AMOS: Prophet of Justice and Righteousness -- Chapter 3

                                                         

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                                                   Amos 3

            AMOS:  PROPHET OF JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS         

Our Jewish brothers and sisters have just started their New Year, Rosh Hashana and are preparing for The High Holy Days: Yom-Kippur starting this Sunday.  (The Day of Atonement is a time of fasting, penitence and generosity, reflecting on their sins and asking God to for forgiveness.  It is also a time to pray for the nation and its failures). Among the Scriptures read is Amos. 

Levitus 16 explains why and how "The Day of Atonement started.  Two ram goats were selected, one chosen by lot, was for the for sacrifice.  The other on which Aron/Priests would lay their hands on the head of the goat transferring the sins of the people to it.  A scarlet threat was placed around the horns and sent into the wilderness.  This is from which we get "Scape Goat."  (Levitus 16:20-22)

For Christians Ash Wednesday starts a period of preparation for Jesus’ Death and Resurrection called Lent. It is a time of reflecting on Jesus' death and his taking upon himself our and all the sin in of the world.  Thus, it is for us also a time of repenting and receiving God’s Graceful Forgiveness. 

In studying Amos, notice that along with warnings:  Unless a nation is built on and lives by the solid foundation of God’s Law, it will collapse, there is Grace and Hope.  Interwoven throughout Amos is God’s message of forgiveness and fresh beginnings.  I read: “In every rope used the British Navy are woven the silken strands of the National Ensign.  Wherever the rope is cut there is revealed the red, white and blue threads of the Union Jack.” In the Amos there is a reiteration of justice and righteousness which compose the core of God’s message.  

Read Amos 3, (If you haven't read chapters 1 and 2, do so now), Addressed to Israel:  Your election (chosen people) does not absolve you from guilt.  Judgment is part of the Covenant made with you.  God brings the leaders of the surrounding countries to witness the chaos and oppression in Israel.   My people have forgotten how to do right (3:1-10).   God was saying they were not exempt from judgment.  In fact, they would be held to a higher standard of the surrounding nations. 

Amos uses metaphors (3:8) the pressure of the prophets compared to a roaring lion; (3:12) the narrow escape of a remnant of Israel to a shepherd recovering two leg bones or piece of ear from a lion.  The enemy mentioned, was Assyria which did conquer Israel in 722 B.C. just as Amos had warned.  The people were scattered to foreign lands becoming the “lost tribes of Israel.”   

 Israel no longer knew how to do right.  The more they sinned, the harder it was for them to remember what God wanted.  Is it not the same of us?  The longer we wait to deal with sin, the greater the hold it has on us.  Finally, we forget what is right.  Are you on the verge of forgetting?

Ash Wednesday is a good day, actually any day is good for critically evaluating how we are doing in Reflecting the Heart of Jesus and his love for us demonstrated is his death on the Roman cross.         For God so loved the world that he gave his only beloved Son, that whoever believes in him will have everlasting life. (John 3:16)                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Prayer:

Ash Wednesday, actually every day is good for “cleaning the slate” and beginning afresh.  What is amazing is that God invites us to come and receive forgiveness for anything we think or do that does not reflect the heart of Jesus or love of God.  I encourage you to write down, as specifically as possible, any sin or anything that is leading to strained or broken relationship between you and others or God.  Pray: “In your gracious mercy forgive me for (read what you have written).  Thank you for your promise that if we confess our sins, you will forgive us/me from our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9) It is the Name of Jesus Christ that we are forgiven!" Now burn that list of sins.  Even as the list no longer exists, so our sins no longer exist before God. 

* Hills of Samaria, Northern Israel