Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
Amos lived in the small town of Tekoa, about six miles south of Bethlehem, where he was a shepherd and also cared for sycamore-fig trees (Amos 7:14). But around 755 BC he was sent by God to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel (Amos 7:14-15).
Israel was enjoying a time of prosperity, but had fallen into idolatry and moral corruption. Amos announced that God would send them into exile (Amos 5:27) and, within a few decades, Israel fell to the Assyrians (722 BC). Most of the people were deported and never returned home.
Amos 2:7 Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.
Having a family prostitute was apparently common, and shows how far God’s people had fallen away from him. God’s people were to live by strict sexual guidelines, or the land would vomit them out, as it had the nations before them (Leviticus 18:28). Just a few more years and they’d find out that God keeps his threats.
Likewise, a professing Christian in the city of Corinth was sleeping with his father’s wife, and refused to give her up (1 Corinthians 5:1). Expel the wicked person from among you (1 Corinthians 5:13), wrote Paul. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), he wrote. We’re not saved by being good, but we won’t be saved without it. [W]ithout holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14), says Hebrews.
Amos 2:11-12 I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. . . . But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
Not only had God given the nation his law, but he raised up prophets to proclaim it, and Nazarites to model holiness. But God’s people broke his law, told the prophets to be quiet, and encouraged the Nazirites to break their vow by drinking wine (Numbers 6:3).
Godly people aren’t surprised when the world tries to lead them astray, but they are surprised when fellow believers want them to live like the world. Worldly Christians dislike talk about the Bible, and turn the conversation elsewhere. They’re less concerned about prayer than worldly entertainment. They encourage their godly friends to relax and be less devoted to Christ. In effect, they command the prophets not to prophesy, and the Nazirites to drink a little wine.
Amos 3:2 You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.
Israel felt secure because they were chosen by God, but failed to understand that they were held to a higher standard precisely because they were chosen. Parents don’t usually care if the neighbor’s children break the law, but if their own children break the law, there will be serious consequences.
The people of God were also held to a higher standard because they knew what was expected. The servant who knows the master’s will and does not . . . do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows (Luke 12:47), said Jesus. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded (Luke 12:48), he said. The most blameworthy people aren’t those who know the least about God, but those who know the most, and disobey him anyway. With privilege comes responsibility.
Amos 4:12 [P]repare to meet your God.
Because they refused to serve him in life, many of the Israelites were about to meet God in death. Since this was the most important meeting of their lives, perhaps they’d want to prepare.
A man in his fifties was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He never paid much attention to God previously, but wanted to prepare for meeting him personally. So he repented of his sins and received Christ Jesus as Lord (Colossians 2:6). He was so transformed that the last three days of his life were the happiest he ever knew. The time was filled with singing, laughing and reading the Bible. He was finally prepared to meet his God.
Amos 5:21-23 I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
The Israelites worshipped God with festivals, sacrificial offerings, and loud singing. They were having a wonderful time worshipping God, but God was not having a wonderful time being worshipped. They were giving him lip-service, without giving him life-service.
Not every worship service is equally pleasing to God. Many consider God important enough to worship, but not important enough to serve. But apart from obedient service, our worship is worth little to God, and can even be offensive.
We should prepare ourselves for worship by living for God throughout the week, and by confessing our failures with the assurance of his forgiveness (1 John 1:9). We can also go to bed early the night before so we’ll be alert in the morning. We can also get up early to prepare our hearts for public worship by worshipping God privately.
We can also arrive at church early, to greet others, and then be seated early to focus our hearts and minds. When the music is played we can sing with all our hearts, and when the sermon is preached we can hang on every word. Then, when the service is over, we can go out and apply all that we have learned. This is how we can worship God acceptably with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Reflection and Review
Why is God against sexual immorality?
How can we prepare to die?
How should we prepare for public worship?
Amos lived in the small town of Tekoa, about six miles south of Bethlehem, where he was a shepherd and also cared for sycamore-fig trees (Amos 7:14). But around 755 BC he was sent by God to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel (Amos 7:14-15).
Israel was enjoying a time of prosperity, but had fallen into idolatry and moral corruption. Amos announced that God would send them into exile (Amos 5:27) and, within a few decades, Israel fell to the Assyrians (722 BC). Most of the people were deported and never returned home.
Amos 2:7 Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.
Having a family prostitute was apparently common, and shows how far God’s people had fallen away from him. God’s people were to live by strict sexual guidelines, or the land would vomit them out, as it had the nations before them (Leviticus 18:28). Just a few more years and they’d find out that God keeps his threats.
Likewise, a professing Christian in the city of Corinth was sleeping with his father’s wife, and refused to give her up (1 Corinthians 5:1). Expel the wicked person from among you (1 Corinthians 5:13), wrote Paul. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), he wrote. We’re not saved by being good, but we won’t be saved without it. [W]ithout holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14), says Hebrews.
Amos 2:11-12 I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. . . . But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
Not only had God given the nation his law, but he raised up prophets to proclaim it, and Nazarites to model holiness. But God’s people broke his law, told the prophets to be quiet, and encouraged the Nazirites to break their vow by drinking wine (Numbers 6:3).
Godly people aren’t surprised when the world tries to lead them astray, but they are surprised when fellow believers want them to live like the world. Worldly Christians dislike talk about the Bible, and turn the conversation elsewhere. They’re less concerned about prayer than worldly entertainment. They encourage their godly friends to relax and be less devoted to Christ. In effect, they command the prophets not to prophesy, and the Nazirites to drink a little wine.
Amos 3:2 You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.
Israel felt secure because they were chosen by God, but failed to understand that they were held to a higher standard precisely because they were chosen. Parents don’t usually care if the neighbor’s children break the law, but if their own children break the law, there will be serious consequences.
The people of God were also held to a higher standard because they knew what was expected. The servant who knows the master’s will and does not . . . do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows (Luke 12:47), said Jesus. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded (Luke 12:48), he said. The most blameworthy people aren’t those who know the least about God, but those who know the most, and disobey him anyway. With privilege comes responsibility.
Amos 4:12 [P]repare to meet your God.
Because they refused to serve him in life, many of the Israelites were about to meet God in death. Since this was the most important meeting of their lives, perhaps they’d want to prepare.
A man in his fifties was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He never paid much attention to God previously, but wanted to prepare for meeting him personally. So he repented of his sins and received Christ Jesus as Lord (Colossians 2:6). He was so transformed that the last three days of his life were the happiest he ever knew. The time was filled with singing, laughing and reading the Bible. He was finally prepared to meet his God.
Amos 5:21-23 I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
The Israelites worshipped God with festivals, sacrificial offerings, and loud singing. They were having a wonderful time worshipping God, but God was not having a wonderful time being worshipped. They were giving him lip-service, without giving him life-service.
Not every worship service is equally pleasing to God. Many consider God important enough to worship, but not important enough to serve. But apart from obedient service, our worship is worth little to God, and can even be offensive.
We should prepare ourselves for worship by living for God throughout the week, and by confessing our failures with the assurance of his forgiveness (1 John 1:9). We can also go to bed early the night before so we’ll be alert in the morning. We can also get up early to prepare our hearts for public worship by worshipping God privately.
We can also arrive at church early, to greet others, and then be seated early to focus our hearts and minds. When the music is played we can sing with all our hearts, and when the sermon is preached we can hang on every word. Then, when the service is over, we can go out and apply all that we have learned. This is how we can worship God acceptably with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Reflection and Review
Why is God against sexual immorality?
How can we prepare to die?
How should we prepare for public worship?