July 11: Amos 1-5

July 11, Amos 1-5

Amos is all about the universal judgment of God. God is calling out social injustice and abuse of the poor. Amos was not the son or relative of a prophet - he was a herdsman. Just you average everyday guy. In this society, this was not a prominent position, but more of a lowly one. This was written during the days of King Uzziah of Judah and Jerobam of Israel.

Amos 1-2  After a rather brief introduction of how Amos was a shepherd he gets right in to the fact that God has a word for Israel’s neighbors, Israel, & Judah.  

The Lord is any with the sins of the nations. The Lord tells 6 surrounding nations that God will not revoke their punishment because of all of their sins. The punishments are from God for them, and they are all rather devastating. 

Judah is also in big trouble. Not so much for social inustice, but much more because they did not keep the Torah - Go.”d’s Laws.

Israel is also in trouble. Their judgment is because they have walked away from taking care of people and their greed, along with the sexual perversions. Additionally, they worship false gods, caused the Nazarite's to fail in their vows and told the prophets to shut up. 

Amos 3 is a fierce warning to Israel that Judgment is surely coming on them. God is not fooled and says, “Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?” I don’ think that there is anything such as a ‘natural’ disaster - it is all by the hand of God for His purposes. Also, “… the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” I believe this is true for today as well. God has watchers on the wall and prophets that speak His truths and upcoming issues. This is our God.
The Israelites have even lost the ability even to know how to do right. Their Judgments is because they pursued false gods and were greedy - to the point of self indulgence. Not what God called them or us to - we are to pursue Him and die to self in service to Him. 

Amos 4 Amos has some great sarcasm to the Israelites, telling them to continue on with their fake sacrifices and offerings when their hearts are not in it. Then we get a list of all the atrocities that are from the Lord. From drought, pestilence, mildew on the gardens, being overthrown by other nations… “ prepare to meet your God, O Israel”  The warning again.  

Amos 5 It is not too late to repent and come back to God! Seek God and live. God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things - come back to Him. God hates falseness!

Israel’s sins are great. They need to repent and come back to God, seek Good and not evil. Hate evil and love Good. 

God want us to obey Him much more than he wants our sacrifice. Don’t desire the Lords coming if you are not living for Him. God is to the point that He hated their feasts and gatherings, because they were a joke. Justice will prevail. 

To sum it all up:

• God want us to obey Him much more than he wants our sacrifice.