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Amos

Amos 9

The Destruction of Israel
Israel will be restored

Amos 9:1

This is probably not the altar of the temple since it was in Jerusalem, in the southern kingdom.  This was likely one of the altars of the northern kingdom and is representative of the entire kingdom and what would happen when the Lord brings the Assyrians down on them.  The Lord calls for a striking of the doorpost and the thresholds.  He is bringing the whole thing down on their heads.  As it is brought down, they would also be slain by the sword.  No one would escape.

 

Amos 9:2-4

This passage if very reminiscent of Psalm 139.  God is Almighty and Sovereign; His Word is critical to our life; His ways are to be our ways.  This was all part of the covenant relationship given to these people.  They are now experiencing the other side of the covenant; the part that said if they didn't do these things they would experience a curse.  Judgmement was coming and there was no escape.  Their traditions and religiosity wouldn't save them.  They could not run away and hide, they could not wait out the wrath of God in hiding. 

It may well take this very thing to happen before much of mankind understands just how big God is.  However, in our culture and our time, they may still not respond.  So many are convinced that their happiness and contentment is all important and anyone harming or offending is subject to lawsuit and must pay dearly.  Though we bring lawsuit and legislate God away, His judgment stands true.  Though cry out 'I'm offended' it doesn't even come close to the offense God has for our unrepentant sin. 

 

Amos 9:5-6

God is bigger than their life and their feelings.  Jehovah God wasn't some local god but was The Creator of all the heavens and all the earth.  Were they confused?  He is sovereign over all.  Yahweh is His name.

 

Amos 9:7-10

The land of promise had become a sinful kingdom.  God had brought Israel up as a nation from Egypt and set them in the Promised land.  He set their neighbors in their land, also for His purpose.  Now that kingdom would be wiped away.  The people would be taken to exile where the Lord would sift them.  We can't ignore this attitude because it is present in us today as it was to them, "The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us."  They thought nothing would happen or that it couldn't happen.  In spite of all the prophets warnings; in spite of God's words they failed to heed the warnings.  Why?  They saw no need to respond.  The responsibility was on someone else.  The word wasn't for them.  They felt no discomfort.  Their life was pretty good.  They saw themselves as 'good people' who were stuck with bad leaders. 

 

Amos 9:11-15

God doesn't leave the nation without hope.  With every call to repentance is a direction of the way; with every call of judgment is the hope for a new day.  When the sifting is complete that day would come. 

This promise was for these people that they might respond before the judgment came.  For those who failed to respond, it was something to grasp when they realized the calamity had truly come.  For those all of them, it was the hope of a greater day.  This speaks of coming out of exile but there is a greater fulfillment in the end times.  We can't stuff this passage into a specific time period, nor should we feel we have to. 

A time is coming when Jesus, the son of David, will rule from the throne in perfect righteousness.  Jerusalem will be the center of this rule and the kingdom of God when that kingdom is set up on earth.  And all the gentiles (that's most of us) will be part of this kingdom.  At this time the reaper will have to hurry so as not to be overtaken by the plowman; the harvest is so great they can't get it out before the plow shows up.  The grape harvest is so great that it will last until they are sowing seeds.  We see the reversal of chapter five; they will plant vineyards and eat from them.  They would plant gardens and eat from them. 

Amos speaks of this time that is coming when God will no longer remove them from the land.  When the relationship would be as God designed it.  There is a deep longing in each of us for this time.  It's a time when the stress of life, the heath issues, pain, sorrows and afflictions are all taken away.  It's a time coming that we might have perfect fellowship with God.  But that day won't come for you unless there is a response to the call today.  This is the day; a day of salvaiton and a day of hearing the word.  Have your responded?  Is your life submitted to the Lord in response to the great love has has shown toward us? 

What is your reposne?

©2016 Doug Ford