AMOS: Prophet of Justice and Righteousness - Chapter 2

                                                                        

                                                     AMOS 2 

              AMOS:  PROPHET OF JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS                         

Your job may or may not have or caused you to feel important or successful.  It is vital work, if it is where God placed you.  As a pastor, I was challenged to “Reflect the Heart of Jesus" wherever I was, including outside the church.  

As we read last week, Amos was a shepherd and fig grower, when God called and empowered him with extraordinary messages.  If you haven’t read Amos 1 do so.  Then read Amos 2 which continues the messages God gave Amos starting in 1:3.

Amos (burden-bearer) spoke with boldness using picturesque metaphors in denouncing sin.  He began with a circular condemnation of the countries neighboring Israel, the Northern Kingdom.  Place yourself in Israel, hearing: Judgment proclaimed against Damascus, (same city that is the capitol of Syria today, only then the country was named Aram.), Gaza, (v. 6) This is, Tyre, also named Sur today's Lebanon.   Edom, Ammon and Moab (v. 11, 13, 2:1) are in today’s Jordan. Likely, the Israelites thought: “They deserve Judgment for their behavior.”

Notice, God’s judgment was not a failure of worshiping or living by God’s standards, rather a failure to live by their own standards and caring for one another as sisters and brothers.  During war, those nations sold the captives, as to slaves, to each other.  

Amos then addresses the Southern Kingdom, Judah (2:4). Those in Israel may have thought: “Our Southern sisters and brothers deserve that warning.”  Similar feelings may have occurred during our Nation’s (America's) Civil War. 1861-1865). After warning all of Israel’s surrounding countries, Amos uses the harshest words on Israel (2:6-8).  What were the sins listed in these scriptures?

Israel was enjoying peace and economic prosperity.  With comfort and luxury came a false sense of security.  Those who were well off ignored the plight of the poor.  Amos addressed those who exploited, ignored or sold the needy into slavery.  What other sins are addressed?

After King Solomon died, the Unified Kingdom was divided, 10 tribes in Israel (Northern) and 2 tribes, Benjamin and Judah (Southern).   God had punished the other countries for their actions and atrocities.  Now came the warning to Judah and Israel for ignoring God’s revealed Law.  The other nations were ignorant, but God’s people knew what God wanted, yet they ignored it.  Do any of the accusations against Judah and Israel apply to our nation? If we know God’s Word and do not obey it, are we not like Israel and Judah?  (Last week we saw God's Law as a "Plumb Line.")  Imagine trying to construct a building and not following the Plumb Line/Level.  Likely, the result will be something like that is not only not secure but may collapse. 

Believing in God means following God's Laws, Jesus summarized them to:  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... and Your Neighbor as yourself."  (Matthew 22:37, 39).  When we follow these laws/teachings, We Reflect the Heart of Jesus.

Prayer:

Reflect on how God is calling you to Reflect the Heart of Jesus in your daily life.  Pray that God will empower you to live and reflect God’s law and love.