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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Amos declared, “The Lord God of hosts, he who touches the earth and it melts…who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth—the Lord is his name” (Amos 9:5–6). I praise you today as the great and awesome God of the universe. When you speak, you mean what you say, and you are not to be trifled with. I worship you and humble myself in your mighty presence. All glory and honor to the Lord God Almighty! Today in Your Word Today you told me the conclusion of Amos’ prophecy to northern kingdom of Israel. Amos recorded five visions which pictured the results of your coming judgment. The first two were especially devastating, and Amos persuaded you to turn aside from these methods of judgment. This teaches me that your judgments are perfect. They are carefully selected from a myriad of possibilities to achieve exactly what you desire. In the third vision of the plumb line, you said that Israel would be destroyed by the sword, and this judgment stood firm. In the middle of his visions, Amos got Israel’s first response to your word. Sadly, it was not repentance. Instead, Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, complained to Jeroboam II about Amos, and the king banished him from Israel: “Go [back] to Judah and prophesy there!” How tragic that your own people refused to listen to your words! Amos warned Israel that one day you would send a famine on the land: “Not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11 NIV). This teaches me how important it is to welcome your words, even if your message has the sting of rebuke. It blesses me to notice that you seldom speak of judgment without affirming the future restoration of your people. You promised that you would “raise up the fallen booth of David,” and that the nations would one day be called by your name (Amos 9:11–12). James later quoted Amos as evidence that the Gentiles would also be a part of the people of God (Acts 15:13–21). That’s me! Hallelujah! Reflection Amos told Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel’” (Amos 7:14–15). Would I be willing to leave my job and go to another country if you told me ‘Go…’? Request Father, help me to fall in love with your word! Help me to treasure it in my heart that I might not sin against you (Ps 119:11). Thanksgiving Thank you for being a God of renewal and restoration (Amos 9:13–15). I rejoice to think that one day all creation will be made new, and I will live forever in the light of your glorious throne! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Soon the Summer Will Be Ended” — Lorenzo Cook (Amos 8:1–3). Meditation Verse: Amos 8:4. |