June 4, 2001
Lesson for June 17
EXPLORE THE BIBLE:
God clearly outlined his plans for his people
___Amos 4:1-13
___By Jeane Law
___First Baptist Church, Lubbock
___There are only 13 verses in the fourth chapter of Amos, and they speak very clearly. Amos continues to prophesy to Israel using the agricultural terminology he used when he spoke as a farmer and a herdsman.
___When you read Amos 4:1, you may be a little shocked at his being quite so crass as torefer to the women as cows. Actually, he is merely comparing their actions to the Bashan cow. Bashans were a breed of very large, strong cows, and when they were allowed to graze on the mountain of Samaria, they became fat and greedy because the grass was rich and good. The Bashans often broke the barriers of their pastures and wandered over into the grazing land of other, smaller cattle. They would push and gore these small cattle who were unable to defend themselves.
___The wealthy, powerful Israelites who lived in the ivory-filled summer and winter homes on the mountain were living in absolute decadence at the expense of the poor. Their poverty and inability to help themselves was taken advantage of, and this made them even more poor and needful. The rich used their power as judges and magistrates for acts of injustice, and they collaborated with others who did the same. They often used the monies gained through extortion to satisfy desires of the flesh. 4:1 says "... you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, 'Bring us some drinks!'" These women were simply languishing in over-indulgence.
___In verses 2 and 3, Amos boldly describes their future judgment as fish trapped in a net. This became a reality when the Assyrian armies surrounded the country and totally defeated them.
___In 4:4-5, he details the mockery the people had made of worship in Bethel and Gilgal, where Israel had worshipped Jehovah God for many generations. They continued to go there, but they carried their idols with them. They made sacrifices with leavened bread and blasphemed the holiness of God. He rejected their religious activity because just before they had come to "church," they had oppressed good people and trampled on the poor. God said, "You just keep on doing it your way. Your time of judgment is coming!"
___But wait! How many times do we sit in a worship service and think of family schedules, business appointments, shopping needs, etc.? We too have taken our idols to church. Each of us should examine the corporate worship of our church and see if God's presence is real and glorified. We individually bring that about as we welcome his Spirit among us and focus on him.
___God always warned the Israelites before he judged them, and he gave them opportunity to repent and return to him. In 4:6-11 God describes the ways he tried to gain the attention of Israel. He caused them to go hungry, withheld rain to the point of critical drought, destroyed crops and sent plagues like those in Egypt. He caused the young men to be killed in such large numbers they were unable to be buried for days, and the campsite smelled of death. Following each of these five statements, God says, "Yet you have not returned to me."
___We should not feel that all calamity that comes to us is punishment from God, but perhaps it would be wise to ask ourselves, "What is God wanting me to learn from this experience?"
___Verse 12 begins, "Therefore, ... this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel." Doesn't that sound rather chilling? It does to me, for I believe God meant it. The fish net was soon cast out.
___The chapter ends with these magnificent words: "He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth--the Lord God Almighty is his name."
___God would no longer tolerate his holiness being dishonored by his chosen people. They made their choice and he made his.
___Today, we too have a choice. The words of John 3:16 tell us we can choose Jesus and have everlasting life, or not choose him and perish. In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." We may choose to believe him or not to believe him, but we will be judged by our choice.
___Many people around us every day, and millions around the world, have never been presented with that choice, and so Jesus calls us to go and tell. Some are like Israel in today's lesson and have heard but refuse to repent. God will judge their refusal.
___As Christians, we desire to live lives that are holy, but often times we leave God out of our choices, and the consequences of sin take their toll. We must live worthy of the calling we have received and accept the responsibility of introducing others to our Savior, because each of us must prepare to meet our God.
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!
