| Spending time in the Scriptures Amos | by A. Kimber | |||||
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As we come to the book of Amos we find a man, indeed, a shepherd who is called to bring the message of God to a rebelling nation. Firstly we are given a brief introduction to Amos the prophet. Then we have a chapter and a half where he captured the attention of his audience by bringing the message of the Lord in judgement against the nations that surrounded them. It's certainly a good way of getting a supportive crowd, however he then moves onto the tribe of Judah which was getting closer to home and he then moves onto the nation of Israel. As you'd expect Israel's condemnation goes further than any of the other nations; they are reminded of the armies and people that they faced and who were destroyed before them. They were God's chosen people yet they had given themselves to fellowship with the nations around and did not want to hear the words of the Lord. So they are warned of an enemy who will surround and destroy leaving only a small remnant. God's judgement shouldn't have come as a surprise to the people as He had sent famine and drought over much of the land and even during these hard times the people had not come back to the Lord. Even here we see the grace and mercy of the Lord, although there was drought in many places, yet enough cities had rain that neighbouring cities could come to them for food to survive. But we see that the nation was not only in desperate need but that they were taking advantage of the situation, rigging their scales so that the needy had to buy the waste of the corn because they couldn't afford anything else. So Amos' plea to the people is that they return to the Lord; that they forsake the things that surround them, to seek after good. You may think that doing this would be sufficient, but God's justice must prevail so the people are warned that their sacrifices will do no good, they haven't sacrificed for 40 years but yet they've found time to worship their idols. Hearing this message the priest at the centre of idolatry, the city of Bethel tells Amos to flee. Amos though isn't fazed and explains his background and the message he had to bring from the Lord. He explains the visions the Lord had shown him, grasshoppers, fire and a basket of fruit; all these examples he would well be able to relate to. So this great judgement is to come upon the people, they will be destroyed, but keeping His promises to Jacob they will not be completely destroyed. So what can we take from this prophet? Surely we can realise that God's promises must come true. Whether it's for good or bad we know that what God has said, will be done. If we stray from God's word, He'll try to bring us back to himself and we know that He'll always deal justly with us. So lets endeavour to live lives pleasing to the Lord that we may know His blessing and nearness. Key Verses Amos 5:6 Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. Amos 7:10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. Amos 7:14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: Amos 8:10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Amos 9:8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.
All quotes are from the King James version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. | ||||||
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