Scripture

You can’t wait for the Sabbath day to be over, and for religious festivals to end, so that you can get back to cheating the helpless.

Observation

The Lord shows Amos a basket of ripe fruit. The Lord says, “Israel is ripe for punishment.” The Lord will not delay.

The prophecy goes on to words of judgement against those who despise the poor and cheat the helpless.

Judgement will come against Israel that will shock the earth. There will be famine in Israel – a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

Application

The people of Israel, like christians today, were meant to honour the Lord in all of their dealings, in every aspect of their lives.

Amos condemns people for being desperate for the Sabbaths and festivals to be over so they could get back to the business of ripping off the poor and helpless,

We must ensure that we honour God with our actions on Monday as much as we do with our lips on Sunday.

The problem with the people of Israel was that so many of them lived in a culture of holiness without letting their hearts be touched by God. Everything in the culture and daily life was meant to point people to their unique calling of living for God’s glory.

The trouble is that you can live in a godly culture and see it as a burden, as the way things are. You follow the rules and expectations without seeing the reason for the rules or the giver of the rules.

There are christians who worship God, who go through the outward appearance of christianity without having their hearts transformed by the Holy Spirit. Therefore their work life and family life can be a denial of what they claim to believe.

We all need to be changed from the inside out, not from the outside in.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, help me to yield heart to you. Come and dwell in every part of my life, teaching me how to glorify your name in every minute of every day. Amen.

Scripture

Amos replies, “I am not a professional prophet, and I never trained to be one. I am just a shepherd and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. Bu the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people Israel.’”

Observation

The Lord shows Amos a vision of a wall being measured with a plumb line to determine if it is straight. The Lord tells Amos that He will test His people with a plumb line and bring judgement against the house of Jeroboam.

Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, sends a message to Jeroboam accusing Amos of plotting against him. Amaziah also tells Amos to go back to Judah and prophesy there.

Amos responds that he has never been a professional prophet; he is just obeying the Lord’s commandment.

Application

Pastors and other trained ministers of the gospel play an important role in the church. They are indispensable in providing oversight and direction.

But God will use anyone who is ready to obey Him. You don’t need a degree to serve the Lord.

Amos was a shepherd and a tender of sycamore-fig trees. The Hebrew suggests that he was a land owner and not just an employee, but regardless of this he was not a professional prophet schooled in the Law and the prophetic traditions.

God used Amos to get a message to the people of Israel. His training and experience meant little to the Lord.

The Lord is looking for people who are willing to take His word to people who will not necessarily welcome it.

When God calls, He gives the training, the knowledge and the skills we need. We just have to answer His call and trust Him to supply what we need.

Prayer

Lord God, I thank you that you do not require people to be college trained or to have decades of experience before they can serve you. Please use me for your purposes today. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+7.1-17

Scripture

Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.”

Observation

The Lord gives Amos two visions of coming punishment for Israel. After each one, Amos intercedes for Israel, and the Lord relents. After a third vision, this time of a plumb line, it is clear that the Lord is determined to judge Israel.

The priest at the temple at Bethel warns King Jeroboam that Amos is propheying destruction. He then demands that Amos goes to Judah to prophesy. Amos replies that he is not really a prophet but a shepherd. The Lord has called him to speak the message.

Application

When God calls a person, it is not always straight forward or easy. Most people of God face challenges to their authority or their calling, particularly when the message they bring is unpopular.

People may demand that we stop or go somewhere else. They may even enlist the governmental authorities to stop our ministry.

When this happens we must find courage in Christ to keep going and to not abandon the call He has given.

With Martin Luther we must say, “Here I stand. I can do no other.”

Prayer

Lord, please help me to see that my worth is not dependent on whether people heed me, but only on my faithfulness to you. Amen.