AMOS: Prophet of Justice and Righteousness -- Chapter 6

                                   

                                                    AMOS 6

               AMOS:  PROPHET OF JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS    

(In light of the horrific massacre Israel experienced last Saturday, October 7, 2023, please note that this message from the prophet Amos occurred in the middle of the 8th century B.C.  75 years ago, Israel became an independent nation and Jews from all over the world returned their ancestor's homeland.  Israel was celebrating 25 years since the start of the Yom Kippur War commenced by Egypt and Syria.  It lasted 19 days, which Israel won resulting in a "peace treaty." with Egypt and "agreement" with Syria.  October 7 was also the last day of the Jewish Holy Days.  Many who were killed and or wounded, that day attended a concert commemorating those anniversaries.)

We ended last week’s blog in a spirit of hope and opportunity for change.  (Repent means to turn around and stop heading in the direction where sin controls one’s life.)  As we saw, right in the middle of Amos, God offered forgiveness and provided a way of escaping the impending judgment.  Amos 5:4: Come back to me and live!  Come back to the Lord and live! v. 6, v. 14-15 tells what to do.     

Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so, the Lord, the Lord your God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have said.  Hate evil and love good and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. (NRSV) 

Read Amos 6. (If you haven't read the previous chapters do so now.)  Notice the message, again, turns to warning.  Remember, this was a time of prosperity and peace.  Note the imagery, illustrating their wealth, throughout the chapter.  Amos' "message fell on deaf ears."*   He leveled his attack on those living in complacency and feeling secure.  "It was a time when the rich got richer and when prosperity for the few masked the poverty of the many."* There was no fear of losing everything.  Thus, they likely missed the message of hope in the middle of judgment.

Great wealth and comfortable lifestyles lead people in thinking they were secure.  God was not pleased when isolation kept them from those in need.  God wanted people to care for each other as God cared for them.  There was no place for selfishness and indifference.  Amos called for the use of wealth to help others as a way of guarding against pride and complacency. 

“Your luxury will not continue forever,” says Amos.   He tells them to see the great cities to the east (Caleh in today’s Iraq and mentioned in Genesis 10:10), north and west all destroyed because of pride.  What happened to them would happen to Israel because its sins were just as great as theirs.  You care nothing about the ruin of your nation, v. 6. … You will be the first to be lead away as captives.  Suddenly your parties will end. v. 7    

Where do you find security other than God?   Is it trustworthy?
                                                         
PRAYER:

Loving God as I end this week, I thank you for the Hope and your Promise of being with us no matter the circumstances I may face.   Give me the confidence to live as you have taught.  May I, this coming week, see a mighty flood of Justice, and endless river of Righteous living. Amos 5:24, (NLT)

*  The Haftarah Commentary, p. xii

AMOS: Prophet of Justice and Righteousness -- Chapter 5

                                                                   

                                                      AMOS 5                                                                                      AMOS:  PROPHET OF JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS       

Where have you heard:  "Prepare to meet your God?"  Did you know it comes from Amos 4:12? One day each of us will meet face to face with God and give account of our lives. If God would ask:  "Why should I let you into Heaven?", what would you answer? The Good News is, through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, we are we are forgiven, if we accept his as Lord and Savior and his gift of life. Amos picks up this theme in chapter 5.

Even as God brings judgment, right in the middle of Amos, God offers to forgive and provide a way of escaping from the impending judgment.  Read Amos 5. (If you haven't read the previous chapters, do so now.)  Come back to me and live! (v.4) Come back to the Lord and live! (v. 6). Note especially v. 14-15.    

Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so, the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be with you, just as you have said.  Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. (NRSV) 

One of the most graphic illustrations of God’s Judgment is the term, day of the Lord (v. 5:18). This is the first time the term is used in the Bible.  The people of Israel thought that the day of the Lord, was the day in which God would come and it would be a time of peace and prosperity, light and life.  God’s message through, Amos, was that the day of the Lord was not what they expected.  Instead of light, it would darkness and gloom (v. 16).  Punctuating the message, Amos uses another metaphor.    It is as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into a house and leaned with his hands against the wall, and a serpent bit him (v. 19).        

                           

The message is clear.  Though the wealthy live in prosperity, playing at religion and nauseating worship, God will not accept their offerings or listen to their music.  INSTEAD, what God wants to see is:  Justice roll on like a river, Righteousness like a never-failing stream. (v. 24) Note, the theme of Amos is Justice and Righteousness.  Memorize v. 24.  This verse along with the Plumb line are ways of remembering the theme of Amos.                 

God wants sincere hearts and lives that Reflect the Heart of Jesus.  Do we treat the poor and needy as Jesus did and the way God treats us? 

Pray:

Ask God to give you a genuine attitude of worship and openness to hearing God’s message and courage to apply it in your daily live.  

AMOS: Prophet of Justice and Righteousness -- Chapter 4

                                                                 

                                                            AMOS 4

                        AMOS:  PROPHET OF JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS         

What gets you angry?  Have you ever called a person by an animal name?  Read Amos 4, (If you haven't read the previous chapters, do so now.) Who is angry? Bashan was known for raising “fatted” cattle.  Bethel is where Jacob had his dream of a ladder to heaven (Genesis 28:10-22, 35:1).  Gilgal was where the Israelite’s camped after crossing the Jordan River into the “Promised Land.” (Joshua 4:19-24). Amos gives a picturesque reason for God’s anger.  What was the cause of the warnings and plagues (Amos 4:6-11)?   

God through a variety of ways and repeated warnings; of famine, blight, locusts and war, tried getting God’s people’s attention, but they fell on deaf ears.  Therefore, God would bring judgment on His beloved people.  Because they ignored God, they would have to face God’s judgment (v. 12). No longer could they ignore God.  They would face the One whom they rejected and refused to obey. 

What accusations were brought against Israel?  List them.  Do any of those charges apply to us or our nation?  What was the main accusation?  How have we as a nation ignored our history, its foundation and our faith?

The point God, through Amos, was making was:  "Though the wealthy lived in prosperity, sleeping in ivory beds, having both summer and winter homes, and eating feasts; they did not care for the poor nor were people treated fairly and justly.  Though people went through the charade of worship, making melody on their instruments, God would not hear them.  Their worship made God nauseated."                                                          

The essence of Amos’ message was: “Because you have failed to follow God’s plumb line in constructing your society, it will crash.”  History illustrates that when the wealthy exploit and do not care for the poor, the poor become disenchanted, and with nowhere to turn, except God, violence occurs, and societies fall.  This was true from the Mayas, Romans to the French Revolution.    

The slaves God brought from Egyptian slavery to a “Promised Land” now were wealthy but had forgotten or ignored their history, the foundation of their society, and faith.   The result would be they would lose everything and become slaves of foreign leaders.

Prayer:

Write down everything for which you are grateful.  Thank God for each of those persons, items or opportunities.  Too often we take for granted all that God has given to us.  Keep that list and read it on regular basis, especially when you believe God is not responding to your prayers.                                                                                                                                    

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

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.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

AMOS: Prophet of Justice and Righteousness - Chapter 1/23

                                                                   

AMOS:  PROPHET OF JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS                      
                                                               
                                                                    AMOS 1

“It was a time of peace and prosperity.”  Does that sound like our time?  That was the description of the period recorded in Amos, which is the book we will read and discuss through these blogs. Why read and study Amos?  Don't we focus on what Jesus taught, as recorded in the New Testament?   What does Amos have to do with Jesus, let alone us?  Don’t we live in a “time of relative peace and prosperity?”  True 2023 hasn't been a great year.  Return of investments are down.  There have been horrific killings all over the world.  Fires, record heat, drought and hurricanes are occurring all over the world. There is the ongoing war in Ukraine. All these remind us we live a volatile world.  Not everyone in the USA is prosperous.  Yet, overall, we are doing OK.  So, why study a book addressing events about 750 years before Jesus Christ?  That question will be answered as we study this prophetic book. 

To find Amos in the Bible, look in the front of your Bible for Contents.  Likely near the top of the third column you find Amos and the number of the parge.  Turn there and read Amos chapter 1.  

Notice Amos was a shepherd and fig grower, not religiously trained.  He was going about his business, when God broke into his life with messages delivered through visions.  Verse 2 gives a warning message. Verse 1 sets the historical context, placing the events in time and space:  Two years before the earthquake when Uzziah was King of Judah (792-742 B.C.) and Jeroboam II (793-753 B.C.) ... was king of Israel.  (The United Nation under King David and King Solmon had splintered approximately 200 years earlier.) 

Although Amos lived in a picturesque hill town* in the Southern Kingdom, Judah, he was called to speak to the Northern Kingdom, Israel, which was at the height of its political power and prosperous economy.  The message: (Remember, we are in a time of drought.)  The lush pastures of the shepherds will dry up; the grass on Mount Carmel will wither and die.  Why the warning?  We will learn that Israel was spiritually corrupt, and idols were worshiped.  God sent Amos to denounce social and religious corruption.

The overall message of Amos is: “Unless a Nation is built and lives by God’s law, plumbline, it will collapse.” What’s a plumbline and what's its use?  Today we may use a level when framing the structure of a building.  A plumbline is a cord with a heavy weight attached.  Gravity pulls the weight straight down.  A line can be drawn following the cord, It will be plumb/straight. ensuring walls, doorjambs, windows are straight.     

As you read Amos notice how God measures his people.  How is your life reflecting God’s law illustrated through The Teachings of Jesus?   

PRAYER:

Prayer is conversation with God.  In light of Amos 1, what do want to say to God?                               What is God saying to you? 

* "Tekoa was Amos' hometown, in the rugged sheep country of Judah (Southern Kingdom) about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. (Life Application Bible, p. 1536)

Power and Authority

                                                                    

                                               "POWER AND AUTHORITY"

                                                     (Ascension of Jesus)

Today is the official start of finishing season in Minnesota.  The state government has the authority to restrict fishing from the time that last ice melts on the lakes to the Sunday closest to May 15, often Mother's Day weekend.  For avid fishermen, the right to fish, means sometimes, Moms loose out.  States and countries have the authority of limiting the number of fish that can be caught.  Here, in Georgetown, Texas, Brushy Creek is the closest place to fish.  The limit of trout is 5 per day.

Authority is something with which many have trouble.  Some of us use to say:  "You can't trust anyone over 40.  That was until we turned 40.  In my first church, at the age of 25, I was one of the oldest on Session (Governing Board).  We decided to "Seek God's Leading" and act only if we had a unanimous vote.  We discovered that one person could stop a plan.  We realized that not everyone had the "good of the whole" in mind.  Sometimes, a personal issue or vendetta got in the way of God's leading.  After one very long night of praying, discussing and seeking a solution to an issue, we decided to check the Book Of Order (Constitution of the Presbyterian Church) To our amazement that with which we had wrestled was addressed in the authority of our denomination's constitution.  Our Ultimate Authority is the Holy Bible.  

While serving a church in Denver, Colorado, I decided to learn to fly-fish.  I could have purchased fishing gear and headed to the river, trying my skill at catching trout.  Instead, I asked someone who was a fly-fisherman.  He taught me how to caste, to observe the flying insects on the water and choose flies that were as close to those as possible.  What I learned was the secret to fly-fishing is selecting the appropriate bait, Then again, that is true for all fishing.

In Minnesota, I overheard, in a restaurant, men arguing for hours whether Red Devil or Yellow Stinger was most effective in catching Northern or Walleye Pike.  "The practice of the fine art of fish capturing,"* means not only selecting the appropriate bait but also knowing where to find the fish. 

Jesus called men to follow him.  He would teach them how to become fishers of people.  One of the first things those followers learned was the authority of Jesus didn't come from training in Rabbinical Schools but from God.  When Jesus was in Capernaum, Galilee, he spoke on a Sabbath. People said:  "What is this teaching?  With authority and power he gives orders to the evil spirits, and they come out."  (Lk 4:36).  When Jesus calmed a storm, in which the disciples were caught, saying:  "Be Still!" The disciples said:  "Even the wind and the waves obey him."  (Mk 4:41).  On the night, before Jesus was crucified, he prayed:  "Father, the time has come...You granted your Son. authority over all people that he might give eternal life to those you have given him.... As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."  (Jn. 17:1, 18)  

Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples, following his resurrection from the dead, giving them a crash course on all that he had done and taught them.  When you leave on a trip, likely, you give instructions and authority for someone to care for your property of even to act on your behalf.  The Last Will and Testimony is a way of continuing your estate and legacy.  So, it was with Jesus.  His last charge and Commission, Blessing and Benediction began with a transfer of power and authority.  

                                

                                            (Painting by Rembrandt)

Today, May 12, we remember the day Jesus transferred his authority to the disciples and then was taken to Heaven.  We call it "Asencion Day."

Jesus took his disciples to the Mount of Olives (first picture) overlooking Jerusalem.  He said:

All authority in heaven and earth has been giving to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I AM with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:16) 

Since Jesus had supreme authority and power over all God's creation, his servants including us, may be assured his presence and power was with them and will be with us in all we do.  

There are several Implications:

We are under Christ's Authority.

This event marks the end of Jesus' resurrection appearances.  Jesus opened their minds, so they understood Scriptures. (Lk 24:44) Later, Peter addressing the crowd on Pentecost (which we will discuss next week) quotes Scripture (Ac. 2:16-39) Peter and John, entering the Temple to pray, were approached by a beggar asking for money.  Peter said:  "we don't have silver or gold.  What we have, we give to you."  Using Jesus' authority they did and said what Jesus had done and said in similar healing, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk. (Ac. 3:1-10) When Peter and John were arrested for "Speaking and acting in the name of Jesus," they were brought before the Sanhedrin (Jewish Court) and asked:  By what power and authority do you do this?  They responded:  By the Name of Jesus of Nazareth!  ... When they saw the courage... and realized they were ordinary men...who had been with Jesus ... they released them.  (Ac. 4:7-10)

We have been commissioned: 

Jesus said:  "Wherever you go, be a witness."  Jesus is Lord of the Earth.  Like the disciples we can Show and Tell of what God has done for us.  

Jesus said:  "Baptize and Teach everything you have learned."  There was a Series of ever-widening Circles.  The Good News of Jesus Life, Death and Resurrection, spread geographically across races, cultures, including Gentiles, (non-Jews).  God's Gospel has not reached its final destination., if someone in your family, workplace, school or community hasn't heard about Jesus Christ.  Let us be open to God using us in the ever widening of God's loving message. (Using what we learn about fishing, let us Observe, ask questions seeking to find a connection and showing God's Love)

"IN THE NAME OF ... used in Baptism gives the Authority in the Threefold formula:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We did not invent the idea of a Triune God.  It comes from Jesus himself.   (I will write more about this next week, when we celebrate the Coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples on the Jewish Day, 50 days after Passover, Pentecost.

We are Assured of Christ' Presence and Power.

Jesus said:  I will send you what the Father promised.  (Ac. 1:4)   Stay in Jerusalem until you have been clothed with power.  We have been commissioned and have important work to do, which can only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes that means waiting and listening for God's plans.  We need God's timing and Power to be effective. Power involves courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability and authority.  The disciples used all those gifts in fulfilling their mission. Those who believe in Jesus and accept him as Lord and Savior will experience the same power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.                                                          

The Gospel of Matthew begins and ends with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.  And they will call him Immanuel ... God with us. (1:23) And surely, I AM with you always, to the end of the age. (28:20)

Jesus perfectly lived in and carried out God, the Father's Plan.  Jesus Christ, in fellowship with the Father, shared divine power.  Thant power and authority came upon the disciples 10 days later, Pentecost, of which we will commemorate next week.  Authority: To act in surprising ways -- "Outside the normal way (box) of doing things. Power: To Act on behalf of another. Wherever we go, whether it is next door or to another country, we are to tell of Jesus means in our lives.  This is not an option for those who call Jesus Lord. We are not all evangelists.  We have all received a spiritual gift that enables God's love to flow through us to others.  As we remain in fellowship with Jesus, seeking to live as he taught, we have the comfort of knowing Jesus is always with us.  How can that be if he ascended into Heaven?  Through the Holy Spirit.

As the disciples gazed into the sky watching Jesus ascend, two Angeles said: This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into Heaven.   (Ac 1:11)

There Jesus took the rightful position of power and rank with the Father in the eternal realm.    Ultimate power raised Jesus from the dead.  The disciples learned to live in that resurrection power.  That is what we called to do.  Let us Go live and act/do in Resurrection Power for the world.

There is a story that when Jesus arrived in Heaven an angel asked:  "What did you do to continue your ministry on Earth?"  Jesus responded:  "I entrusted it to my disciples. " Do you have another plan if they don't do what you taught them?"  "No," responded Jesus, "The Holy Spirit will empower and lead them and through them the Good News will be taken to te the Whole World.  We are recipients of their faithfulness. Let us continue spreading the Good News to all we know.

(Next week I will write about Pentecost and Power the disciples received and used in witnessing, wherever they went, of what Jesus meant in their lives and could mean in those who heard their stories.)

* The phrase came from a member in the North Presbyterian Church, Denver, Colorado.