Series: Dog Daze
Amos 3:3-8 ESV
Amos 4:1-5 ESV
*Amos 9:1 ESV
(Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26)
I must confess that when I started a deep dive study into the words of the Prophet Amos I was perplexed, confused, and totally unsure about his Words.
His writing style was unlike anything I’d studied for a while.
We did study Amos as part of a set of books written by the prophets in seminary but we moved through each book very quickly. I do not remember studying Amos’ style of Hebrew.
My confusion when I started studying to write this series came about because of his use of opposites in his prophecies.
There were times when I read and re-read the same lines over and over again.
Finally, I was so confused that I stepped back and waited for God to reveal who the prophet Amos was as a person. He was very unlike other prophets. He was not classically trained in Hebrew. He was a shepherd boy.
Then I remembered David, the shepherd boy and I thought (God revealed) of rhetorical questions David asked in many psalms. Further study revealed there were similarities.
I started noticing Amos’ style of writing contained a challenge.
Then I realized there was a possibility he wasn’t being serious. His rhetorical questions included an emphasis on what I would expect a comedian to do on stage.
For me, it was a “well duh” moment. As in, why didn’t I see it before?
The reason in my case was clear…it was because Amos’ occupation as a shepherd gave him time to think (from God) about another way of thinking.
In Amos 3:3-8 he wrote,
“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?
Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing?
Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground when no bait is there? Does a trap spring up from the ground if it has not caught anything?
When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?
Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.”
It was a style I was not accustomed to.
Again, look at the style in Amos 4:1-5:
“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!”
The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: "The time will surely comewhen you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.
You will each go straight out through breaches in the wall, and you will be cast out toward Harmon,”declares the Lord.
“Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more.Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.
Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings—boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,”declares the Sovereign Lord.”
*Notice the reference to sin and brag about it
The good news about studying Amos is that I learned a ton and I am ‘richer’ for it.
As we leave the study of Amos I am glad God brought me here because I learned a great deal. I’m a little sad it’s over.
In Amos’ final vision he begins with Amos 9:1, “I saw the Lord standing beside the altar.”
This was Amos’ final vision and he saw the Lord standing at the altar in the Temple and God was running the show (so to speak) for the final judgment. God was involved in the details of striking the doorposts which cause the entire structure to shake. God was clear that no one can run or get away. No one will escape and everyone will receive a blessing or a curse (Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26).
And so, that is where we stand. We learn from Amos that WE choose.
The Lord stands beside…you. Those who stand with God will receive the blessing and the blessing IS God!
Spiritual Practice: You Choose
You can choose to stand with God.
In God, Deborah
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