Don’t listen to lies. Amos 2.4, 5
Amos 2 (2)
Pray Psalm 68.1,2, 32, 33
Let God arise,
Let His enemies be scattered;
Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.
As smoke is driven away,
So drive them away;
As wax melts before the fire,
So let the wicked perish at the presence of God…
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;
Oh, sing praises to the Lord,
Selah
To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old!
Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice.
Sing Psalm 68.1, 2, 32, 33.
(O Store Gud: How Great Thou Art)
Let God arise, let all Your foes be scattered!
Let those who hate You flee before Your face!
As smoke dissolves, as wax in flame is shattered,
let all the wicked perish in disgrace!
Refrain vv. 32, 33
Sing to the LORD, O kingdoms of the earth!
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!
Behold He speaks; His Word is going forth;
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!
Read Amos 2.1-5; meditate on verses 4, 5.
Preparation
1. What was Judah’s great offense?
2. What was the result of their doing this?
Meditation
Reject God and His Law and you turn to lies. Lies caused Judah to be slack in God’s Word: “We don’t have to take this literally.” “The Law of God? That was for a long time ago.” “Nobody else is reading or practicing the Law.” “We can’t keep up with the times and remain stuck in some old laws.”
Lies. All of them.
Judah listened to lies and turned from God’s commandments to what? To more lies. And their lies caused them to lose their identity as a people holy unto the Lord. They looked like Israel, Moab, Edom, and everyone else on whom the judgment of God was about to fall. And they would not escape it. The Babylonians would bring a scorched earth campaign against the people of Judah, ultimately destroying Jerusalem and the temple of the Lord.
What about us? Do we despise the Law of the LORD? Or have we established it in our soul and life (Rom. 3.31) as the key to greatness in the Kingdom of God and growing in love for God and our neighbors (Matt. 5.17-19; 22.34-40)?
Don’t listen to the lies. Live in the truth. Live in the love of God. Plant yourself squarely in the Law of God every day, and you will bear abundant and lasting fruit for Him (Ps. 1).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Have you ever tried to put together an intricate model airplane without looking at the directions? How about a beloved child’s multi-pieced kitchen on Christmas Eve without so much as a gander on the how-tos of it? What about baking an angel food cake without so much as casting an eye upon a recipe? What? Whip the egg whites? Nah, I’ll just do it my way. How about a pancake instead?
God created the heavens and the earth. He keeps it all running day after day after day. He made and fashioned us and knows how our bodies work. Ever tried living without water and oxygen?
And yet, we, in all our “wisdom” think we know better than God about everything? Or if in our vast humility we might say, “Not everything.” We behave as if we have pretty much got this whole thing sewed up.
God’s Law? No, thank You. I can do this myself. I am, after all, the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul (many thanks to William Ernest Henley for the descriptive words).
As silly as it seems, we steadfastly remain ridiculous creatures for thinking we know better than God and spurning His Law. Judah spurned it too and paid the price.
Which of God’s Laws (Ex. 20.1-17) would you like broken against you? I daresay, none. Why would we ever choose to do one against another? Or why would we not acknowledge God as God? What good comes from disrespecting the Sabbath Day or our parents? Who benefits when we kill them by word or deed? What spouse longs to have an unfaithful partner? What would you like stolen from you first? And how about the lies? What whoppers do you want told about you? And if everyone wants what you have, you never really know if they like you or just want your stuff; and will most surely take it when your back is turned. Ah, a glorious life, no? So relaxing. So secure. Yet we long for the freedom to do what we want: which makes us dumber than a bag of hammers.
“‘For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’ says the LORD of hosts, that will leave them neither root nor branch” (Mal. 4.1). Not good.
“‘But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 4.2, 3). All good.
“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep you from…” everything bad and whatever (Prov. 6.23, 24).
“The law of the LORD is perfect…” (Ps. 19.7).
“…Your law is truth” (Ps. 119.142).
“…obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life (Deut. 32.46, 47 NIV).
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matt. 22.37-40).
And Jesus also said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14.15).
And Paul’s rejoinder, “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed” (1 Cor. 16.22).
Keeping God’s Law is serious business. Keeping God’s Law is how the Kingdom is run. Keeping God’s Law is how He chooses for His people to live in the world. So, we must each day seek out the rules: the whys, hows, whats, and wherefores on His way to accomplish this.
God judged Judah for despising His Law. We can avoid God’s judgment.
Simply love and keep the commandments of God.
Reflection
1. How would you explain to a new believer why the Law of God matters so much?
2. Judah listened to lies and turned from God’s Law. What should you do whenever you hear lies about keeping God’s Law?
3. How can believers help and encourage one another in keeping the Law of God?
Judah is reckoned with for dishonor done to God. Judah despised the law of the Lord; and Her justly gave them up to strong delusion; nor was it any excuse for their sin, that they were the lies, the idols, after which their fathers walked. The worst abominations and most grievous oppressions have been committed by some of the professed worshippers of the Lord. Such conduct leads many to unbelief and vile idolatry. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 2.1-8
Pray Psalm 68.3, 4, 19, 20, 32, 33.
Pray for yourself and your church, that you will keep the Law of God and all His Word central and foundational to all you do. Thank God for the blessings He will surround you with today.
Sing Psalm 68.3, 4, 19, 20, 32, 33.
(O Store Gud: How Great Thou Art)
LORD, let Your righteous ones exult in glory,
let us rejoice and praise Your holy Name!
Now let us sing the Savior’s old, old story—
Who life to deserts brings, we now proclaim!
Refrain vv. 32, 33
Sing to the LORD, O kingdoms of the earth!
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!
Behold He speaks; His Word is going forth;
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!
Blessed be the LORD, our burden daily bearing,
O God, our God, our Savior and our King!
With us salvation and deliv’rance sharing,
He life from death His people daily brings.
Refrain
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.