TOMS: Amos 6-9

For an introduction to this series, click here.

Nov. 9, 2006

Amos finishes his book with more pronouncements of God's judgment, but ends his prophecy on a high note, as he promises that one day Israel will be restored.

In Chapter 6 Amos prophesies against "those who are at ease in Zion." The Jews were content with their material possessions, and did not care that their own brothers, their fellow Jews, were starving and were oppressed by corrupt leaders.

In Chapter 7 God gives Amos visions of locusts and fire that He was planning to send upon Israel, and Amos intercedes, apparently, and stops the judgment from coming. Then a "priest of Bethel-" I don't know if this priest was a godly priest or one of the priests of the idol that Jeroboam set up in Bethel, the text doesn't say (or if it does I didn't notice it)- tells Amos to go south into Judah. The priest says the king is going to kill Amos. Amos responds, "I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy against my people Israel'" (7:14-15, ESV)

I really like Amos' response to the king's threat. He admits that the calling of God was not something he planned on or even wanted, but now that he was given this responsibility, he is going to see it through to the end. Most, and possibly all, of the pastors and leaders who have made an impact on my life have a similar testimony.

Then in Chapter 8 and most of Chapter 9 Amos predicts the destruction of the Northern Kingdom. But the last five verses of the book predict a future glory for Israel, a land that is so bountiful that the sowers of fruit will have to wait to plant in the spring because the harvest from the last fall has not all been taken in yet.

TOMS: Amos 4-5

For an introduction to this series, click here.

Nov. 8, 2006

Here we have Amos listing the sins of Israel and the attempts of God to get the people's attention. Their sins include oppression of the poor, taking bribes and idolatry. God sent famine, drought, and military defeat to the Jews, and they did not turn back to Him. 

Should we infer from passages like this that natural disasters and the like in our day are the judgment of God? I don't think so. God had a special relationship with Israel, one that is not replicated with any city, state or nation in the age of the church. If we think that way, we will end up aimlessly looking for meaning in all kinds of bad circumstances. We won't see that God can use such things for His glory. Example: When Paul was sailing to Rome, a storm came up on the Mediterranean and eventually destroyed the ship. Was that God's judgment on Paul? On the Roman government? Not really. God used the storm to allow Paul to minister to the captain and crew and lead some of them to faith.

This passage also contains the famous passage that Jesus quoted:"I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the pace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (5:21-24, ESV)

God commanded feasts, solemn assemblies and sacrifices. But God did not want to receive them from people whose hearts were not right with Him. He does not expect perfection - what are sacrifices if not a confession of guilt? - but He did and still does expect a heart that longs to worship Him and know Him, not ritual ceremony done merely out of duty. Even the words of praise coming from these people were just useless noise to God. Amos told the people to work out justice and righteousness in your lives and then worship God. This is similar to what James says in his epistle when he says that pure religion includes being a blessing to the orphan and the widow. We can't expect to be right with God when our hearts are hard to the needs of our fellow human beings.

I wonder how many of our church services and worship times are just empty rituals in the eyes of God. I hate to think of it. It is certainly not measured by how emotionally stirred the service is, because people get emotionally stirred in lots of situations that have nothing to do with worship. I honestly wonder if I know what worship of God really is. I think I do, but my own life is such a mess most of the time that I'm not sure I would recognize true worship if I saw it or if I would be totally freaked out if I ever saw or experienced true worship. Don't get me wrong: I know that God loves me for who I am- why else would He save me?- and I know that it is dangerous to be always looking for something "deeper" - that is really self-deception. But at the same time I can't help thinking that we are missing the point in a lot of ways.

TOMS: Amos 1-3

For an introduction to this series, click here.

Nov. 6, 2006

The prophet Amos begins with a pronouncement of judgment upon the heathen nations around Israel- Damascus (Syria), Gaza (the Philistines), Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab. I'm sure this pleased the Jews to hear these judgments.Then Amos turns to Israel, using the same combination of words: "For three transgressions and for four" for both Judah and Israel. 

An interesting fact about this portion of scripture: the repeated phrase "For three transgressions and for four" was the basis for the teaching of the Pharisees in Jesus' day that they only had to forgive someone who sinned against them three or four times. Since God said He would punish Israel for three or four transgressions, then that was all they needed to forgive. Jesus blew that teaching out of the water when the disciples, feeling generous, asked if they should forgive up to seven times. Of course Jesus replied seventy times seven.

It should be noted that Amos tells us that he prophesied during the reign of Uzziah- remember that Isaiah saw his vision of Jesus Christ (see John 12 :39-41, an amazing portion of scripture and statement of Christ's deity) in the year after Uzziah died. So Amos wrote this prophecy a few years before Isaiah wrote his book.

Anyway, Amos is unflinching in his condemnation of Israel, listing lots of wicked things they had done and tolerated being done. Then Amos gives the reason for Israel's punishment:

"You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for your iniquities." (3:2)

God has a higher standard for those whom He has blessed with knowledge. He expects them to live based on the instruction they have been given. "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more." (Luke 12:48, ESV)