Bible Reading Reflection from Amos 5-9

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝔸𝕄𝕆𝕊 𝟝

v4. For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, "𝕊𝕖𝕖𝕜 𝕄𝕖 that you may live".

v6. "𝕊𝕖𝕖𝕜 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕆ℝ𝔻 that you may live, Or He will break forth like a fire, O house of Joseph, And it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel."

v14. "𝕊𝕖𝕖𝕜 good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said!"

3 times it is repeated with a command of Seeking God. 2 times it is reiterated about the vanity of Sacrifice before God.

Indeed, what is life without God? Where is the home without God? Where is salvation without God? God is the solution, the salvation, the solace. God is sufficient. He is the ultimate satisfaction!

 

𝔸𝕄𝕆𝕊 𝟞:𝟡-𝟙𝟙

“And it will be, if ten men are left in one house, they will die. Then one's uncle, or his undertaker, will lift him up to carry out his bones from the house, and he will say to the one who is in the innermost part of the house, "Is anyone else with you?" And that one will say, "No one." Then he will answer, "Keep quiet. For the name of the LORD is not to be mentioned." For behold, the LORD is going to command that the great house be smashed to pieces and the small house to fragments.”

God's Judgment is so fierce that they will not only be afraid to mention the name of God. They will not like to mention His name. In the good days, they took pride, honor, and glory to have Yahweh as their God who chose them among all (3:1-2) Now they will feel terrible to have Yahweh as their God.

Has there been a time when you don't want to say you are a Christian because of your lifestyle? Has there been a time that you don't want to let people know such and such person is a professing Christian because of his sinful lifestyle?

In this context, it's a judgment of God for their sins that will make them feel embarrassed, fearful, and hopeless.

 

𝔸𝕄𝕆𝕊𝟟:𝟠

“The LORD said to me, "What do you see, Amos?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. 𝕀 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕤𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞 𝕟𝕠 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣."”

Before this verse, Amos pled God to spare His people, and God relented His 2 serious judgments about to inflict upon them. What a merciful God we have! What an important role a spiritual leader has for believers!

These people didn't know that if it wasn't for Amos' intercessory prayer, they would have been destroyed. And interestingly, these people spearheaded by King Jeroboam and Priest Amaziah wanted to banish Amos from the kingdom. Well, God was not going to spare them this time according to v8.

Have you ever taken time to think about how you have been delivered from such and such situations because your spiritual leaders are interceding for you? Do you know that? Spiritual leaders are doing something miraculous that members do not know, and how often are they underappreciated, criticized, and dishonored.

Moses interceded for the Israelites, and God spared them. The Israelites didn't know that. Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah, they didn't know that. But Lot and his daughters were saved. And Jesus interceded for us, that's how we are Christians now.

 

𝔸𝕄𝕆𝕊 𝟠:𝟚

“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.’”

This is the fourth vision. It is summer. It is the time of fruits, and they are ripened. The vision is not of delight, not of prosperity, but of the end. The end for God's people has come. As Keil and Delitzsch observed, this is not about the ripeness of the judgment, but of destruction. Judgment has been already on. It's the time for destruction now, complete destruction.

We read in Romans 1:18 that God's Judgment is already being revealed since long time ago, and the world is heading towards complete destruction someday. What manner of people ought we to be?

Evidently, v11 says that these people weren't attentive to the word of God, and by doing so, their worship was shallow and even contradictory, and their lifestyle was like that of unbelievers. They were greedy, and materialistic (business-minded); instead of being compassionate and helpful, they trampled the poor under their feet v3-6.

 

𝔸𝕄𝕆𝕊 𝟡:𝟚

"Though they dig into Sheol,

From there will My hand take them;

And though they ascend to heaven,

From there will I bring them down."

I've been reading the Bible consciously and consistently for over 16 years of my Christian life. And I've written even a seminary-level paper on the book of Amos, but I feel like I've never seen this verse before! Well, that's because the later part of this 5th vision of Amos is about restoration, salvation, and prosperity (11-15). So, obviously, focussing and remembering the sweeter parts. However, v1-10 is equally important to be remembered and studied well, because as much as the promise is sure, punishment is and was sure!

This verse says the Inescapability of God's Judgement. Even if one flees to hell, God will bring them up. Even if one flees to heaven, God will cast them down. No excuse. No refuge. No salvation. No escape. Neither in death nor in life. Nothing!

This is a direct contrast to Psalm 139, where David mentioned the inescapability of God’s love, neither by fleeing to hell nor to heaven. We, believers rejoice with Ps. 139, while Amos 9:2 is for the wicked!

And the book of Amos ended with a vision of judgment and restoration!