Amos 1 (7)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 116.4-6
Then I called upon the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.

Sing Psalm 116.4-6
(Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise To God Who Reigns Above)
I called to God, “O Lord, I pray, my soul redeem with favor!”
The Lord is gracious in His way, and righteous is our Savior.
His mercy to the simple flies; He lifted me up to the skies –
I rest in Him forever!

Read Amos 1.1-15; meditate on verse 2.

Preparation
1. What is God’s voice like when He comes to judge?

2. How does the earth (pastures, mountain tops) respond?

Meditation
There is a danger, when we’re reading the Old Testament, to allow a subtle, perhaps even unrecognized note of “that was then, this is now” to creep into our thinking. Yes, we see that God, roaring like a lion, brought the severest judgments against sinful nations. He did this in time, real time, in a continuum of time that leads from them to us over several thousands of years.

But that little voice in our soul intimates that He no longer does this. God does not judge nations in time, but only at the end of time. But as we saw yesterday, citing Paul’s letter to the Romans, the wrath of God is being revealed now, in time. We see the consequences of that judgment as a downward spiral away from things godly and God-like into all things selfish, sensual, scandalous, and suicidal. Our country—indeed, the world in our day—is experiencing the wrath of God in time, now. Can anything be done to interrupt this cesspool spiral into social, cultural, and national death?

Yes, but only God can do it. And He will do it working through His people—believers in Jesus, the Church of our Lord Jesus. Like Amos in his day, we are the keepers of God’s Word in ours. If God is going to roar out warnings of wrath to come against our sinful world, it will be through us, as we have opportunities to do so in our Personal Mission Fields. And when anyone might ask, “What can we do?”, we must be ready to answer, like Peter, “Repent and believe the Good News of Christ and His Kingdom” (Acts 2.36-39).

Make no mistake: God judges in time. In the time in which we live. And He calls on us who know this to cry out with the apostle, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” If we will, it may please God to lead many to mourn for their sins, to be withered of their pride, and to repent and believe the Gospel.

God Who judges in time also works to save in time, just as He has promised.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
How glorious that God has planned to use us for His kingdom and glory to alert the world to His judgment and His salvation messages. There are those who will say, “I’m not called to evangelism” or “I can’t speak out against sin” or “No one will listen to me, anyway.”

And to that God says, “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but such as keep the law contend with them” (Prov. 28.4).

That’s it. That’s all. Simple enough.
You don’t want to talk about sin? Just keep God’s Law.
You don’t feel called to evangelism? Just keep God’s Law.
You don’t think anyone will listen to you? No problem, just keep God’s Law.

The devil is always going to be doing his three transgressions and four; we do not have to participate with him, nor do we have to agree with his ravages against humanity. Just keep God’s Law.

John warns us about the devil and his workers: “These will make war with the Lamb.”
But he also encourages us with this eternal and everlasting Good News: “The Lamb will overcome them,
for He is Lord of lords and King of kings.” But there is more good news on top of that: “those who are with Him are called and chosen.” The only requirement? They are “faithful” (Rev. 17.14).

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much…” (Lk. 16.10).

“And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 3.23-4.2).

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2.10).

The promises that accompany faithfulness are so much better than the punishments that will fall in real time and later, for disobedience, destruction, and debauchery. God desires that we choose wisely and keep His Law.

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways” (Ps. 119.1-3).

By keeping God’s Law, we are used as a testimony of God’s saving love and His real-time judgment.

Reflection
1. What does it mean for you to be faithful as a steward of the Lord?

2. All the Law is fulfilled in two great commandments. Do you know what they are (Matt. 22.34-40)?

3. Whom will you encourage today in keeping God’s Law?

[T]he Prophet intimates that all punishments which God inflicts on the ungodly and the despisers of his word, are only the executions of what the Prophets proclaimed, in order that men, should there be any hope of their repentance, might anticipate the destruction which they hear to be nigh. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Amos 1.2

Closing Prayer: Psalm 116.7-19
Thank God the Father that Jesus has borne His wrath against our sins, and that in Him we have forgiveness and life. Pray that He will give you courage to share with someone today how the Lord has dealt “full well” with you.

Sing Psalm 116.7-19
(Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God Who Reigns Above)
Full well the Lord has dealt with me; my soul from death He delivered.
My weeping eyes, my stumbling feet, He has redeemed forever.
Forever I before His face shall walk with those who know His grace,
and dwell with them forever.

Afflicted, I believe His Word, though lying men would undo me.
What shall I render to the Lord for all His blessings to me?
Salvation’s cup I lift above and call upon the God of love
and pay my vows most truly.

How sweet to Him when saints depart—make me, Your servant, Savior!
From sin You loosed my wand’ring heart; I praise Your Name forever!
On You I call, my vows to pay; here in Your presence I would stay
Your praise to offer ever.

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.