Amos 3 (1)
Pray Psalm 58.3-5.
The wicked are estranged from the womb;
They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent;
They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,
Which will not heed the voice of charmers,
Charming ever so skillfully.
Sing Psalm 58.3-5.
(Arlington: This Is the Day the Lord Has Made)
The wicked from the womb rebel; from birth they utter lies.
Their tongues of serpent’s venom tell; all truth their ears despise.
Read and meditate on Amos 3.1, 2.
Preparation
1. Against whom did the prophet speak?
2. Why was God preparing to punish them?
Meditation
Once again, God through the prophet reminds Israel of their deliverance from Egypt, a powerful and saving deliverance that solidified their identity as “the whole family” of Jacob and the people of God (v. 1).
He reminds them of what He said then (Deut. 7.6-8), that He knew—that is, loved—them alone of all the families of the earth. It’s not that God did not extend His love to the nations. His common grace, the everyday love of God by which He blesses and sustains everything in creation, reaches daily to the nations of the world. The nations are part of the world that God so loves that He gave His only-begotten Son for them.
But He did not love the other nations and peoples with the kind of attention, care, and intimacy He showed to the people of Israel, including Judah, who is here intimated (v. 2). He carried them through the wilderness and fed them every day. He drove out the pagan nations and parceled their land to His people. He gave them kings and judges and prophets for implementing of His Law. He made His dwelling among them to receive their worship and renew their hope in His promises and Law.
He loved them much. Therefore, because of their iniquities, and especially their ingratitude, He would punish them more. Soon Israel would be borne away captive to Assyria, and the nation would be no more.
There’s a principle here: Much loved, much punished. God’s grace reaches to us every day. We should give abundant thanks and praise to Him. Instead, His daily grace becomes so familiar to us that we take it for granted, hardly thinking it necessary to thank Him for things like breath, sight, health, work, the beauties of creation, and so forth. We are much loved of God. Let us be more grateful.
And there is one more facet to this principle: Jesus was the most loved of God; therefore, and because of God’s love for us, He weighed down, weighed down Jesus with our sins, that He might bear them, not us, away.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Israel’s, Judah’s, and our dilemma—
“For the LORD has spoken:
‘I have nourished and brought up children,
and they have rebelled against Me;
the ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib;
but Israel does not know, My people do not consider’” (Is. 1.2, 3)
God’s solution—
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…
He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
the chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned, every one, to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Is. 53.4-6).
And now that we have been grafted into (Rom. 11.17-25) this family, we bear the same responsibilities, and the same outcomes of discipline for our rebellion and sin. However, the glorious promises are also just as real for us as for His beloved— “you only have I known of all the families of the earth” (Amos 3.2).
“‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (Heb. 12.5-7).
“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).
“The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise.
He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility” (Prov. 15.31-33).
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3.19).
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.
(Charles Wesley, 1738)
Reflection
1. How many ways can you know the love God has for you right now, in this instant?
2. Give Him praise and thanks for as much of His love as He shows you now. How can you continue to be mindful of this amazing love?
3. Whom will you encourage today and for whom will you pray that they might be more conscious of God’s amazing love throughout each day?
The distinguishing favors of God to us, if they do not restrain from sin, shall not exempt from punishment. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 3.1-8
Pray Psalm 58.1, 2, 10, 11.
Pray for the Church, the beloved Body of Christ. Pray for revival, repentance from sin, and a renewed commitment to seeking the Kingdom and righteousness of God.
Sing Psalm 58.1, 2, 10, 11.
(Arlington: This Is the Day the Lord Has Made)
Do you indeed speak righteousness, you rulers of the earth?
And do you judge the sons of men according to their worth?
No, not at all, but in their hearts they seek unrighteous ways;
their hands weigh out upon the earth cruel violence all their days.
The righteous will rejoice to see the vengeance of the LORD.
All men will say, “Then God must be, the righteous to reward.”
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.
