Amos 7 (1)
Pray Psalm 37.1-3.
Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Sing Psalm 37.1-3.
(Neumark: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee)
Let not the wicked make you worry; envy not those who break God’s Word.
Like dying grass will they be sorry, and fade like every dying herb.
Trust in the Lord and do His will; dwell in His grace, be faithful still.
Read and meditate on Amos 7.1-3.
Preparation
1. What did God show Amos?
2. How did Amos respond?
Meditation
The “late crop” would have been the food for winter, the non-growing season. Thus, the judgment of God against Israel would likely have taken the form of starvation. In his vision, Amos saw the plague of locusts so thick that it ate not only the late crop but “the grass of the land”. Thus, the people’s horses, flocks, and herds would have starved as well.
This was too much for Amos. He cried out to God to forgive the people, to allow their small nation to stand, and to turn away the swarm Amos had seen in His vision. And the Lord relented (v. 3).
Amos did not delight in the coming judgment of Israel. It would be bad enough as he had already declared it. To add the misery of starvation seemed overwhelming to Amos and drove him to prayer on behalf of a sinful people. Amos pled with God to spare a wicked people. Perhaps a little more time and they might repent? Would they respond to the grace of God when they heard of this restraint of His wrath?
Though the prophet was faithful to intercede and God was merciful to relent concerning this terrible plight, the people yet refused to listen, as we shall see.
The hardness of people’s hearts and the depths of their sins must not prevent us from seeking mercy on their behalf. We must not fail to pray for those God has put into our Personal Mission Field, or for all the world of lost and blind, wrong-believing rebels against God. There is power in prayer, more than we know. God expects us to wield that power. Let us not fail to do so.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
We have no response, except thanks.
We have no plea or excuse, only remorse.
For God relented in His judgment toward us.
God responded to prayers for mercy on our behalf.
We are the beneficiaries of His grace.
We long for others, those in our Personal Mission Field to:
Understand their sin, and respond to His forgiveness.
And we beseech God, the Father of all mercies to:
Relent. Forgive. Heal. Renew. (Amos 7.2, 3)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3.16).
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us” (Rom. 5.8).
“…when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father,
having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (Jn. 13.1).
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free;
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward, to Thy glorious rest above.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Spread His praise from shore to shore;
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore;
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Love of every love the best:
’Tis an ocean vast of blessing, ’tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! ’Tis a heav’n of heav’ns to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee.
(Samuel Trevor Francis, 1834-1925)
“Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done marvelous things!”
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” (Joel 2.21, 25).
Reflection
1. How do you pray for the lost people in your Personal Mission Field?
2. Who are some people whose prayers support and sustain you? Have you thanked them lately?
3. What are some areas where you are working for restoration in your life? Have you enlisted friends to pray for you?
See the power of prayer. See what a blessing praying people are to a land. See how ready, how swift God is to show mercy; how he waits to be gracious. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 7.1-9
Pray Psalm 37.4-9.
Thank God for His great salvation! Wait on the Lord in prayer for our country and for lost people everywhere, that He would have mercy, be patient, and send witnesses to declare the Good News of Jesus to them.
Sing Psalm 37.34-40.
(Neumark: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee)
Wait on the LORD, His way observing, and He will lift you up on high.
Those prone to wicked ways preserving, your eyes shall see cast down to die.
The blameless man shall stand upright, for God preserves him by His might!
Salvation comes from Christ our Savior; He is our strength in time of need.
On us does He bestow His favor, who all His holy judgments heed.
He is our help in troubled times; our refuge He, in Him we hide.
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.
