Project 119: Amos 4
| Project 119 | Mary Splawn
How many times have I said as a parent, “If you do that one more time, you’re going to time-out!”? Yet, more often than not, this warning isn’t enough.
In this chapter, Amos recounts the warnings God has given the people of Israel over the years to return to Him and to stop sinning (verses 6-11). Yet, they will not listen. Their hearts are hardened and because of their disobedience they will endure judgment.
Ironically, it seems that the people are still engaging in the rituals of worship (see verse 4). Yet God is not pleased with their outward expressions of worship: He desires their obedience.
Two wonderful truths about God are found in these verses. First, we learn that God is not quick to give up on us. Again and again He will encourage us to return to Him as He encouraged the Israelites. And, as verse thirteen reveals, our God who is the Creator of all things knows the thoughts of men.
As we reflect on God’s omniscience and His relentless love, let’s take some time to reflect on the following questions: Are there parts of God’s commands that we just don’t want to take seriously? Does our worship of the Lord reveal a heart of gratitude and obedience or is it just a pretentious act? Is God warning you of His displeasure in some way?
In His grace, the Lord corrects us. May we heed His warnings before we endure difficult consequences of our sin.
Amos 4 (ESV):
1 “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan,
who are on the mountain of Samaria,
who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,
who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’
2 The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness
that, behold, the days are coming upon you,
when they shall take you away with hooks,
even the last of you with fishhooks.
3 And you shall go out through the breaches,
each one straight ahead;
and you shall be cast out into Harmon,”
declares the LORD.
4 “Come to Bethel, and transgress;
to Gilgal, and multiply transgression;
bring your sacrifices every morning,
your tithes every three days;
5 offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened,
and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them;
for so you love to do, O people of Israel!”
declares the Lord GOD.
Israel Has Not Returned to the LORD
6 “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,
and lack of bread in all your places,
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the LORD.
7 “I also withheld the rain from you
when there were yet three months to the harvest;
I would send rain on one city,
and send no rain on another city;
one field would have rain,
and the field on which it did not rain would wither;
8 so two or three cities would wander to another city
to drink water, and would not be satisfied;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the LORD.
9 “I struck you with blight and mildew;
your many gardens and your vineyards,
your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the LORD.
10 “I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt;
I killed your young men with the sword,
and carried away your horses,
and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the LORD.
11 “I overthrew some of you,
as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning;
yet you did not return to me,”
declares the LORD.
12 “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;
because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”
13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind,
and declares to man what is his thought,
who makes the morning darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth—
the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!