Amos 2 (3)

Pray Psalm 106.6, 48
We have sinned with our fathers,
We have committed iniquity,
We have done wickedly…
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the LORD!

Sing Psalm 106.6, 48.
(Trust in Jesus: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus)
We have sinned, just like our fathers; we have done iniquity.
Just like them, our hearts have wandered; we have acted wickedly.
Refrain, v. 48
Blessèd be our God and Savior, evermore His praise proclaim!
Let all those who know Your favor praise Your holy, glorious Name!

Read Amos 2.1-8; meditate on verses 6-8.

Preparation
1. Why was God angry with Israel?

2. How did their behavior affect Him?

Meditation
The judgment of God at last lands on Israel, the northern kingdom of the people who were heirs of the promises of God.

But the sins of Israel were great. They preferred wealth instead of righteousness and regarded the poor and needy as of less significance than a pair of sandals (v. 6). They trampled the poor into the earth (v. 7). If they found a humble man, they corrupted him and caused him to lose his way (v. 7). Sexual immorality was widespread (vv. 7, 8), even at religious sites. Wine set aside for religious purposes—albeit false ones—they drank for their own pleasure (v. 8).

These sins and more characterized the people who had been entrusted with the Law of God, were participants in His covenant, and bore His Name upon them. All the surrounding nations knew this. But instead of showing the wisdom of God through faith and obedience (Deut. 4.5-8), they had become merely a reflection of the religion and morality of their pagan neighbors. Their great sin was that they had defiled the Name of God by their pagan ways. Instead of being the Prince with God—the meaning of “Israel”—they had become the kingdom of crud. And now their time was up.

Eight more kings would reign in Israel following the ministry of Amos, and each one would lead the nation more deeply into the wrath of God until the Assyrians would end it all. Those who had defiled the Name of God would ultimately become the despised Samaritans of the New Testament.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
While at the grocery store, we may hear a crash from an aisle over, accompanied by much hubbub and “terrible-two” crying. Or perhaps we spy at a restaurant another couple’s little darling screaming and throwing food about. On these occasions it is easy for us to raise an eyebrow and call down judgment upon the offending children. “Why doesn’t somebody do something?” But it is quite another matter, more grievous, when it is our very own beloved children who have stepped outside of acceptable behavior, and we must deal with them lovingly yet firmly.

Such scenarios seem simple enough, but it is in the small things that formative behaviors are cemented. Little things become big things. Small infractions become larger ones. As our Bible study teacher, Pat Hunter, used to say, “Watch your deviations.” Because when we are veering off the path of righteousness, even in small ways, we will never hit our goal of being like Jesus.

God had been warning His children from the beginning to obey His Law. They got off track here and there and before you know it, they were behaving in a most horrid fashion. One can only say, “Ew” about some of their shenanigans. God was offended. God had to deal with their sin. It must have been sad and grievous for Him to do that. He had such great expectations for His people.

His love was so great for His beloved children, though, that He ultimately sent His perfect Son to pay the price for our sins—sins that elicited a giant “Ew” from Him—as even our best efforts are not good enough. “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…” (Is. 64.6).

Now that we are forgiven and have the potential to behave in a more Christlike fashion, we must set our hearts and minds daily to obey His Law. “My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end” (Ps. 119.112 NIV).

And we appreciate God’s guiding and disciplining hand in our lives—to keep us on the Jesus Path.

“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole” (Job 5.17, 18).

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12.11).

God, please keep a close eye on me, for I would much rather be scolded for screaming, breaking stuff at the grocery, and throwing food in a restaurant, than pay the price for doing things that demand an “Ew” from You and all observers—and worst of all, in so doing “defile [Your] holy Name” (Amos 2.7).

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps. 51.10).

Reflection
1. What’s the best way to know when you are departing the path of God, even if only in a small matter?

2. Why is it such a terrible thing for us to defile the Name of God?

3. Where sin is concerned, we need to keep short accounts with God. What’s the best way for you to do that?

The import of the whole is, that if the Moabites, the Idumeans, the Tyrians, the Sidonians, and other nations, and that if the Jews as well as these were irreclaimable in their obstinacy, so that their diseases were incurable, and their wickedness such as God could no longer endure, the Israelites were also in the same condition; for they also continued perverse in their wickedness, and provoked God, and repented not, though God had waited long, and exhorted them to repent. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Amos 2.6-8

Pray Psalm 106.1-5, 7-12.
Pray for believers everywhere, that we would confess and repent of our sins and seek the Lord for revival, renewal, and awakening.

Sing Psalm 106.1-5, 7-12, 48.
(Trust in Jesus: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus)
Praise the LORD! Give thanks and praise Him! He is good, His love endures!
More His works than can be spoken; let His praise be ever sure!
Refrain v. 48
Blessèd be our God and Savior, evermore His praise proclaim!
Let all those who know Your favor praise Your holy, glorious Name!

LORD, when You Your people favor, help me, O, remember me,
that I may Your blessings savor and in joy and glory be!
Refrain

For Your love we have forgotten; we rebelled against Your grace.
Yet You save us by Your power, make us stand before Your face.
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.