And it’s a blessing! Amos 9.11, 12
Amos 9 (5)
Pray Psalm 132.8-10.
Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.
Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your saints shout for joy.
For Your servant David’s sake,
Do not turn away the face of Your Anointed.
Sing Psalm 132.8-10.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Arise, O LORD, come to Your resting place;
Your holy Presence meet with us in might.
Clothe us with righteousness in Jesus’ grace,
and we will shout to Your divine delight!
For David’s sake, turn not away Your face,
but look upon us in Your holy light.
Read and meditate on Amos 9.1-12; meditate on verses 11 and 12.
Preparation
1. What did God promise?
2. What would be the result of that?
Meditation
These verses are fraught with significance, and it all hangs on that one word, “tabernacle”. What did God intend His people to hear?
The tabernacle—dwelling place—refers to the original tabernacle built in the days of Moses, for the replacement of which David prepared at the end of his life. The temple—which Solomon would build—became the new tabernacle of the Lord. That “tabernacle” would be destroyed in time and rebuilt only to be destroyed again.
Jesus made Himself the temple/tabernacle of the Lord which, being destroyed on the cross, He would raise to glory and power in three days (cf. Jn. 2.18-22).
The tabernacle/temple also refers to the people of God in Israel and Judah who remained faithful to Him, even through times of judgment and captivity. God would not forsake His promise to Israel. Indeed, He would fulfill it in a way even greater than ever supposed by their “possessing” Edom and other Gentiles “who are called by My name” (v. 12). When God raises the tabernacle of David, His of-old promise of Israel blessing the nations of the world (Gen. 12.1-3) would finally begin to be fulfilled.
So the promise of restoring the tabernacle of David points forward in three ways: first, the restoration following the captivity in Babylon, to which faithful Israelites would be subjected along with the people of the southern kingdom; second to the coming of Christ as God’s dwelling place and eternal King; and third to the fulfilling of God’s promises to His people and the nations by the proclamation of the Gospel.
And it will be all of grace, all the LORD’s thing. He does it, but He gives us a place in this glorious work.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The training gurus for the Department of Motor Vehicles would be disappointed with their employees in Vermont. These folks, instead of sending us home, to come back another day, to wait in line two hours, actually helped us, and offered remediating paperwork to expedite today’s business. As you can clearly see, they are losing their cutting edge. Kindness at the DMV is unacceptable.
But the other reason to bring up the DMV is this: it is a microcosm of society at large, and people from far away countries made up most of the population inside that small building. They were here, waiting to be grafted into this country as participants and drivers.
We who were not a people (1 Pet. 2.9), were waiting to become God’s people, grafted into the Kingdom; and God in His mercy made a way for that to happen—for “if they do not continue in unbelief, [they] will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in…” (Rom. 11.23).
What was promised?
I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down.
I will repair its damages.
I will raise up is ruins.
I will rebuild it to its former glory. (Amos 9.11).
Why was it promised?
So that they may possess the remnant of My glory.
And that all the believing Gentiles [called by My Name folks]
will be part and parcel of My Kingdom.
Those that don’t belong—will (Amos 9.11, 12).
Who said this?
The LORD God Who does this amazing thing (Amos 9.12).
To Whom was it said?
To all those for whom Jesus died and rose again (Jn. 3.16).
To all those who love and obey Him (Jn. 14.15).
To those who long for His return (1 Thess. 1.10).
This thing is His work, His plan, for His glory.
And “He gives us a place in His glorious work.”
Kingdom work for those of us who once didn’t even belong, and now do.
With joy and thanksgiving, we can say with Paul:
“There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4.8).
So let us be active participants and drivers, throughout our Personal Mission Field, with great joy because we have been grafted into His plans for now and eternity (Eph. 2.8-10).
Reflection
1. What does it mean to you to reflect on the fact that you are now one of the people of God?
2. How would you explain what that means and what it entails to a non-Christian friend?
3. Whom will you encourage today in their life as one of the people of God?
This is a remarkable prediction, and deserves to be carefully weighed by us. It is certain that the Prophet here refers to the advent of Christ… John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Amos 9.11, 12
Pray Psalm 132.11-18.
Thank the Lord that He has set Jesus on the eternal throne of David as King of kings and Lord of lords. Rejoice in His salvation and faithfulness, and commit yourself to seeking His Kingdom and righteousness in all you do today.
Sing Psalm 132.11-18.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Remember, LORD, the oath You swore to David;
do not turn back, do not deny Your Word:
“One of your sons, with your throne I will favor,
if he shall keep My cov’nant evermore,
and walk within My testimonies ever,
Thus he shall ever rule by Israel’s LORD.”
God dwells among us, and He will forever,
to meet our needs and clothe us with His grace.
He has to us sent Jesus Christ, our Savior—
Beloved, eternal light and resting place.
His foes are banished from His Presence ever,
but we shall reign with Him before His face.
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.
