Amos: God’s Judgment over Rebellious Israel
Exodus 20:3 (NLT)
“You must not have any other god but me” – Exodus 20:3 (NLT)
It is a tragedy that when an individual or a nation experiences great wealth and economic prosperity, they or the leaders who benefit or wield authority forget the True and Living God Who blessed them and begin to worship idols as their god. Even more, the poor and the powerless are neglected and treated with contempt.
Beloved, God loves the poor and commands us to make provision for them and uphold their cause (Leviticus 19:9-10, Psalm 82:3-4). We also must not pervert justice (Leviticus 19:15).
God noted that the people of Samaria, after becoming prosperous, became powerful, greedy, and unjust. Illegal and immoral slavery resulted due to over-taxing and land grabbing. Cruelty and indifference were displayed toward the poor, and many people abandoned faith in God and only pretended to serve Him with superficial religious exercises (Amos 2-4). Know this: God always sends warnings before He executes judgement.
In the Book of Amos, Amos is viewed as a man of integrity who was chosen by God to pronounce judgement upon Israel, the northern Kingdom, for its complacency, idolatry, and oppression of the poor. Prior to his calling, Amos is described as a humble shepherd, herding sheep and tending sycamore-fig trees in the Judean countryside. But God gave him a vision of what was about to happen to the nation of Israel and how they would be judged and experience suffering.
Brethren, the important lessons garnered from Amos indicate that no matter how rich and powerful you are, everyone will have to take account for their sins. Secondly, whenever those who reject God seem to prosper in their wickedness, don’t envy their prosperity or feel sorry for yourself, for the days of the wicked are coming. Remember, we all have to answer to God for how we live. All of us have the responsibility to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).
Be careful of a rebellious spirit!
Read: Leviticus 25:35-36; Isaiah 30:1
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 14:25-35; Acts 8:4-40; 2 Samuel 20; 2 Samuel 21
