Jesus has it all. Amos review.
Amos Review (3)
Pray Psalm 119.49, 50.
Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.
Sing Psalm 119.49, 50.
(Wycliff: All for Jesus)
LORD, remember all the good Word You have spoken unto me!
For I ever hope in You, LORD as I serve You joyfully.
This my comfort in affliction, this my comfort in all strife:
that Your Word is my redemption, giving me eternal life!
Read Amos chapters 3 and 4; meditate on Amos 3.1-3; 4.12, 13.
Preparation
1. How does God assert His authority in these two chapters?
2. What does He declare at the beginning and end of this section?
Meditation
The Oxford Dictionary of English defines authority as “the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience”. That pretty much describes God to a “T”, especially as we see Him in the book of Amos, and particularly in these two chapters.
God chose Israel. He has the authority to have done so (3.2). He expected them to walk His path and His Word to be heeded (3.3-8). When His Word is not obeyed, He has the authority and power to bring judgment (3.9-15). He can even decide, down to individual specifications, how that judgment shall be enacted (4.1-3). He has authority to measure out His wrath and to show long patience with sinful people (4.6-11). And He Who made the mountains, summons the winds, and reveals the secret thoughts of men has the power to do all that He declares (4.12, 13).
These two chapters are bookended by God declaring Himself: He is the LORD. That Name alone is all the authority He needs, for it speaks of His eternality and unchangeableness. He has all power and all the right to declare what should be and what He intends.
And He has given all authority in heaven and earth unto Jesus (Matt. 28.18). Now Jesus calls the shots, wields His Spirit and Word with power, and declares His purpose to the world. We relate to Jesus as Amos did to Israel, Judah, and the surrounding nations. We know the Lord. We understand His will. We are invested with His power. In us the Lion of the tribe of Judah roars (3.4, 8) and the trumpet sounds which heralds the coming King (3.6).
The Lord Jesus has declared His will to us, and we must proclaim it to the world (3.8), on His authority alone.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“And God spoke all these words, saying:
‘I AM the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage’” (Ex. 20.1, 2). “Yet I AM the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt, and you shall know no God but Me; for there is no savior besides Me. I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought” (Hos. 13.4, 5).
The word that God spoke through Amos, He spoke to those “I brought up from the land of Egypt…you only have I known of all the families of the earth” (Amos 3.1, 2), and therefore the punishment meted out to them as His recalcitrant children was altogether fitting and proper.
God was not being slapdash about this punishment—as a scattershot against all evil everywhere—no, it was specifically placed and familially targeted. And His question to them, so pointed and heartfelt: Can we really be friends when we don’t agree upon anything, and you do not respect My authority over everything? (Amos 3.3)
The word authority aptly describes God, but when we do not respect Him, we are declaring Him: powerless, impotent, weak, helpless, and an amateur. And who is comfortable—or foolish enough—to call Him that? What, are we crazy? But those in His family, who say that to Him, please hear His words loud and clear: “Prepare to meet your God!” (Amos 4.12). Does anyone intentionally want to go there? I think not.
“Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire. The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils” (Ps. 18.7-15). Cherubs are not chubby babies and His authority must not be ignored!
And if we think for one second that Jesus is anything other than God, as powerful and authoritative, we are kidding ourselves. Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10.37, 38). “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matt. 16.24-27).
So, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…the Lord knows those who are His…let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2.15, 19).
Then you will be prepared to meet your God!
Reflection
1. What preparations should you undertake each day in anticipation of meeting God?
2. How can believers encourage one another to take the authority of God more seriously?
3. Where would you turn in Scripture to explain the authority of Jesus to a non-Christian friend? Explain.
The warning given to a careless world will increase its condemnation another day. Oh the amazing stupidity of an unbelieving world, that will not be wrought upon by the terrors of the Lord, and that despise his mercies! Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 3.1-3
Pray Psalm 119.51-56.
Thank and praise God for His authoritative Word and for Jesus, in Whom all authority in heaven and on earth resides. Commit yourself to walking the Jesus Path today and every day.
Sing Psalm 119.51-56.
(Wycliff: All for Jesus)
Though the proud deride and taunt me, I will trust Your faithful Word.
Let Your judgments from of old be all my comfort, holy LORD.
Indignation grips me, Savior, for those who forsake Your Word.
All Your statutes, all Your favor, I will sing with joy, O LORD!
In the night Your Name attends me, and I keep Your holy Word;
let Your precepts all befriend me, as I keep them, glorious LORD.
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).
Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
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.
