Amos came from humble shepherd roots when God thrust him into the role of prophet to the kingdom of Israel. This was during the time Israel was enjoying a peak in their material and political success, and so hearing Amos denounce their prideful smugness was treasonous. To them, the day of the Lord would be a day of total triumph over all their enemies… for don’t you know, we’re the chosen race, and God’s superior group here on earth! But Amos was warning them that because of their unbelief and wickedness, the day of the Lord would be a day of judgement instead. Anytime elitism rears its ugly head…God’s judgement will follow.
Tag: amos
Amos 8:11 ” The days are coming, declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘ When I will send a famine through the land – not a famine of food or thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.’ “
We need to be able to hear God’s truths…His revelations, promises, and commands. But in the world today, it’s very difficult to make out His voice amidst all the noise and chaos. Our minds are constantly being bombarded by worldly racket that so easily drowns out that still small voice. The only way we can receive from God is to make a concerted effort to shut out the world daily…and listen to Him.
Amos 4:1 ” Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, ‘ Bring us some drinks!’ “
The prophet Amos was using a metaphor in comparing the upper class Samaritan women to the sleek, fat cattle found in Bashan. These women had no problem in oppressing the poor to get what they wanted…and nagging their husbands into submission to get it. Amos warned them that in the end, they would be treated like cattle…herded by their captors to places they didn’t want to go.
Amos 5:5 ” Seek Me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba.”
God is not in a certain location. Just because there’s been a great move of God there, doesn’t mean we need to worship the place it happened at. Why do we like to travel to places rather than searching for the source that made the location great in the first place? Pursue God, not where He might have been.
Amos 1:1 ” The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa…”
Amos came from humble country roots…he was tending sheep when the Lord appeared and said to him, “Go, prophesy to My people Israel.” (Amos 7:15) Amos had no great educational background, but yet the Book of Amos is a very skilled and beautiful literary writing. He grew up as a poor shepherd, yet God sent him to speak against the Rich and their sins against the needy. God will use anyone, at anytime, to do His Will…He just needs a willing vessel brave enough to step out in Faith.
Amos 7: 7-8 ” This is what He showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand. And the Lord asked me, ‘What do you see Amos?’ ‘A plumb line,’ I replied. Then the Lord said, ‘Look I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will spare them no longer.’ “
God was using the analogy of a measuring tool to show just how far the Israelite nation had fallen into sin. The Lord’s perfect standard showed glaringly how deeply they had backslidden…It was now a time of judgment. God uses His plumb line today to show us when we’re “off center”…it might be the Holy Spirit whispering with that still small voice, or it may be His Word, when we read the Bible, that speaks to us about a certain area of our life that needs to change. He may even send another Christian into our life to exhort us with truth of just how far we have wandered away from Him. The Lord’s plumb line is straight and true, and He desires that our life to be the same.
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