This final study in our verse-by-verse journey through the Book of Amos was given by pastor Barry Forder on 8th November 2021.
“The spiritual saint never believes circumstances to be haphazard, or thinks of his life as secular and sacred; he sees everything he is dumped down in as the means of securing the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is a reckless abandonment about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of life, and He will bring us back to the same point again and again until we do… We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the culture of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. Never allow that the haphazard is anything less than God’s appointed order, and be ready to discover the Divine designs any where.” – Oswald Chambers
Amos saw that the events of his life, as crazy as they might have seemed to those on the outside, even to his own family, were ordained of God. Thus he responds to a call that many would choose to ignore and take God’s message to a people who did not want to hear, but very much needed to! Judgment was coming and Amos was God’s man of the hour to bring a message of warning, but also of hope.
Back in chapter 7 we saw Amos’ visions interrupted as he was confronted by Amaziah (the idolatrous priest of Bethel and servant to king Jeroboam).
Having brushed Amaziah aside ‘Jeremiah style’ (they have rejected the world of the LORD so what wisdom do they have! – Jer 8:9), Amos now returns to his visions, specifically the 4th (which build on the certainty of the coming judgment to the Northern kingdom of Israel) and the 5th which unveils the horror waiting those who reject God.
The key lesson here is that you will not be satisfied with anything other than God, and if you reject God, you cannot hide from Him, no matter how hard you try!
You will either face Him as LORD and Saviour, or as Judge.
Ultimately, Amos ends his book with the wonderful hope that, one day, Israel will return to Jehovah. He will build them up again (once the Gentiles have all be gathered in – see Acts 15) and they will live in His sight, with David their king ruling over them, and the Messiah ruling over the whole earth!
May you be blessed and encouraged to have a deeper walk with God!
