Amos 1 (3)
Pray Psalm 56.10-13.
In God (I will praise His word),
In the LORD (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God;
I will render praises to You,
For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of the living?
Sing Psalm 56.10-13.
(Morecambe: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart)
I will not fear what foes might do to me. I give You thanks, my vows will I renew.
You have redeemed me, set my spirit free, and ever in Your light I’ll walk with You.
Read Amos 1.1-8; meditate on verses 6-8.
Preparation
1. Why was God angry with the Philistines?
2. What was He going to do?
Meditation
From the earliest days of the nation, the five cities of the Philistines—Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and Gath—never reconciled to Israel’s presence in Canaan. Warfare was almost continuous. David, to escape Saul, fled to the Philistines, pretending to be fighting for them against Israel, but more concerned to keep himself safe and to protect certain cities in Israel. Perhaps it was during this time that David learned to play the “instrument of Gath” which was scored to accompany Psalm 8 (Asaph and the sons of Korah also picked up on this instrument for Psalms 81 and 84).
The Philistines ultimately expelled David, and their harassment of Israel continued during the division of the nation into Israel and Judah. Apparently, at the time Amos prophesied, the Philistines had taken a large population of Israel (“the whole”) into captivity and sold them into slavery to Edom (v. 6). They “jumped the gun” on the Lord in this matter, for at this time, as we have seen, God was wooing His people back to Him by enlarging their territory and restoring some of their cities. His time for sending His people into captivity would come later and by a nation of His choosing.
God promised to turn His hand against the Philistines, to burn the city of Gaza, cut off the inhabitants of Ashdod and the king of Ashkelon, and to destroy the remnant of the Philistines (vv. 7, 8). Surely the people of Israel, hearing this, would have rejoiced. Nevertheless, they would not repent or give thanks to God, and the march of God’s judgment and wrath would continue toward its destination—Israel herself.
God is sovereign over the nations and peoples of the world. He has a time and place for them all, and the hearts of their rulers are in His hand, to do with as He pleases (Prov. 21.1). We need not fear what anyone can do to us, as long as we trust in the Lord, rejoice in His Presence, give thanks for all His blessings, and walk in all His ways.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Country after country, generation after generation, the warning of the LORD continues.
Right on down to us.
We read of the people of Israel with consternation: Why didn’t they ever get the picture? Why did they always behave so obstinately? Why did they always break God’s commands? Why, oh why, did they always think that they knew better than the Creator Sustainer of the heavens and the earth?
Indeed, why? Why do we do the same? Why does the Church never seem to get the picture? Why don’t the Shepherds teach the commandments of God? Why, oh why, do we continue to think that we know better than God? Or as Job said to his “all-knowing friends”, “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!” (Job 12.2).
God offers His people either destruction for disobedience, or a joy-filled eternal life—here and now and there and then—for believing in Jesus and obeying His commands (Jn. 3.16; 14.15).
“And in this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces,
a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees” (Is. 25.6).
A peaceful picnic of sorts, basketed, delivered by, and shared with the LORD.
“And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people,
and the veil that is spread over all nations” (Is. 25.7).
He will open our eyes to Jesus and our hearts to the Holy Spirit.
“He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces;
the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken” (Is. 25.8).
The plans He has for His people are good and not evil, to give us a future and a hope.
“And it will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.
This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation’” (Is. 25.9).
This is what God wants us to say and do. This is His preferred choice for us.
It seems a simple choice when the options are weighed:
Do I want to enjoy God’s peaceful, eye and heart opening, and saving picnic plans?
Or do I want the fiery, devouring judgment that the Philistines got?
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down is green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Ps. 23.1-3).
Decidedly “…we will serve the LORD” (Josh. 24.15).
Reflection
1. How do you know when the Holy Spirit is convicting you of sin (Jn. 16.8)?
2. What should you do then?
3. Why does this matter so much (Heb. 2.1-3)?
The Prophet records here a special crime, ― that the Gazites took away Jews and Israelites, and removed them as captives into Idumea, and confined them there. I have already said that it was not the Prophet's design to enumerate all their sins, but that he was content to mention one crime, that the Israelites might understand that they were involved in a heavier guilt, because they had grievously offended both God and men. If then so severe a vengeance was to be taken on Gaza, they ought to have known, that a heavier vengeance awaited them, because they were guilty of more and greater sins. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Amos 1.6-8
Pray Psalm 56.1-9.
Seek the Lord’s protection today against all fears, foes, and follies. Commit yourself to trust in Him for all your needs and for the strength and grace to do the work He has appointed for you.
Sing Psalm 56.1-9.
(Morecambe: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart)
Savior, be gracious, gracious unto me! Weary, I seek the shelter of Your wings.
’Til trouble passes, ’til my sighings flee; I seek the LORD Who for me does all things.
When I’m afraid I’ll put my trust in You, You, LORD, Whose everlasting Word I praise.
I will not fear what foes to me might do, but will in faith to You my crying raise.
Wickedly how my foes distort my words. Constant attacks and snares await my way.
Pour out Your wrath, consume them, mighty LORD! Bring evil to its end, O LORD, I pray!
LORD, see my wand’rings, see my anxious tears! Help me to trust and praise Your holy Word.
Gladly I know that when I call You hear; I will not fear but trust in You, O LORD.
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.
