Amos 3 (7)
Opening Prayer: Psalm 14.1-3
The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.
Sing Psalm 14.1-3
(St. Anne: O God, Our Help in Ages Past)
The fool within his heart proclaims, “There is no God at all!”
His deeds are wicked, filled with shame who on God will not call.
No good in such as these is found; corruption fills their breast.
God from His heav’nly throne looks down, their hearts and ways to test.
Read Amos 3.1-15; meditate on verses 1-3.
Preparation
1. What had been God’s relationship to Israel?
2. How had Israel responded to this (v. 3)?
Meditation
The litany of Israel’s sins, begun in chapter 2, is extended and summarized in chapter 3, and a word of judgment is declared. Israel was guilty of oppressing the poor and the meek, defiling God’s Name, practicing sexual immorality, being ungrateful for His blessings, silencing the prophets, compromising the servants of the Lord, and pursuing an idolatry of wealth and ease (c. 6-12; 3.15).
Clearly the nation had departed from God’s ways. And in the action they took concerning the path they would take, they chose the path of His judgment, like He said. The catalogue of judgement for refusing God’s ways, outlined in Deuteronomy 28.15-68, is as much a promise of God’s Word as the blessings of verse 1-14 in that same chapter. God had told His people what He would do if they defiled His Name and departed from His ways, and now He was preparing to fulfill His promise by a near total judgment upon the nation of Israel. Just like He said.
Israel did not want to do things God’s way. They wanted to be like the nations surrounding them, to worship their false gods, indulge their immoral ways, court their favor, and exploit and plunder them as they could. Just like the Canaanites whom God had driven from the land. And now God was preparing to vomit His people out of His land, just as He had sworn He would (Lev. 18.26-28).
Just like He said.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.16
God is asking us the same rhetorical question: “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3.3).
Throughout the day, one has only to look outside, to encounter the sight of two people walking together. It is a thing, and people do it, for fellowship, protection, and encouragement. One cannot reap those benefits if the walking-partner is going the opposite direction. The duo must agree to walk together at relatively the same pace and on the same path.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Eccl. 4.9-12).
To have a friend is a beautiful thing.
To walk with God is our supreme calling.
And to walk with God as our Friend is true joy and abundant life.
Without Him there is no point to our being.
We simply need to agree about where we are headed—together.
So let us listen carefully as Amos speaks God’s words to His children:
“Hear this word that the LORD has spoken
against you, O children of Israel,
against the whole family
which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:
‘You only have I known of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3.1, 2).
If we are convicted in our hearts of any of the same sins that they were delving into—worshiping false gods, doing immorality of any kind, oppressing the poor and meek, taking the name of Christian in vain, being ungrateful for God’s blessings, and not listening to nor obeying His Word—then we must repent, turn from our sins, and walk again on the Jesus Path with God. We have sinned against Him (Ps. 51.4). We do not want to participate in the punishment He has promised for those who have done so.
God’s Word is always fulfilled. Which is good news and bad. God cannot lie. As Paul wrote concerning eternity, we have “the hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1.2). But His children also have the promise of a recipe for near-total judgment with a side of remnant if we do not wake up and obey Him.
When we set our hearts and minds to obey Him to the end (Ps. 119.112) then we have the promise that He will keep that mindset in place for us, to the end: “Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established” (Prov. 16.3).
Like that. “Just like He said” (Matt. 28.6).
Reflection
1. What are some things that might cause you to begin doubting the Word of God? How should you prepare to deal with those things?
2. How can Christians help one another to continue walking in agreement with the Lord?
3. Whom will you encourage today, to help them keep on the Jesus Path?
God and man cannot walk together, except they are agreed. Unless we seek his glory, we cannot walk with him. Let us not presume on outward privileges, without special, sanctifying grace. The threatenings of the word and providence of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show that the judgments of God are at hand. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 3.3
Closing Prayer: Psalm 14.4-7
Pray to understand God’s Word and the blessings of obedience, and to fear God and His promised discipline. Ask Him to give you increasing clarity of insight to His revelation in Scripture and in Jesus Christ.
Sing Psalm 14.4-7
(St. Anne: O God, Our Help in Ages Past)
None understands, none seeks the LORD; they all have turned aside.
Deception leads them from God’s Word who have His grace denied.
The workers of iniquity consume God’s sheep like bread;
they trust not in the LORD, and He shall fill their hearts with dread.
For Jesus with the righteous stands, though they be put to shame.
He holds them safely in His hands who shelter in His Name.
Restore Your Church, let Zion sing; our captive hearts release,
that we may Your salvation bring, rejoicing and in peace.
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.
