Thoughts from book of Amos

[Sue D.]

Recently I've been reading through the Minor Prophets -- came across a passage in Amos chapters 3 and 4. ".... people of Israel vs 2 You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth: vs 7 ,,,,, Surely the sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets." This entire book is talking to Israel. Chapter 4:12 "Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel....... prepare to meet your God....... vs 13 ...... the Lord God Almighty is His name. "

Since we have all the Scriptures now -- we Do know that the Lord God has provided the Savior -- and salvation is available to All. Both Jews and Gentiles.

So -- something to be considered -- are We 'prepared to meet our God'. Israel was / has been / a rebellious people.

Christmas is almost here -- celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The birth, death, burial and bodily resurrection make it possible for Everyone to be able To be 'ready to meet your God'.

Through God's plan for our salvation, we Can be ready to meet our God in a very Positive way. And God's Word tells us that everyone Will meet God -- so -- this Christmas season -- let's make sure that 'we' personally Are ready to meet God in a Positive way.

Merry Christmas. Jesus Christ Is the 'reason for the season'.

 

[Dave M]

cool I am currently studying this book.

Sounds like the cows are the wife's of the rich men who are oppressing the people. They want more and more nothing is enough, and they dont care how they get it.

Real world would looks something like the CEO of a lot of companies here in the US, these CEO make billions of dollars and live the most lavish life style one can imagine, yet there blue collar workers often live on the poverty line struggling to get by.

Could not the CEO be a little more generous in there wages they pay the blue collar worker who is living on the poverty line?

 

[Sue D.]

Dave M -- an interesting thought ?!

What I'd noticed is the phrase "For three transgression of........., and for four, Ii will not turn away it's punishment, because they......... ---- for each location. And then focuses on Israel.

And then I was curious About those various locations. That's in my NKJ.

Then in my ESV and NIV (the older one) there are section headings. The first section is talking about Israel's neighbors and then to judgments on Israel. The neighboring areas are Damascus, Gaza , Tyre, Edom , the Amonites , Moab, and Judah and then Israel, herself.

 

[Dave M]

God gave them time to repent and there sins seemed to have hardened there hearts, The King surrounded himself with prophets that told him what he wanted to here, (blessings riches etc...) And refused to here what he needed to here from Amos the true prophet.

The elite that were oppressing the poor will be the first to go into exile, after many warning from God.

So much to learn from this as this story is being basically replayed today, people do not listen to sound preachers any more. They go after the ones like the prosperity gospel preachers that tell them what they want to here, instead of listening to the ones that convict us and tell us what we need to here.

 

[Sue D.]

Hmmm -- interesting.

Is it possible that 'we' tend to rationalize sin? We're either too soft or too hard on our daily living ? But --- in church Sunday -- pastor was reminding us from the Gospel accounts of the birth of Christ. God wants Relationship with us. Not to be having a list of does and don'ts that we feel obligated to follow.

And we have relationship With Him as we spend more time With Him. Which is how we have / develop relationship with Anyone. Taking time For them to be With them.

 

[Sue D.]

It's early morning of Christmas Eve -- skimming through Amos and the last chapter - vs 11 -- in that day I will restore David's fallen shelter -- I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins -- and will rebuild it as it used to be.

vs 13 "The days are coming , declares the Lord ...... New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, ...... I will bring my people Israel back from exile. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.

vs 15 I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the Lord your God."

Prophesy is interesting.

 

[Dave M]

yeap just finished reading that myself this morning, seems to be a vision of two parts one negative and one positive. They will be punished but not forever. they had plenty of time to repent but time is up they must face the piper.

there offence mainly was how they treated the poor

 

[Sue D.]

Another observation -- (much later this morning) -- not regarding book of Amos but to Israel. And Amos is About Israel and Israel are the Jewish people -- once the Church is raptured up and out of this world -- the remaining Jews Will be given a 2nd chance for them to accept their promised Messiah during the 7 yrs. of tribulation And Then comes the 2nd coming of Christ to this earth for His 1,000 year reign.

And I also know that That is not agreed upon by lots of people.

And Next is the book of Obadiah.

 

[Sue D.]

Well -- it looks like Butch5 and I are back at it again. His logic vs God's Word.

 

[Brad Huber]

I have been reading recently in Amos also. One of the things the Holy Spirit impressed on me was found in Amos 5:12

For I know your manifold transgressions
And your mighty sins:
Afflicting the just and taking bribes;
Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.

Now here, its talking about the judgement coming to Israel, the northern nation. And I was reminded of the majority of our representitives in washington DC who are really only our representitives in name only. For they have many manifold transgressions and might sins, and the rest in verse 12.
If corrupt politicians are leading our citizens deeper and deeper into its own corruption, do we have reason to continue as a nation? Do we deserve to be destroyed as a nation as what happened to Israel? I think we do, I think some humbling of our nation would do a world of good to those that think God doesnt care about us, but instead, just like the rebellious son Israel, God will punish us like he would a good son, so that we might be humbled, and any leaders to follow would be humbled. Unlike Israel, I think the US will continue in some form in these lands, but I can feel the judgement coming our way.... "because" God cares enough about us to punish us, and not write us off as a completely failed nation.