Jonah 3 “Jonah's Second Chance”

“The word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time saying, Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh” (vv.1-3a).

It’s not often we get a second chance at something we messed up on to begin with. But then again, our God is in the restoration business. Jonah, who ran away from God’s call for him to go to Nineveh the first time, now given a second chance (after much resistance), went to Nineveh, and the results of his preaching were nothing short of miraculous (Jonah 3:5, 10). 

The Lord's concern for Nineveh shows that His love was not confined to a particular nation or place. This is the most likely reason why Jonah tried to run away. It was unthinkable to him that God could love the Assyrians. In Jonah's mind, these people deserved God's wrath because of all they had done. But, apart from God's intervention, all people are deserving of His wrath. God's heart is that all people might repent and turn toward Him.

Jonah was a very human prophet. God's ways were difficult for him to understand—and he was not afraid to let God know that. But God's response to Jonah cut to the core: Jonah cared more about his comfort, than the fate of a 120,000 people.

The book of Jonah forces us to ask some hard questions. Are we like Jonah? Do we become angry if God extends mercy to those who we feel deserve judgment? The book also pushes us to see how great God's love is for all nations and peoples, even those whom we consider enemies deserving His wrath.

Foe, where would we be if God had given up on us? I for one am very grateful for, "second chances." 

The Truth: "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? … Am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23)

Jonah 2 “Jonah In The Fish”

“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly.” (vv.1:17-2:1)

Some question if this could happen as the Bible says it did; but surely it is not a difficult thing for God to have prepared a great fish, even if that particular fish was a special creation for that moment. For, is there anything to difficult for Him? 

Jonah was a rebellious, resistant believer, but God was not finished with him yet – so the LORD preserved his life inside the fish, and after three days commanded the fish to, “expel him on dry land” (v.10). While inside the fish for 3 days, Jonah confessed his sin, called out to God, described his trouble, believed God heard him and would deliver him, and promised to obey God’s will (vv.1-9). 

This famous “fish story” has been the target of skeptics for hundreds of years, but was confirmed by none other than the one who had prepared the great fish Himself. When the religious leaders of His (Jesus) day asked Him (Jesus) for a sign from heaven as to who He was, Jesus said (some 900 years later): “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).

Jonah and the “great fish” point us towards the Messiah to come, Jesus Christ, as we see that Jonah’s deliverance came after a remarkable demonstration of laying down one’s life. But death did not hold him; after three days and nights of imprisonment in the belly of the fish, he was released alive to deliver his message (in power) of repentance to Nineveh. 

What a great foreshadowing of the selfless sacrificial death Jesus would endure to save all who would believe His message. His death, burial, and resurrection from death (3 days later) also leant great power to His message of salvation, proving beyond a shadow of doubt, who He was.  

"Blessed is he who's God is the LORD."  

The Truth: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord. How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.” (Psalm 40:1-4)

Jonah 1 “Jonah’s Disobedience”

The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. (vv.1-3a)

The book of Jonah looks at the prophet whose job it was to carry the truth of God to a people who needed to hear it. But when God told him to go to the Ninevites, Israel’s cruel enemies, Jonah didn’t want to do it. So he basically said no to God and bought a ticket to go to Tarshish in the opposite direction (vv.1-3). 

Unlike the children’s tale the book of Jonah is sometimes made out to be, it’s not about a fish, for the great fish is mentioned only four times. Jonah himself is only named eighteen times, but the Lord God is mentioned thirty-seven times! The book is about God and how he deals with people who want their own way and therefore refuse to obey his will. Surely Jonah knew that he could not run away from God. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Ps. 139:7). And, as we know, he was unsuccessful, for God called upon a great fish to turn him around.

Only a gracious God such as the One we worship can take a stubborn, disobedient servant and use him to bring spiritual awakening to a great city. Jesus used Jonah’s experience to picture his own resurrection and to emphasize the importance of hearing the Word of God and repenting (Matt. 12:38–41; 16:4).

I pray none of you are running from God. But, if you are, change directions and run to Him and He will give you a new beginning, as He did with Jonah.

The Truth: "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here." (Matthew 12:41)

Obidiah “Edom Gloats Over Jerusalem’s Destruction”

“You (Edom) should not have gazed on the day of your brother (Israel) in the day of his captivity; nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction.” (v.12)

Nobody likes a sore loser, but a gloating winner is just as bad. Edom had watched with glee as Jerusalem was sacked by its enemies, and the Edomites had done nothing to help their relatives in Israel. In God’s eyes their refusal to interfere was itself an act of aggression. Although the relationship between the two nations had never been good, the Edomites did share a blood tie with the people of Judah, as the Edomites were the descendants of Esau, while the Israelites were the descendants of Jacob. 

Because of the family ties, Edom’s actions were like betraying a brother (v.10; Ps. 137:7). Instead of honoring kinship bonds or even extending common cultural hospitality, they had broken and dishonored the relationship and treated Jacob like a total stranger, as they stood by and did nothing when Judah was being conquered (v. 11). They actually rejoiced in their brother’s downfall (v. 12). 

And later, out of opportunism and pride, they participated in the sacking of Jerusalem, taking advantage of the moment to “seize their wealth in the day of their disaster” (v. 13). Worst of all, they set up roadblocks to catch escaping refugees, no doubt hoping to curry favor with the Babylonians by turning these prisoners over to them (v. 14). Like battlefield scavengers, they helped themselves to the spoils of the Babylonian conquest.

This leads to the question, "What should they have done?" Well, they should have spoken up in support of their brother. They should have helped rather than rejoicing in Judah’s troubles. They should have acted in humility, not pride. And they should have had mercy on the Israelite refugees rather than turning them away.

The destruction of Jerusalem was a matter of divine discipline. They deserved the punishment that they received. But Edom’s gleeful response made them liable as well. Obadiah warned that God had seen this sinful attitude and would turn His wrath from Jerusalem to Edom, which He did. 

May we learn from Obidiah not to gloat at the misfortunes of others, for "pride comes before a fall." 

The Truth: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him.” (Proverbs 24:17-18)

1 Thessalonians 5 "Keep Watch"

 “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” (vv.1-2)

Since Christ's ascension, there's been no shortage of predictions of the year—or in some cases, the very hour—of His return. Today's reading cautions against such efforts (vv.1-3). On the other hand, believers are to be encouraged by the certainty that the Lord is coming back for His own, even if all the details of that glorious event aren't as clear as we might wish.

Paul warns that Christ’s Second Coming will come suddenly and without fanfare. Jesus’ return will be preceded by a period of divine judgment that will take the world by surprise. The phrase “the day of the Lord” appears throughout Scripture, especially in the Old Testament prophets, in contexts that speak of judgment.

This “day,” really refers to a series of events that includes Christ’s return and final judgment. It will come like a thief who breaks in while the homeowner is asleep. People will believe they are in a position of peace and safety, even as destruction comes upon them (v. 3).

Jesus warned that the timing of His second coming would be like the days of Noah: “For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, right up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matt. 24:38-39).

For the Christian that day is fulfillment of all things hoped for, for the non-Christian a day of wrath. As Peter put it, "We need to be looking for and hastening the coming of the day of the LORD for we look for a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:12). Therefore, keep watch. 

The Truth: “Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matt. 25:13)

1 Thessalonians 4 "The Importance of Sexual Morality"

 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual immorality." (v.3)

Today’s Scripture emphasizes the importance of sexual morality. According to verse 3, one of the most important aspects of holy living is to “avoid sexual immorality.” The word used in the New Testament text refers to a wide range of sexual sin. Abstaining from sexual immorality is a matter of God’s will. It is God who defines what constitutes immorality, not the culture.

God’s standard of morality demands that we control what we do with our bodies. We are not to live like animals, driven only by instinct and appetite. Paul describes an ethical landscape in which the moral practice of believers is distinct from that of the surrounding culture.

This reminder is especially timely for Christians today who are being pressured to redefine sexual standards so that practices that the Bible describes as sinful are considered morally acceptable. God expects those who belong to Christ to behave differently. Serious social and spiritual consequences are in store for those who disregard God’s ethical standard. On a social level, human relationships are damaged when people are wronged and taken advantage of through sexual sin. Spiritually, Paul warns: “The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins” (v. 6). These standards are not merely Paul’s. Those who reject them are really rejecting God (v. 8).

Therefore, abstain from sexual immorality, know how to possess your own body in sanctification, and honor, love one another with a brotherly love, lead a quiet life, mind your own business, work with your own hands, comfort one another in the hope of His return. In this way we distinguish ourselves from the surrounding culture.

The Truth: “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)

1 Thessalonians 3 “Love One Another”

“May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you.” (v.12)

A church is more than the number of its members, or a state-of-the-art building. Whether your church has stadium size crowds or just a few in attendance, numbers are not what God uses to measure success. He looks at the heart of the church.

The apostle Paul planted an important church in Thessalonica, the capital city of Macedonia. He showed his desire for the church members there when he wrote: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all . . . so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness” (vv.12-13). With these words, Paul showed us two important characteristics vital for a successful body of believers—love for one another and holiness. 

In the words of the prophet Micah: “do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (6:8). Any church doing this will be successful in His service. When I look around at our small fellowship I think to myself, we are so lucky. We have a very special love for one another and to all who come our way. Our hearts and minds are constantly being feed that we may be established in holiness that we may serve Him and others. We are more than just a gathering of people on Sunday. We are a tight knit community willing and able to serve our King and one another. It's beautiful! 

The Truth “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) 

1 Thessalonians 2 “Tender Loving Care”

“But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.” (v.7)

We all recognize the need for special care of the young in many areas of life, including new Christians. Here in our text, the apostle Paul described how he and his associates treated the new believers in Thessalonica: “We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (v.7).

Paul and his co-workers, Silvanus and Timothy, were spiritual parents to God’s family in the Thessalonian church, and spoke of exhorting, comforting, and admonishing them “as a father does his own children” (v.11). Like all Christian mothers and fathers, Paul desired that his spiritual children would grow up to reflect God’s glory, but sometimes this called for correction.

Bible commentator Albert Barnes wrote, “Those who minister the gospel should be gentle, tender, and affectionate… What is wrong we should indeed oppose—but it should be in the kindest manner toward those who do wrong.” In other words, we are to correct the sin but love the sinner, applying the correction with love. That’s not easy, especially among those we know best.

For C. S. Lewis, it seemed impossible until he remembered: “There was a man to whom I had been doing this all my life—namely myself!” So natural to treat ourselves differently than others. I for one want to be guilty of lovingly treating others as I treat (judge) myself.

Jesus was always the perfect balance of "grace and truth" (John 1:14). One example was how He treated the women caught in adultery whom the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him to judge. His response to her after all her accusers left was,”Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more" (John 8:11). In saying, "Go and sin no more," Jesus was not speaking of sinless perfection. He was warning against a return to sinful lifestyle choices. His words both extended mercy and truth.

May we all Be quick to extend His grace to others and slow in our condemnation. 

The Truth: “Let Him who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7) 

1 Thessalonians 1 "A Great Testimony of Conversion"

 "For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything." (vv.5-8)

Here at the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church he is recounting to them that, wherever they went (Paul and his companions), they were finding a great testimony of the church concerning their sound conversion from idols to the true and living God. Paul seems to refer to all whom he had met, or had heard of "in all places" he had visited who said anything about the Thessalonians, “they” were unanimous in bearing testimony to their conversion.

This was no resolution on their part, but a true conversion. They turned from serving and worshipping the gods of the gentiles (Pluto, Mercury, Jupiter, etc) to serving the one living and true God by; embracing and professing His Gospel, submitting to His ordinances, and walking according to His Word. And, became a witness to all in Macedonia, Achaia, and in every surrounding area (vv.7-8). Paul stated of them that, "Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything" (v.9b). 

Wow! What a great testimony. As a Christian, we all have a conversion story to tell, a life we once lived in service to ourselves. How we turned from a life of selfishness to a life of servanthood, from a path of unrighteousness to a one rich in mercy and great love. May the church be known for its love and grace towards others, for submitting to God and His Word, and may we be that witness to all around us, that our faith in God speaks for itself. 

The Truth: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” (Ephesians 2:1-5)

Amos 9 “A Note of Hope”

“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. (v.15)

The prophet Amos closes his book on a note of hope, by describing a future rebirth for the nation of Israel. God had promised to judge His people, but He did not intend to destroy them. In the future He would “restore David’s fallen tent,” “repair its broken places,” “restore its ruins,” and “build it as it used to be” (v.11).

The mention of “David’s fallen tent” in this verse has been interpreted in a number of ways. Some think that it refers to the future restoration of the city of Jerusalem after its destruction by the Babylonians. Others regard it as a prediction of the reestablishment of the Davidic dynasty. Acts cites this prophecy as support for the inclusion of Gentile believers in the church (Acts 15:16–17). The spread of the gospel to the Gentiles began God’s fulfillment of His promise that the Gentiles would bear His name (v. 12).

In addition to this, Amos predicted a time of unparalleled prosperity for Israel in their own land. He foresaw a harvest so abundant that “the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes” (v.13). Normally the plowman worked during the months of October and November. The reaper harvested the crop in March or April. In the future, however, the harvest will be so abundant that the reaper will not be able to finish before the plowman begins. 

Then the exiles will return and rebuild their homes. People will tend gardens and plant vineyards. Peace and plenty will be the rule of the day. God Himself will be their Gardener (John 15:1–4), replanting the nation, “never again to be uprooted” (2 Sam. 7:16). Now that’s something to look forward too.

The Truth: “With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it, So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name.”(2 Peter 3:9) 

Amos 8 “The End Has Come”

Thus the Lord God showed me, and behold, there was a basket of summer fruit. He said, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then the Lord said to me, “The end has come for My people Israel. I will spare them no longer. (vv.1-2)

In today’s reading “the end has come,” marks the end of God's patience with Israel and the appointed time for His judgment on them (v.2). The main image in this fourth vision of Amos is a basket of fruit (V.1). God showed it to the prophet as a confirmation of the coming judgment. The idea of “ripeness” means that this was not a random or sudden decision of God, but rather that it had been a long time coming. Like the slow process of fruit growing and ripening toward a harvest, the nation’s sins—including its rejection of God’s prophets and their warnings—had been accumulating and deepening toward a harvest of judgment (V.3).

This message is aimed especially at rich oppressors (vv.4-6). Their pride and brutality are seen in the picture of them trampling the needy and doing away with the poor. Instead of repenting and seeking the Lord, they were waiting impatiently for holy days and Sabbaths to be over so that they could get back to doing business. They showed no respect for the rhythms of community life as established by God, nor respect for people, seeing them only as a source of profit. 

Perhaps they were workaholics—at the very least they had put money at the center of their lives. What’s worse, they were guilty of dishonest weights and measures, not to mention price–gouging. “Selling even the sweepings.” (which was the exact opposite of the Law’s compassionate principle of gleaning in which the poor were allowed to harvest “leftovers” from the fields - see Lev. 19:9–10). Now justice would be done on these sins and others (vv.7-8). God would not forget. And, as surely as the annual rising and receding of the Nile River, a flood of judgment would overwhelm Israel.

Sometimes God’s patience with our sinful nature can be misinterpreted, leading us to conclude, He does not care about our sin. Not so, God’s patience and kindness are meant to lead us toward repentance (Romans 2:4). Yes He is a gracious and compassionate God, who is slow to anger and abounding in love (Ex. 34:6). Yet, He is also a God who is righteous and not afraid to judge.

Therefore, be warned, His patience is not a sign of weakness, but of grace. And the time for His harvest draws nearer every day. So I strongly suggest you take advantage of His grace now, than to run out of time and experience His wrath later. 

The Truth: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) 

Amos 7 “The Country Preacher”

“I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son… And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel (vv.14-15).

The prophet Amos was a country preacher, a rustic of the rustics, a herder of sheep and a gatherer of sycamore fruit. He did not belong to the elite nor to the intellectuals and, when he went up to Bethel to preach, neither his clothes nor his sermons were cut according to the popular pattern. In the days of Amos, the people of Israel had turned the sacred site of Bethel into a place of idolatry. When Amos challenged their sins, the leaders lashed out.

Amos was not trained in the schools of men. He got his message from God as he meditated outdoors in his humble work. Therefore, he was not a prophet by profession; "I was no prophet," nor was he a prophet by parentage; "neither was I a prophet's son;" his father had not made him so. He was a prophet by providence; "And the Lord took me." What better credentials does any man need?

When Amos spoke he was not angling for any return engagements. He was a nonconformist, unregimented, unclassified. He had no sponsor but Almighty God. He was definitely "out of order" at Bethel. He was not out for personal gain or popularity, he simply delivered God’s message when and where he was told, without fear of how it may be received.  

Here in chapter 7 the prophet Amos had been preaching a tough message about God's judgment of Israel. Understandably, his message was unpopular. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to Jeroboam king of Israel saying, “Amos has conspired against you,” implicating the prophet in a conspiracy to undermine the King and the people of Israel. He further said that the message of Amos was too hard (the land is not able to bear all his words). Though Amaziah tried to drive Amos out of Bethel, he stood his ground. 

Amos was bold enough to speak for the LORD, and to tell Amaziah and everyone else that Israel’s impending captivity is indeed true. This was a difficult word in most difficult circumstances, but Amos was faithful to deliver it.

The Truth: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) 

Amos 6 “Israel's Leadership Grew Complacent"

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion and to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria, the distinguished men (the leadership) of the foremost of nations to whom the house of Israel comes.” (v.1)

One of the main reasons Israel’s spiritual life had declined was because God’s people had grown complacent, because the leadership and done so (v.1). They had grown smug and self-confident, deriving a sense of false security from the prosperity they had enjoyed over the years. This had led them to believe that they were exempt from divine judgment.  This was true of both the southern kingdom of Judah (Zion) and the northern kingdom of Israel (Mount Samaria). 

The leaders of Judah and Samaria seemed to have believed that, since they had a special place in God’s plan, they would enjoy prosperity and escape the judgment of their neighbors (v.2). The leaders of Israel and Judah were so blind and self–deceived that instead of fearing the coming judgment and turning to God in repentance, they were feeling good about life and smugly expecting His blessings.

Instead of leading God’s people in paths of righteousness, the leaders had blazed a trail of sinfulness (vv.3-6). Their ivory beds and couches reflected an opulent, self–indulgent lifestyle. Their meal menu of choice lambs and fattened calves revealed gluttony at the expense of others. Lounging and strumming indicated idleness, while the wine and lotion signified a decadent addiction to pleasure and comfort. They were oblivious to the state of spiritual ruin to which they had brought their nation. 

Divine judgment would fall on them first of all (v.7), and their current activities of “feasting and lounging” would cease as they went into exile. Israel’s leaders should have been leading the way in obedience, worship, and covenant faithfulness. They should have been the first to repent at the prophecies of Amos and others. They should have known better—now they would be held responsible.

God wants leaders to be serving, not self–serving. When the disciples argued about who was the greatest, Jesus explained: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves… I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:24–27). 

May we all seek to follow His example.

The Truth: “Do nothing out of self ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) 

Amos 5 “Seek Me That You May Live”

 “For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.” (v.4)

Today’s reading is Amos’s lament for the devastation resulting from God’s coming judgment on Israel. A lament is a literary form expressing grief over a death or tragedy, in this case, a future tragedy (Amos 5:1). The anticipated disaster was the fall of Israel. The nation was represented as a virgin bride, a picture of purity and commitment to the covenant. As a result, she will be left deserted and helpless.

As part of this lament poem, God made two pronouncements concerning Israel (vv.3-6). The first emphasized the completeness of the nation’s coming defeat. A thousand soldiers might march out to war, but only a hundred would come home. The military conquest by Assyria would be a crushing defeat, total annihilation.

The second was another call to repentance. God urged the people, “Seek me and live.” Do not go to Bethel and other sites of idolatry and hypocrisy, He said, for there’s no hope there. The gods they followed would be powerless to help them. 

One option was repentance and a restored relationship with the Lord. The other option was defeat, exile, and God as a devouring fire. They were going to meet God, either as a loving Forgiver or as a holy Judge. The choice was theirs.

The same holds true today, you will one day meet God, either as your Savior or a consuming fire, nothing has changed from Amos’s day.  

The Truth: “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)

Amos 4 “Man’s Final Appointment”

"Prepare to meet your God." (v.12)

Life is full of appointments. Doctor appointments, dentist appointments, eye check-ups, child well checks, parent conferences, conference calls, zoom meetings, and the list goes on and on. Some we even sacrifice to make others, because our lives have become over scheduled with appointments.

But there is one appointment we all will face of supreme importance, and not be able to reschedule. The Bible says, "It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

Except for believers who are living when Jesus returns (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), everyone will die. And all people from the beginning of history will stand before God in judgment. How foolish to neglect the preparation necessary for this inevitable accounting!

In Luke 12, Jesus told a parable of a rich man who planned to build bigger barns to store all his earthly goods so that he could live out his days in pleasure and ease. But God unexpectedly announced to him, "You fool! This every night your soul will be required of you" (Luke 12:20). His ultimate appointment had arrived, and he was not prepared to meet God. 

Many people are in the same boat, busy living out their lives, storing up for the future, with no thought of their eternal destiny. They think, “I’m young, I’m strong, I’m healthy. I have plenty of time to live my life. I’ll square it with the “big Guy” when the time comes.” Foolish thing, the bible says, for not only do you not know the number of your days, your lease on life could be up sooner rather than later. 

If you've never received Christ, as your personal Savior, I encourage you to do so right now! The bible says, “If you believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins, and that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Just see the prayer to the right on this page, "Connect With God," and say it to Him from your heart. Then you can face life's final appointment (when it comes) with confidence!

The Truth: “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12)

Amos 3 “The Logic of God’s Judgment”

Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (vv.1-2)

Israel’s rejection and disregard of God was all the more inexcusable in light of God’s great deliverance. When He brought Israel up from the land of Egypt, God proved His love and care for Israel; for God to speak against them shows He must have been sorely provoked.

God made a clear connection between the great privilege of Israel (you only have I known) and the great responsibility this privilege brings (therefore I will punish you). If Israel thought that their standing as a specially chosen nation made them less responsible before God, they were tragically mistaken.

Their false deduction (which is all too often made), is that if we are the privileged people of God, therefore we may look for His mercy, He will not punish us for grace abounds. That’s just not so. The measure of our privilege, is the measure of our responsibility. Therefore, if we fail to fulfill that responsibility He will not pass over our sins.

The message of Amos here is that God is no respecter of persons. Chosen people or not, judgment is coming, warning has been given, years and years have been given to repent (v.7). Therefore Amos says, “The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” In other words, “Don’t blame me when it occurs. I’m only the messenger. God has spoken” (v.8).

This destruction was fulfilled in the Assyrian invasion of Israel, less than 30 years after Amos made this prophecy. For ten years, Israel was a subject state in the Assyrian Empire, and the people of Israel were taken from their land and scattered throughout the Assyrian Empire.

Israel’s rejection and disregard of God was their downfall. And if they, the chosen people of God, experienced this kind of devastation, what can this country expect the way it is going?

The Truth: “If My people who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from there wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Amos 2 “Judgment for Judah and Israel”

“So I will send fire upon Judah and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.” (v.5)

In today’s reading, Amos continued with an additional oracle against Israel’s enemies. The sixth oracle was against Moab (vv.1-3). They were guilty of desecrating an enemy king’s body, thus showing sinful disrespect. For these and other sins, the judgment in both cases was the same as yesterday—a destroying fire representing military defeat, exile, or death. If you were look at a map, you would see that the seven nations condemned in today’s and yesterday’s readings form a circle around Israel.

The seventh and eighth oracles came as a surprise to Amos’s hearers, for they were directed against Judah and Israel. They probably enjoyed hearing that justice would be done against their enemies, but to find their own sins as the “climax” and main target of the message was a shock. Judah was guilty of idolatry and disobedience and would also be judged by fire (vv.4-5). Israel was even worse. The northern kingdom was guilty of sins including idolatry, exploitation of the poor, injustice, oppression, greed, sexual immorality, drunkenness, and self–indulgence (vv.6-16).

They had “forgotten” God’s character and what He had already done in their history, they had been unfaithful to the covenant. As a result, they were marked for destruction and would surely, despite their imagined immunity from judgment, be crushed. “The swift will not escape … the warrior will not save his life” (vv.15-16).

Their fundamental sin was pride. Pride allowed them to believe that as God’s “chosen people” they wouldn’t be held accountable for the various forms of wickedness in which they were engaged. Pride blinded them to the truth of the character of God. As we know, however: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18).

Better to follow The Truth: “A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23)

Amos I “The LORD Roars”

“The Lord roars from Zion and from Jerusalem He utters His voice; and the shepherds pasture grounds mourn, and the summit of Carmel dries up.” (v.2)

The introduction of the book of Amos indicates that the primary focus of the prophet’s ministry was directed toward the Northern Kingdom of Israel (v. 1).

The book now opens on a note of warning, with the Lord pictured as one who roars like a lion and shakes the earth like thunder (v.2). As a result, there is widespread devastation from the lowest valleys, where the sheep were pastured, to the mountain heights. All had been blasted by drought. According to Amos, this was far more than a meteorological event. It was an act of divine judgment emanating from Israel’s God.

The opening prophecies in this book would have been well received by the Israelites, because they were directed against the nation’s enemies, including Damascus, Philistia, Tyre, and Edom. Each oracle of judgment begins with, “This is what the Lord says.” The first was against Damascus, capital of Syria (vv.3-5). They were guilty of “threshing” Gilead (part of Israelite territory), meaning they had kicked them when they were down, taking unfair advantage at a time of weakness. While this was normal behavior in the culture of that day, it was unacceptable to God. The formula “for three sins … even for four” simply means sin upon sin.

The second oracle was against Philistia (vv.6-8). They were guilty of selling captives into slavery, again, a culturally familiar practice that was unacceptable to God. The third oracle was against Tyre and Sidon (vv.9-10). They, too, were guilty of profiting from the slave trade, in specific violation of a negotiated treaty, an act that showed a lack of integrity as well as a lack of respect for human life. The fourth oracle was against Edom (vv.11-12). They were involved in the slave trade as well, and they were also condemned for treacherous actions toward Israel. In all three cases, the judgment was the same as for Damascus—a destroying fire.

All of these nations were punished for their mistreatment of “human life.” If the Lord expected those who did not acknowledge Him as their God to treat their enemies with respect, what must He expect from those of us who know Christ? And if His expectations are greater, would not His punishment be greater too, if we are found guilty? I think so.

The Truth: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” (Zechariah 7:9-10)