#judah

Notes: 2 Kings 17:13 explains the tragic fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It emphasizes that God’s judgment was not an impulsive or sudden punishment. Instead, out of immense patience and love, He repeatedly sent prophets and seers to warn His people to repent, abandon their idols, and follow His laws.

Our Scripture reading continues with Joel 2. In Joel 1, the prophet called the people of Judah to turn to the LORD and repent. In Joel 2, the trumpets were sounded, warning the people that the day of God’s judgment had arrived. As with many earlier prophecies in our study, Joel’s prophecy was both imminent and far-reaching.

Today’s Scripture reading is Joel 1-2. This, the first of two Bible studies, will focus on Joel 1. Joel, a minor prophet to Judah, was commanded by the LORD to warn that nation that an unprecedented judgment was imminent. Observing the effects of God’s wrath, Joel called on the people to turn to the LORD and repent of their sins.

2 Kings 8:19, NASB

In Ezekiel 37, the LORD takes Ezekiel to the Valley of Dry Bones, a picture of death, and explores the symbolism of that valley and its prophetic promise for Israel and Judah.

The LORD came to Ezekiel in chapter 35 and commanded him to prophesy against Edom, saying, “I am against thee” (Ezekiel 35:3). Because Edom took pleasure in the overthrow of Jerusalem, the LORD, being just, declared that the Edomites would suffer the same sorrows.

Today’s Scripture reading is from Ezekiel 25. Ezekiel 25 introduces the third segment of our study of Ezekiel's prophecies, focusing primarily on Israel's adversaries, who are identified as the recipients of God’s judgment. Seeing the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the heathen nations rejoiced in Judah's sorrows and sufferings, even as Judah was led into captivity.