Creator, Father, King #152

I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again.

IMAGINE THIS: ONE DAY you’re overseeing livestock and tending sycamore-fig trees in a small, hillside town. The days are peaceful and quiet—well, as quiet as possible with the bleating of all those sheep—and your life keeps rolling along as usual.

Suddenly, God calls you to boldly proclaim a shocking message of future judgment to your countrymen who have rebelled against the Lord. Just like that, you have officially become a prophet of God.

Welcome to Amos’s world!

Amos lived in the eighth century BC, during a brief period of prosperity for Israel and Judah. Israel viewed its wealth and blessings as a sign of divine favor. But this wasn’t the case.

Israel’s surface-level religion and adherence to Temple worship ceremonies (Amos 4:4-5) betrayed a moral corruption nationwide within the people’s hearts. Israel had ignored the prophets (2:12), mistreated the poor (2:6-7), flaunted injustice (5:10-12), committed sexual immorality (2:7), and practiced forms of syncretism (combining different religions) and outright idolatry (8:14).

“Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people,” Amos told the people (5:15). With many other words, he implored them to turn back to God.

But Israel paid no attention. Within a few decades, the Assyrian Empire destroyed Samaria, Israel’s capital city, and conquered the northern kingdom (in 722 BC).

What’s It Mean?

The book of Amos is a sad reminder of the effects of sin. Willful rebellion against God brings judgment.

But even so, the book ends on a note of glorious hope. In the last five verses, Amos describes God’s beautiful promise to “restore the fallen house of David” (9:11) and “firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them” (9:15). (Also see today’s verse.) There are unspoken hints here of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. All people, including Israel, must trust in him to receive God’s salvation.

Now think about your life. Are you prospering? Don’t be lulled to sleep by worldly blessings. They are not automatic signs of spiritual favor with the Lord. God requires repentance and faith in his Son, the perfect Sin-Bearer.

Eschew superficial religion. And above all, follow the Messiah!

Now What?

Read the book of Amos. It’s an often-forgotten treasure!

Did You Know?

Amos was a contemporary of prophets such as Jonah and Hosea, and quite possibly Isaiah and Micah also.