He hasn’t left us guessing. Amos review.
Amos Review (5)
Pray Psalm 71.1-3.
In You, O LORD, I put my trust;
Let me never be put to shame.
Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape;
Incline Your ear to me, and save me.
Be my strong refuge,
To which I may resort continually;
You have given the commandment to save me,
For You are my rock and my fortress.
Sing Psalm 71.1-3.
(Solid Rock: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less)
In You, O LORD, I refuge claim; O let me never be ashamed.
In righteousness deliver me; incline Your ear and hear my plea.
Refrain v. 3
A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
my Rock and Fortress ever be!
Review Amos 7 and 8; meditate on Amos 7.14-16.
Preparation
1. How did God reveal Himself to Israel?
2. What was Amos’ role in God’s revelation?
Meditation
It is a measure of the extraordinary grace of God that He deigns to reveal Himself and His will to people. In Amos 7 and 8 we are reminded of the ways God reveals Himself: In His Word and in creation.
When God wanted to impress the prophet with the greatness of His might and wrath, He used images from creation, which also includes culture—plague, fire, a plumb line, summer fruit. Each of these revealed a different facet or aspect of God’s wrath, and they were so clear and compelling that they led the prophet to beg God to relent. Creation is a reliable source of divine revelation.
Along with these visions from creation, God spoke words to Amos. His Word clarifies and explains His revelation in creation and guides us in understanding all His revelation and all His work. The Word of God is thus foundational to knowing Him and His will. Creation adds demonstration, clarification, and even enlargement of what God teaches in His Word. We need to open our souls to each of these ways of God’s revealing Himself if we are to know Him as fully as we might.
One other means of divine revelation remains, that which combines both His Word and His creation into one powerful form of revelation. We are speaking of Jesus, the Word become flesh. Like Amos—who is a type of Christ—Jesus came in lowly form, embraced the calling of a shepherd, and worked to increase the Lord’s flock and fruit by proclaiming His Kingdom to the world. God gave two forms of revelation to Amos. He embodied those two forms perfectly in our Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 1.3).
Jesus is the focusing Light of divine revelation. The better we know and the more we see Him, the more clearly and convincingly all aspects of God’s revelation will shape our soul and empower our work.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“For I know that my Redeemer lives…” (Job 19.25)
“Thus, what is it to know this Jesus? Is
it not what every soul desires? Are His
forgiveness, life, and coming glory not
what every sentient being seeks, or ought
to seek? No other object satisfies
our longings. No one else identifies
and meets our every need, by giving us
himself. And when we look to Him, and trust
His Word, then in and by and through Him we
our Father, God, and sole Creator see.
And through this Jesus we are drawn to rest
within the Father’s holy bosom, blessed
and safe and loved unfailingly.
So do
you know this Jesus? Do you thus pursue
Him? Die each day to live for Him? For His
advancing Kingdom draw each breath? And is
the measure of your greatness, of your most
high aspirations, that you long to boast
of Him, and fill life with the fragrance of
His holy, pure, and sanctifying love?
If so, then yes, you know this Jesus. And
in knowing Him, you shall forever stand.”
“Lord Jesus, Maker of creation, Word
and Son of God, Redeemer, Savior, Lord
and King, we worship You, because we know
You, and we know that You have loved us so
that we might never have to live in fear;
and when our sojourn has concluded here,
Your resurrection power, which now transforms
us into Your own image, and conforms
us to Your pleasure, will deliver, keep,
and bless us. Catch us up, Lord, in the sweep
of Your forever-marching-forward grace,
and bring us to Your glorious, waiting face,
where we, with You, and like You, will abide
forever, in Your Presence, by Your side.
Amen.”
(Excerpts from To Know Him, by T.M. Moore, 2017)
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jn. 17.3).
Reflection
1. How would you explain to an unsaved friend how Jesus reveals God to us?
2. If your friend should ask, “What does that matter?”, what would you say?
3. Why is it so important that every believer continues growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3.18)?
But those who have a warrant from God, like Amos, ought not to fear the face of man. If God, that sent him, had not strengthened him, he could not thus have set his face as a flint. The Lord often chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to confound the wise and mighty. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 7.14-16
Pray Psalm 71.17-24.
Pray that the Lord will continue to teach more of His glorious revelation—in His Word and in creation—and that you will be faithful in living, declaring, and sharing His revelation throughout your Personal Mission Field..
Sing Psalm 71.17-24.
(Solid Rock: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less)
O LORD, I praise Your righteousness Who me from youth have taught and blessed.
Forsake me not when I am old, ‘til I Your mercies all have told!
Refrain v. 3
A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
my Rock and Fortress ever be!
Your righteous deeds are great and true. O God, there is no one like You!
Though many troubles I have seen, You will revive my soul again!
Refrain
Increase my greatness, comfort me, and unto You shall praises be.
Your truth I will exalt full well, O Holy One of Israel!
Refrain
My lips with joy and praises ring; to You, Redeemer, praise I bring!
I praise Your goodness all day long; LORD, humble all who do me wrong.
Refrain
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.
