Amos: Introduction (2)
Opening Prayer: Psalm 87.1, 2
His foundation is in the holy mountains.
The LORD loves the gates of Zion
More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken of you,
O city of God!
Sing Psalm 87.1, 2
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
Upon the holy mountains rest the footings of the Lord,
Who loves of Israel’s flock the best the keepers of His Word.
Read Amos 1.1, 2; 2 Kings 14.23-28; meditate on 2 Kings 14.23, 24.
Preparation
1. What did Jeroboam II continue?
2. How did God use him?
Meditation
As will be immediately clear from the prophecy of Amos, God was not happy with His people, especially those in Israel, the northern kingdom (Judah being the southern).
The judgment promised in Amos was inevitable. Israel—the ten tribes which followed Jeroboam I in rebellion against the Lord (1 Kings 12)—had become increasingly estranged from God and His purposes. Not a single king in Israel followed the way of the Lord. Instead, while giving lip-service to God, they worshiped the false gods from the surrounding nations. Jeroboam II “did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat [Jeroboam I], who had made Israel sin.”
But God bore with His people; He “saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.” Despite the rebellion and sin of the people, God restored their borders and spared them judgment from the Assyrians through the ministry of the prophet Jonah. God had pity on His rebellious people; yet, under the leadership of Jeroboam II, they continued to rebel against Him and to scorn His grace.
But rebellion was not the great sin of Israel.
The great sin of Israel was ingratitude. We must be careful lest that become our great sin as well. Paul taught that we should give thanks in everything (Phil. 4.6, 7; 1 Thess. 5.18). The reason is clear: God is with us in everything, and He will never fail us nor forsake us. But continuing ingratitude—as the in case of Israel—ultimately belies a heart that scorns the Lord (cf. Rom. 1.18-21). This is where Israel had come in the days of Amos, and the consequences would be devastating.
God hates ingratitude. Ingratitude leads to rebellion. Persistent ingratitude reveals a heart of ingratitude, a heart that incurs the displeasure of the Lord.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead,
so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God,
they did not glorify Him as God,
nor were thankful,
but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened…being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Rom. 1.20, 21, 29-32).
Preceding the litany of obviously awful behaviors is unthankfulness (aka ingratitude).
We church people are quick to judge the obvious, but slow to obliviate the passive perniciousness of ingratitude towards God persistent in our own lives.
And if we, God’s people, believe His Word to be true, then we must agree with Him that ingratitude is the germ that spreads into all these other things—even if we try to hide it deep in our hearts. But Jesus tells us that those hidden sins are just as evil as the blatant (Matt. 5.19-48).
The antidote? Gratitude, thanks, and appreciation for God’s goodness, grace, forgiveness, and love.
“Let us come before His Presence with thanksgiving…for the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods” (Ps. 95.2, 3).
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting, and
His truth endures to all generations” (Ps. 100.4, 5).
“God hates ingratitude. Ingratitude leads to rebellion.”
Israel’s great sin does not have to be ours.
Reflection
1. Suppose a fairly new believer asked you how to become a more grateful person. What would you say?
2. When is the best time during the day for you to practice giving thanks to God?
3. What could a fellow believer do to help you give more thanks to God?
Hosea began to prophesy in the reign of this Jeroboam. At the same time Amos prophesied; soon after Micah, then Isaiah, in the days of Ahaz and Hezekiah. Thus God, in the darkest and most degenerate ages of the church, raised up some to be burning and shining lights in it… Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 2 Kings 14.23-29
Closing Prayer: Psalm 87.3-7
Thank God for setting His love on you in Jesus Christ, for adopting you into His household, incorporating you into His Church, gifting you with His Spirit, entrusting you with His Word, and giving you each new day to serve Him with gratitude and joy.
Sing Psalm 87.3-7
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
For glorious things are spoken of the City of our God;
the nations know His matchless love wher’er His feet have trod.
From south and north, from east and west they come, called by His grace;
thus Zion stands, full strong and blessed, before the Savior’s face.
The Lord will count and tally all in Jesus born again;
then let them sing, who on Him call, “We joy in God, Amen!”
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.
