Amos 8 (5)

Pray Psalm 19.12-14.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Sing Psalm 19.12-14.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
Who, LORD, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
be pleasing to You, gracious LORD, acceptable and right.

Read and meditate on Amos 8.1-11; meditate on verse 11.

Preparation
1. What did God promise to send?

2. What kind of famine?

Meditation
Jesus said, “For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him” (Matt. 13.12). He might as well have been commenting on today’s passage.

God had sent His prophets to Israel from the reign of Jeroboam I to that of Jeroboam II. Neither they nor the people of Israel—save for the remnant who returned to Judah—heard or cherished or obeyed the Word of the Lord. Indeed, they silenced the prophets God sent, preferring instead the idols and ways of pagan religion.

Therefore, God would “close the book” on His people. They didn’t appreciate or want the gift of divine revelation? Fine. They could have just what they wanted. No precious and very great promises. No enriching history of their faithful forebears. No divine light on their paths. No future or hope. The people of Israel would hear the Word of the Lord no more, for He would deprive them of it, according to their demonstrated wishes.

When God looks at us, does He see us hungry for His Word (Jer. 15.16)? When He comes to visit with us every morning (Job 7.17, 18), does He find us ready with His Word and situated in prayer? Are we in the category of those who receive the Word of God, more and more each day, and to whom God thus grants more of His grace and truth?

Or are we setting ourselves up for the Lord to close the Book on us as well?

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The Rabshakeh (Chief of Staff) from the king of Assyria was sent to convey some very bad news to the children of God during Hezekiah’s reign. He spoke his words of doom in a very loud voice, in the hearing of all the people. So, Hezekiah’s spokespersons said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall” (Is. 36.11). Cause, what, they can’t handle the truth?

Seminaries of today, and the last several generations, seem to have taken this particular verse to heart in training men for the pastorate. “Speak in a language your congregants will not understand because the folks just can’t handle the truth. And you might lose some tithers if you irritate them with the understandable Word of God. Because, students, as you may know, the Word of God requires a change of heart and life, and that might be hard for your people to grasp. Plus, it can seem just a tad off-putting if they are choosing to live any way they want—like ignoring the Ten Commandments. Keep your preaching opaque and mild. By all means, Do not make it clear. Class dismissed.” And off they go, to starve their congregations with impunity.

Thus, we experience a “famine of the Words of the LORD” (Amos 8.11).

“For the idols speak delusion; the diviners envision lies, and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; they are in trouble because there is no shepherd” (Zech. 10.2).

In truth the people of God want the truth. The people want to live righteously in their Personal Mission Field. The people want to live for something and Someone that is worth dying for! Trust us with the truth!

Jesus, “when He saw the multitudes, was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9.36).

It is true that we are in a famine of the Word. We are weary and scattered. However, we also have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. And with His help and guidance, we can feed ourselves. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5.6).

The plan is the Church. And the shepherds are the leaders. But if there are no leaders, we cannot plead ignorance and helplessness. We must move forward on the Jesus Path—regardless.

“The LORD knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied” (Ps. 37.18, 19).

There are treasures in the Old and New Testament that we are free to search out, pray through, and grow by (Matt. 13.52; Ps. 119.162). Treasures in which to find nourishment to sustain and enliven us; to encourage and embolden us; and to feed us so well that we have abundant leftovers to share with those in our Personal Mission Field (Lk. 9.14, 17).

The Rabshakeh continues to threaten, and our pastors continually tone it down; we could starve in the famine of not hearing the words of the LORD, but we won’t—because we know where to find nourishment. “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jer. 15.16).

Let’s pray that our seminaries find a new favorite verse; and that our pastor’s hearts are revived to preach the whole counsel of God. We could always use an extra meal to grow on.

Reflection
1. How do you avoid falling victim to a famine of hearing God’s Word?

2. What can you do to encourage your fellow believers to spend more time in the Scriptures?

3. If we don’t feed on the Word, if we choose to do other things in the time we might be searching the Scripture, how might we expect the Lord to respond?

Here was a token of God’s highest displeasure. At any time, and most in a time of trouble, a famine of the word of God is the heaviest judgment… Let us value our advantages, seek to profit by them, and fear sinning them away. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 8.11

Pray Psalm 19.7-11.
Thank the Lord for the gift of His Word. Praise Him for the many insights, lessons, and instructions you have gained from Him. Commit yourself to following His Word in all you do.

Sing Psalm 19.7-11.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.

The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.

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.