourselves before Him.
 
Richly Dwelling
- Josiah heard God’s word in his heart and humbled himself before the Lord. Do you hear God’s word in your heart? Why or why not?
 
-Are you more prideful or more humble?
 
-Jesus humbled Himself so we can hear God’s word in our heart, receive God’s grace, and take space to humble ourselves before Him. Where in your life do you need more grace to humble yourself before God’s word? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.