Father, as I sit here in my new home in San Antonio, I have so much to thank you for. The memories of receiving a visa through Your provision, of being able to see family and friends, of enjoying the peace and beauty of Crete... You have blessed me so much! Please don't let me value these things more than my salvation. Allow my mind to be focused on You. On Your Kingdom. As I read Amos I pray that you would give me a greater eternal perspective! Speak to me now through Your word Father. Convict me of my sin Holy Spirit. In Your name Jesus, AMEN!
The word oracle means 'an utterance (often ambiguous or obscure) given by a priest/priestess at a shrine as the response of a god to an inquiry.
Here, in chapter 4, Amos is uttering a response to God. There doesn't seem to be an inquiry made by Israel. Either Amos has enquired of the LORD on Israel's behalf or, because of the lack of Israel's inquiry, perhaps it is why this oracle is known as the Oracle of DOOM!
We know that because of Israel's prosperity, their failure to seek for the LORD has been amplified. God has let this continue to bring them closer to Himself, eventually! As I sit here writing this, I know that I am experiencing a period of blessing, unlike anything I have or ever will experience again. I'm sat in my hosts guest house not really sure how to react to it all. Israel reacted badly. They ignored God. They disowned Him for His blessings. Father, please don't let me get distracted or side tracked by the earthly things I am being blessed with right now. Let me turn to Your written Word constantly. Imprint it on my heart. Let me seek you constantly.
Chapter 3 ends with 'the oracle of warning'. Things sound like they are about to get a lot more serious.
This oracle is split up into two parts. Amos spends the first part (4:1-5) expanding on verses 3:14-15 - these talk about the sins of self-indulgence which have been built upon oppression (4:1-3) and false religion (4:4-5).
Amos starts by calling the Israelites 'cows of Bashan'. Bashan was known for its rich pastureland and cattle that grazed there were known for being plump and healthy. Amos doesn't just call out the husbands, but their wives as well. Even they 'crush the needy' and 'oppress the poor'.
He prophesies that the women, when the city falls, will be dragged through the 'breaches' (broken down walls) like a fisherman pulling a fish out of the water with his 'fishhooks'. We don't know if this happened but there are some Assyrian illustrations that seem to show captives being taken away with roped attached to rings in the captives noses.
Amos is very sarcastic. Instead of talking of the Israelites times of repentance for their sins, he describes their pilgrimages that result in sin. The time that Israel spent offering sacrifices and tithes were disgusting to God. A lot of the prophets, such as Hosea, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Micah spent a lot of time dismissing sacrificial worship because the obedience from their heart wasn't there. Hosea 6:6 helps to understand this. Externally, sacrifice can look great but if it not combined with genuine repentance and godly living, it is worse than empty!
In verse 5, Amos describes the freewill and thanksgiving offerings that the Israelites were giving to the LORD but they meant nothing to Him because they were not being celebrated in the right place. Levitical priests were not over the offerings and they weren't accompanied by the moral obedience from their hearts.
How am I responding to God's blessing?
How do I try to make myself look more holy in front of others?
Who do I share those struggles with?
Father, I pray that you would help me to make you my focus. Through college and work with the Church, let my praise come with a right heart. Search my heart and show me my sins. Show my my faults and failures. Let my repentance be sincere.
For Your name Lord Jesus, not mine!
Amen
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