Prepare to Meet Your God

 

Amos Chapters 3-6

Introduction

In the first large section of Amos (chapters 1-2), the prophet rebuked the sins of the eight nations and pointed out their impending punishment. These eight nations included the pagan countries and God’s chosen people—Judah and Israel. The second section (chapters 3-6) has three prophetic messages directed against Israel.

First Message (Chapter Three)

Amos 3:1-2: “Hear this word the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt: ‘You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your sins.’

The first message from the LORD warned Israel that its status as God’s elect would not excuse them from God’s judgment. Instead, they would be held to a higher standard than the surrounding nations.

Amos declared it in the outset, his message was from God. The words of reproach and judgment came not from the mouth of Amos himself, but the words of God.

The LORD God, was the one who had rescued them, chosen them out of all the families of the earth, and granted them abundant grace. God chose Israel to be the people through whom all other nations of the world could know him.

Amos wanted the Israelites to know their identity well and be aware of the One speaking to them. And they had a responsibility to keep their covenant with God. They had to walk with God to the very end (Amos 3:3).

We often lose our direction in life and become fearful when facing uncertainties and risk. We react this way because we forget our own identity and what kind of relationship we have with God.

We were rescued by God from darkness and the bondage of sin, and adopted to be His children. Truly we must acknowledge such an identity, and keep trusting God in any circumstance. God’s grace is sufficient for us to sail through bad times, and for others to know God through us.

In verses 4-8, the prophet continued to emphasize that his words did come from God. The prophet spoke because the Lord wanted him to speak. What he said would, in fact, happen to Israel. God was and is the lion who roars, and he has found his victim—the people of Israel who were ready for judgment because they have sinned.

Amos then summoned Philistia and Egypt to witness Israel’s great sins. Israel was rotten from within, rife with class struggle. Even Israel’s most wicked and idolatrous neighbors would see God judged Israel. The enemy would take advantage of Israel’s internal weakness to destroy her.

The enemy mentioned here was Assyria, which conquered Israel in 722BC, and did just as Amos predicted. The people were scattered to foreign lands, and foreigners were placed in the land to keep the peace. Israel’s leaders had robbed their defenseless countrymen, and here they would be rendered defenseless by the Assyrians.

All the revealed words of God are written in the Bible today. And God also calls a group of preachers to be trained to expound His Word. Therefore, we should listen to all these preachers when they preach according to the biblical truth and rebuke sins and correct our trespasses.

Preachers are not to accommodate to the needs of their congregation and they are not there to please men. They are there to tell us the truth of God found in the Bible. We can refuse to listen to them if their preaching is unbiblical or if they have twisted the Bible. And, we can correct them with the Bible.

However, we should accept their preaching as God’s word when they preach in accordance with the Bible because it is the Word of God! We should listen, accept, and obey with humility and faith.

Second Message (Chapter Four)

The second message is an indictment of Israel’s party crowd.

Firstly, 4:1-3: “Hear this word, you cow of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, ‘Bring us some drinks!’

Amos called Samaria’s wives, “you cows of Bashan”. Bashan was famous for its fierce, fat bulls (Psalm 22:12; Ezekiel 39:18).

Amos used the feminine form (cows) to paint a picture of Israel’s upper-class wives, who pushed their husbands to oppress the helpless in order to support their lavish lifestyles. Brothers and sisters, be careful not to desire material possessions so much that you are willing to oppress others and displease God just to get them.

The time came when they were be led away with hooks in their noses, during their captivity by Assyria. The wall of Samaria that these women trusted for security could not protect them. Ironically, the once honorable women ended up in grave humiliation.

Dear friends, God dislikes us bullying others with our wealth and power. Superiors should not oppress or deprive their subordinates of any welfare they are entitled to.

If you have maids at homes, give them enough rest and not treat them harshly. The rich should be merciful to the under-privileged.

Secondly, 4:4-5,” Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings—boast about them, you Israelites for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign LORD.    “

Amos rebuked the religious hypocrisy of the Israelites. Both Bethel and Gilgal were places where the Israelites worshipped God, but the prophet said they went there to sin. Though they went to the place of worship, they did what pleased themselves, not God.

They offered sacrifices each morning, and offered tithes every three days. They offered bread made with yeast and gave extra voluntary offerings. They acted religiously so that they could brag about it everywhere!

The Israelites’ intention of offerings and sacrifices was not to please God but to  seek men’s praises instead. The prophet’s sarcasm showed how far Israel had strayed from God’s ways. Israel had plenty of religion but no reverence for God.

Today, do we worship and give offering in the church to please ourselves, others, or God? If our intention is to receive praises from others, and to be self-comforted, then we are no different than the Israelites. Genuine worship is solely to please God!

Thirdly, in 4:6-13, the prophet rebuked the Israelites for being stubborn. Amos spoke of God sending disasters to warn Israel: famine, drought, locusts, plagues or war— yet they still ignored him. Amos concluded after every disaster with the same words, “yet you have not returned to me”.

If Israel had repented after the first disaster, they would be spared from the second disaster. Even after the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth disaster, they still refused to come to their senses and turn to Him.

The prophet declared, “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” (4:12)

God is speaking to us through things happening in our midst. One day each of us will meet God face to face to give account for what we have done or refused to do. Are you prepared to meet him?

Third Message (Chapter Five to Six)

The third message (5-6 chapters) said that those who seek God shall live, and those who forsake Him shall perish.

5:1-2 is a funeral song for the predicted death of the nation. The ominous significance was clear: Israel had already died and was awaiting burial. Israel had fallen and never to rise again. She was deserted with no other to lift her up.

Verse 3 says, Israel’s city that marched out a thousand strong would have only a hundred left. Their town that marched out a hundred strong would have only ten left. 

The LORD accused Israel:

v.7: “You who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground.”

v.10: “You hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth.”

v.12: “For I know the vast number of your sins and the depth of your rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.”

The courts should have been places of justice where the poor and oppressed could find relief. Instead, they had become places of greed and injustice. A society is in trouble when those who try to do right are hated for their commitment to justice. Any society that exploits the poor and defenseless or hates the truth is bent on destroying itself.

However, Israelites had an opportunity to avoid the destruction. vv.4-6 say, “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba…. Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire; it will devour, and Bethel will have on one to quench it.”

“Seek me and live” implies a condition: in order to live, Israel should seek the LORD. Otherwise, the funeral song would become Israel’s death sentence. God always opens His hands to receive the prodigal son. Even if the lamentation is sung, grace and mercy, forgiveness and restoration of God will still come upon those who return to God.

In times of difficulty, seek God; In personal discomfort and struggle, seek God. When others are struggling, encourage them to seek God, too.

In 5:18, Amos issued the first “woe to you”, to people who proclaimed that the day of the LORD was a time when God would reestablish Israel as a leading nation. Amos pointed instead, that day would be darkness, not light.

For Israel’s apostasy would make the “day of the LORD’ a day of judgment, not salvation. People would suffer as when a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear; as when he entered his hour and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him!

In 6:1, Amos issued the second “woe to you”, to people who were complacent in Zion, and who felt secure on Mount Samaria.

Amos leveled his attack at those living in complacency and luxury in both Israel and Judah. Great wealth and comfortable lifestyles may make people think they are secure, but God is not pleased if we isolate ourselves from others’ needs.

God wants us to care for others as he cares for us. His Kingdom has no place for selfishness or indifference. We must learn to put the needs of others before our wants. Using our wealth to help others is one way to guard against pride and complacency.

Amos declared that Israel will be among the first to go into exile; their feasting and lounging will end. The LORD abhors the pride of Israel (6:8). He will stir up a nation against Israel (6:14). The invading enemy will smash the great house into pieces and the small house into bits (6:11).

There is a subtle description of God favoring righteousness and justice than religiosities.

5: 21-23: “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offering, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.”

God hates worship by people who go through the motions only for show. If we are living sinful lives and using religious rituals and traditions to make ourselves look good, God will despise our worship and not accept what we offer. He wants sincere hearts, not praise from hypocrites.

When you worship at church, are you more concerned about your image or your attitude toward God?

Right worship comes from sincere hearts and also yields holy living which uphold continual, not just seasonal, justice. 5:24, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness life a never-failing stream!”

5:25-27 say, “Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god—which you made for yourselves. There I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is God almighty. “

In days past, Israel had turned to worshiping stars and planets, preferring nature over God, the creator. Pagan religion allowed them to indulge in sexual immorality and to become wealthy through any means possible. Because of this, they would cause their own destruction.

Israel’s captivity was indeed to a land east of Damascus—the people were taken to Assyria. God ‘s punishment was more than defeat; it was complete exile from their homeland. 

Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, we have a unique identity. We are all God’s covenanted people, and God has given us freely His saving grace. He has called us His children among the nations to shine for him and make the world right with him. So, let us take heart to hear the Word of God.

Do not oppress those who are weaker than us, and do not live with a superficial faith. Do not be stubborn and refuse to turn over to a new page. The punishment of God is severe, and we must be prepared to meet our God.

God has left warning signs for us to prepare to meet God. Are you ready to meet God right now? If not, isn’t it time to start preparing to meet him? God always waits for us to return to Him. Those who seek the Lord shall live, but those who forsake Him shall perish!