The major message of the Minor Prophet Amos is that God has spoken, are you listening. Amos puts it another way, "The LORD roars from Zion" (1:2). In Amos 1-2 we saw the importance of actively hearing God’s word. The words of God give life to our souls and they need to be heard and applied to our lives. When we surrender to God and allow Him to apply His word to our lives the result is justice and righteousness. If we do not apply God’s words to our lives then we will degenerate into the types of depraved behaviors described in the first two chapters concerning Israel, Judah and their enemies. God roars from heaven about the injustice and unrighteousness He sees whether it is in Israel, Judah or any surrounding nation. God is impartial in His denouncement of sin and injustice.

In Amos 3-5 we will now see in greater detail the reasons for God’s roar against the injustice He sees primarily amongst His people.

Amos 3:1-2 – "Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying: 2 "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; 1 Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."

One of the saddest things about God’s people Israel is that they were given an incredible opportunity and privilege to be used by God and they threw it away. The statement, "You only have I known of all the families of the earth," is an incredible statement and crucial to understanding the indictment of God against these people. God chose Israel (not just the northern kingdom here but Israel as a whole, the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel) with a purpose in view. But why Israel? Why did God choose Israel "of all the families of the earth"? And what purpose did God have in mind and heart for Israel to accomplish?

Moses in the book of Deuteronomy explains God’s design and why He chose Israel as the instrument for His Divine plans. The scripture states:

• Deuteronomy 7:6 –10 – "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.7 "The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;8 "but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.9 "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;10 "and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face." (Emphasis added.)
• Deuteronomy 10:15 - "The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day."
• Deuteronomy 26:18 - "Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments,"

Moses was inspired to say, "for you were the least of all people" (Deuteronomy 7:7). God didn’t choose this people because they were great but for just the opposite reason, they were "the least," they were weak. Why would God do this? Why would God particularly choose a people who were the "least"? Because lost people need God to save them. For God to save the lost they must turn to Him. If God chose to reveal Himself to the world through a mighty nation, the lost might turn to that mighty nation for salvation. Or worse, that mighty nation might become proud and exalt itself. You see, when God delivered these weak people out from under the oppression of the most powerful empire of that day, Egypt, then it was clear to all that it was the God of the Israelites who had done the work and not Israel themselves. Because of Israel small stature the glory went to God not Israel.

The Bible tells us that He will not share His glory with anyone or anything else. This is not because God is selfish and proud, it is because God is the only One who can adequately meet the needs of people and therefore people need to direct their focus to Him. God alone is to be glorified because God alone is worthy of glory and our full attention. It is wrong for anyone to draw attention away from God to themselves. To do this is to exhibit the utmost in pride (the ultimate reason that Satan was cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-15). But worse, it is to distract those in need away from the only One who can adequately help them. This is why the Bible says:

• Isaiah 42:8 – "I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images."
• Isaiah 48:11-13 – "For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another.12 "Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last.13 Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together."
• Ezekiel 39:21-29 - "I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them.22 "So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward.23 "The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword.24 "According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them." ’25 "Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name—26 ‘after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one made them afraid.27 ‘When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations,28 ‘then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left none of them captive any longer.29 ‘And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord God."

In the New Testament the apostle Paul addressed the same idea when he wrote to the Corinthians:

• 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
• 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 – "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

• 1 Corinthians 3:5-11 – "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

God chose Israel as an instrument through which His presence and activity would be clearly seen. Because of the relative weakness of Israel, the mighty works done in and through her would be unmistakably attributed to God and not to that nation itself. But this leads us to a further analysis of the purpose God planned to accomplish through Israel.

What ultimate purpose did God call Israel to fulfill? This people were chosen by God to be a priesthood of people who would serve to be God’s messengers to the lost as well as those who were called to go to God on behalf of the lost. That God chose Israel for this purpose is seen in the following verses, which were pronounced by God to Moses to be relayed to the people at the time the people were about to be given the Ten Covenant Commandments:

• Exodus 19:5-6 – "‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.6 ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

Think of it, to be singled out by God as the ones He would use to communicate His will and way to a lost world. That was an incredible privilege.

If you look at the book of Exodus the term "know" is found 36 times in 35 verses of Exodus. God wanted His people to know Him as well as the Egyptians and the best way to do that was to reveal Himself in what was clearly a miraculous way. Read some of the purpose statements of God from Exodus:

• Exodus 6:7 – "’I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."
• Exodus 7:5 - "And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them."

God desires all people to come to know Him and be saved from their sin (2 Peter 3:9-10). Israel was the tool, the special tool He wanted to use and indeed did use, even if they did not cooperate with His plan. Israel was to be the messenger of light to the unsaved Gentile nations. Isaiah tried to remind Israel of this when he was inspired to write:

• Isaiah 43:1-13 – "But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, 1 And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth—7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears.9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, "It is truth."10 "You are My witnesses," says the Lord, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.11 I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses," Says the Lord, "that I am God.13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?"
• Isaiah 44:8 – "Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’ "

Finally, if you look back at Deuteronomy 7 you see what God wanted to communicate, what He wanted the world to know about Himself. I Deuteronomy it stated:

• Deuteronomy 7:6-10 - "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.7 "The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;8 "but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.9 "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;10 "and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face." (Emphasis added.)

These verses reveal to us that God’s purpose for Israel was that they would be the objects of His love and as God showed His love to Israel, the world would see it and come to know God’s love as well. And that love from God to Israel was genuine, it wasn’t just a show. For God’s love to be revealed as it truly is, it would have to be real, and it was, and it is. God did not fake His love to Israel just to show it off before the world, that would not have been love, that would have been Divine hypocrisy. Furthermore, through Israel God would reveal His faithfulness, even when His wayward child Israel strayed from His covenant, God would demonstrate to the world His faithfulness to His word even when people sin against Him. Through Israel God would reveal His might and redemptive plan. All of this God planned to reveal through Israel but they would not cooperate.

The people of Israel were given a special privilege, but with special privilege comes responsibility. This is a spiritual principle that applies to all peoples. You see, Israel had been entrusted with one of the most precious instruments of God used in revealing Himself to mankind, His word. When Paul wrote to the Romans about salvation he states that there was a great advantage in being a Jew of the Old Testament. Paul stated:

• Romans 3:1-2 – "What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God."

Imagine, being entrusted with the word of God to share with the lost. They were chosen for this special privilege. What an awesome blessing! But what happened? Rather than humbly carrying out the blessed task to which God had called them, Israel began to become proud about their position and calling. They began to hoard God’s word because they saw it as the thing which put them in a position of authority and superiority over pagan people. They misused and abused God’s word and ultimately grew to neglect it as well. Read what Paul wrote in the book of Romans:

• Romans 2:17-29 – "Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?22 You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?24 For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written. 25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

You see God had spoken, He had roared in and through His word, but Israel had not listened. And because of their disobedience "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles." You see when you are given such a privilege to be God’s messenger, you have a great responsibility because you can either be used to bring blessing and praise to God, or if you rebel in sin, you can become the reason why people curse God. This pertained to Israel and it pertains to us as well. Read what Jesus said in a parable about applying what you know:

• Luke 12:41-48 – "Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?"42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?43 "Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.44 "Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.45 "But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk,46 "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.47 "And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.48 "But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."

Let’s bring this home to our day, to us. The Bible is available in greater quantity and in more diverse ways than at any other point in history. The word is written, it is on the big screen and on video, its on computer programs and available for free over the Internet. Most Christians in our country have not only one, not two but more than a few Bibles in their homes. It would not be uncommon for a Christian home to have between five and ten Bibles in it. And yet, God has spoken, are we listening? Are we any better than Israel? And if we are just as bad, if not worse, (given that to whom much is given, much is required and we certainly have more of God’s word available to us than ever before) should we not expect a judgment comparable if not even more severe? To the Israelites and to us and to all those who have been given the privilege of being His witnesses, God roars, "Be responsible!" Jesus put it this way:

• Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.22 "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’23 "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’"

We have His word, but have we heard its contents? We have His word, but do we know Him? God has roared, have we listened?

In the next section we will see the attitudes and characteristics of those who do not receive God’s word responsibly. These are the ones who do not actively hear God’s word. It’s important for us to take notice of this material so that we do not fall into the fellowship of the self-deceived. Remember, God has spoken, are you listening?

Amos 3:3-6 – "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?5 Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?"

The LORD says, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" This is an important question and God asks it because obviously His people were not in agreement with Him. They did not agree with His word otherwise they would not have rebelled against it and turn to other gods. This brings up an important point expressed in the thought provoking question, "When we come to God, on whose terms do we come?" God is stating that Israel has attempted to come to Him on their terms rather than on His terms. The LORD finds this reprehensible. Amos says, "will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing/" In other words, God is not roaring at the injustices of His people for nothing. Amos continues, "Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it?" In other words, god’s people are not going to experience hardship and judgment for no cause. God’s judgment is not capricious, but it is brought on by consistent and persistent rebellion and transgression. "Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?" You might say, "Will a mousetrap snap without a mouse having sprung the trap?" And finally, "If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?" This is another way of saying that God has trumpeted His warning through words and circumstances, shouldn’t the people take note of it?

But the people were not taking note of God’s actions and words. They were dismissing God’s words and actions and reinterpreting them so as to not have their comforting lives of sin disrupted. There is a peculiar thing that people do with God. Many times when people come to God they try to come to Him on their own terms. People very often approach God not in total humility realizing their utter sinfulness and the judgment that is due them, but they come to God in an argumentative fashion. This argument takes the form of, "LORD, I’ll come to you if . . ." You know how it goes, "LORD I’ll come to you if I don’t have to give up my unsaved boyfriend." Or, "I’ll come to you LORD if I can still sleep with my boyfriend . . . girlfriend." "LORD, I really love you, and I want to give my life to you, but I’ll only come if it doesn’t cost me anything." Or, finally, "LORD, I’ll come to you only if I don’t have to change." These are only a few examples that come to mind. When people try to come to God with these and other conditional mindsets it reveals all too clearly that they haven’t the foggiest concept of what repentance and salvation are all about. When a person offers to come to God on their terms they put conditions on their coming. What Israel and people of all times tend to do is to say, "God FOLLOW ME!" This is totally unacceptable to God. It’s unacceptable because such a thought arises from a hellish notion that the person knows better than God and in reality it flows from the notion that I am god. If you are going to come to God, you come on His terms and His terms only. So I ask you, "Do you agree with God? Are you ready to come to Him on His terms?" Or are you going to persist in wandering around this life stuck in the mud or felling around blindly in the fog and darkness of sin? Which will it be? "Two cannot walk together unless they agree."

Amos 3:7-8 – "Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?"

What are the terms for us to come to God? Clearly these two verses tell us that God’s terms are according to his revealed word. The terms on which all people must approach God are given in His word. In support of this the Bible itself states:

• Deuteronomy 29:29 - "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
• Psalm 19:7-11 – "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward."
• Isaiah 8:20 – "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
• Matthew 11:27-30 - "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
• Luke 16:31 - "But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ "
• John 14:6; 20:30-31 – "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. . . . 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
• 2 Peter 1:19-21 – "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

God’s terms of salvation and coming to Him are clearly set forth in his word as the above verses bear witness to. But what actually are the terms of coming to God? God’s terms of salvation and eternal life are based solitarily on the work of His Son Jesus Christ and faith in His Son. This is the truth of the following verses which follow what some have come to refer to as The Roman Road to salvation because they come from the book of Romans which states:

• Romans 3:23 – "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
• Romans 6:23a – "For the wages of sin is death,"
• Romans 5:8 – "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
• Romans 10:13 – "For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
• Romans 10:8-10 – "But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
• Romans 10:17 – "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
• Romans 12:1-2 – "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

God doesn’t make coming to Him complicated. These are the terms and the only terms by which a person can be forgiven of their sins and receive eternal life with God. You can’t get lost by putting your faith in God on His terms. If you do get lost, it is because you have chosen an alternate route to God than the clear and simple one He has laid out for you. If you are lost it is because you have taken the lead and left God behind. If you are lost, it is because you have said, "God, follow me!"

Amos 3:9-15 - "Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: ‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; See great tumults in her midst, And the oppressed within her.10 For they do not know to do right,’ Says the Lord, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’ "11 Therefore thus says the Lord God: "An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, And your palaces shall be plundered."12 Thus says the Lord: "As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion Two legs or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out Who dwell in Samaria—In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch!13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob," Says the Lord God, the God of hosts,14 "That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground.15 I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house; The houses of ivory shall perish, And the great houses shall have an end," Says the Lord."

In verse 3:10 it says, "For they do not know to do right; says the LORD." These people do not know because they do not want to know. God has sent His word through the prophets and the people have refused to listen. The consequence is that they have pursued their own ways and are falling prey to their adversaries. God says, "He shall say your strength from you." That done in one’s own strength will always fall short and end in exhaustion. These people will ultimately be "plundered" because they have turned a deaf ear to God. In verse 12 God says, "As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be taken out." What does that mean? When shepherds watched sheep for flock owners and a sheep was killed by an animal of prey, the shepherds were required to show evidence, ("two legs or a piece of an ear") that the sheep had actually been devoured by prey and hadn’t been simply barbecued by the shepherd. In other words, God is saying there will be ample proof as to how this people were destroyed when it happens. Remember, Amos was preaching to Israel in a time of prosperity who were likely guffawing at his message of impending judgment with remarks like, "Oh yeah, who says?"

Why would Israel be destroyed? Israel would be destroyed because of their "transgressions," their "altars of Bethel" or pagan idolatry. Not only had they turned a deaf ear to God and His word, but also they pursued and entertained the false teachings and immoral practices of pagan idolatry around them. God said He would destroy the "great house" or elaborate structures used for pagan idol worship. This people did not know God because they willfully rejected Him and His word.

Amos 4:1-5 – "Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, 1 Who oppress the poor, Who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, "Bring wine, let us drink!"2 The Lord God has sworn by His holiness: "Behold, the days shall come upon you When He will take you away with fishhooks, And your posterity with fishhooks.3 You will go out through broken walls, Each one straight ahead of her, And you will be cast into Harmon," Says the Lord.4 "Come to Bethel and transgress, At Gilgal multiply transgression; Bring your sacrifices every morning, Your tithes every three days.5 Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, Proclaim and announce the freewill offerings; For this you love, You children of Israel!" Says the Lord God."

This people didn’t want to hear about God and the holy life He called people to live. They were too caught up in partying (4:1). They were like lazy stupid "cows" (4:1). What a telling statement and picture of the people of his day that Amos made. They ate and drank and gave no thought or concern to the needs of the poor around them. This is a denunciation of those who were richly affluent but gave no thought to how God would use the income He had blessed them with. It was as though they were saying to God, "God, don’t bother me with concerns for the poor, I’m having too much fun!"

The apostle Paul said that the "love of money" is a root of all kinds of evil and that those who are wealthy should not simply spend their wealth extravagantly on themselves but seek out God’s will on how it ought to be used. Read what Paul wrote under the inspiration of God:

• 1 Timothy 6:6-10,17-19 – "Now godliness with contentment is great gain.7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. . . . 17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

Riches and wealth come from God not to be indulged in selfishly but to be put to good use for the kingdom of God.

Amos 4:6-13 - "Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities. And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the Lord.7 "I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered.8 So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, But they were not satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the Lord.9 "I blasted you with blight and mildew. When your gardens increased, Your vineyards, Your fig trees, And your olive trees, The locust devoured them; Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the Lord.10 "I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt; Your young men I killed with a sword, Along with your captive horses; I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the Lord.11 "I overthrew some of you, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the Lord.12 "Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!"13 For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth—The Lord God of hosts is His name."

No matter what God did to get the attention of this people, they didn’t want to hear it. They just weren’t interested. Over and over again God says, "Yet you have not returned to Me" (4:6,8,9,10,11). God gave them famine (4:6), drought (4:7-8), "blight and mildew" and "locusts" (4:9), plagues (4:10), and defeat (4:11), all of this and they still did not seek out the LORD. And so, God says, "Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" The awesome One who "forms mountains," "creates the wind," "declares to man what his thought is," and "makes the morning darkness," "Who treads the high places of the earth," that God, that is the One you are going to meet. How about you, are you ready to meet your God? Have you heard His roar? Have you actively heard His roar? If so seek the LORD, that is what He calls you to do and that is what He says in Amos chapter 5.

Why should we seek God? Why should we submit to His terms? Amos 5 gives us good reason to comply with the roar of the LORD to seek Him.

Amos 5:1-3 – "Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel:2 The virgin of Israel has fallen; 1 She will rise no more. She lies forsaken on her land; There is no one to raise her up.3 For thus says the Lord God: "The city that goes out by a thousand Shall have a hundred left, And that which goes out by a hundred Shall have ten left to the house of Israel."

A lamentation is a funeral dirge. Death is in the future of this rebellious deaf eared people and Amos expresses the sadness of himself and God as a result. Based on these verses only a tenth of the people will make it through the captivity that lays in their future. Certainly they were to go through devastating times. It didn’t have to be that way; all they had to do was "seek" the LORD.

Amos 5:4-9 – "For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: "Seek Me and live;5 But do not seek Bethel, Nor enter Gilgal, Nor pass over to Beersheba; For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing.6 Seek the Lord and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it, With no one to quench it in Bethel—7 You who turn justice to wormwood, And lay righteousness to rest in the earth!"8 He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning And makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth; The Lord is His name.9 He rains ruin upon the strong, So that fury comes upon the fortress."

God tells Israel to "Seek Me and live; but do not seek Bethel, nor Gilgal" meaning they must seek God and Him only (5:5). God must hold exclusive attention in a person’s life. God is the one who holds authority for punishment of the unjust (5:6-7). God created the constellations and stars of the universe, "Pleiades and Orion," He is the One who controls life and death, the waters of the world, the rain of heaven, seek Him (5:8-9).

Amos 5:10-13 – "They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, And they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.11 Therefore, because you tread down the poor And take grain taxes from him, Though you have built houses of hewn stone, Yet you shall not dwell in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, But you shall not drink wine from them.12 For I know your manifold transgressions And your mighty sins: Afflicting the just and taking bribes; Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time."

This people is proud and hates to be contradicted or have their comfort zone threatened. God says, "For I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins" (5:12). God knows their utter sinfulness as He knows the sin of all mankind, therefore it would be best to approach God and "keep silent in that time." Every mouth is shut when God brings His indictment against the sinner (Romans 3). When we seek God we should seek Him humble. He is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).

Amos 5:14-15 – "Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the Lord God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken.15 Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."

Coming to God simply with a fell-sorry countenance is insufficient. When a person comes to God they come in repentance, they turn from their sinful ways to God. Repentance is best expressed in these verses by the words, "Hate evil, love good." To repent and confess sin is to come to a point where you see sin in your life from God’s perspective, you hate it, you hate sin. That is how God wants people to seek Him.

Amos 5:16-20 – "Therefore the Lord God of hosts, the Lord, says this: "There shall be wailing in all streets, And they shall say in all the highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’ They shall call the farmer to mourning, And skillful lamenters to wailing.17 In all vineyards there shall be wailing, For I will pass through you," Says the Lord.18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light.19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him!20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?"

God says that the process of coming to Him involves heartfelt remorse. He says, "Woe to you who desire the Day of the LORD!" In other words, "Woe to you who think you are better than you truly are." We need to come to God in truth. We need to own up and confront and admit our utter sinfulness before God who is holy. We can’t hide behind a smokescreen of rationalization and excuse. There is no escape from our sinfulness. We need to realize that.

The Bible tells us to have an honest and true appraisal of ourselves as the following verses confirm:

• Psalm 119:21 – "You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments."
• Proverbs 16:18-20 – "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he."
• Proverbs 26:12 – "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
• Romans 12:3 – "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."
• Philippians 2:3-8 – "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."
• James 4:6 – "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 1 "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

Seek God in truth. The truth is, we are all sinners who fall short of His glory (Romans 3).

Amos 5:21-27 - "I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.25 "Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?26 You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves.27 Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus," Says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts."

God hates and despises religious ceremony and activity that is without personal relationship with Him. That is what these people were doing, they were trying to butter up God with some religious activity. But God said He would have none of it. Rather, there must be real heartfelt change. Justice and righteousness must be the fruit born into the seeker of God. God will settle for nothing less. Who would want to?

Amos was called to preach to Israel in a time of prosperity. Israel was not very receptive to the word form God that Amos delivered. Nations and the people in them, tend to forget God in times of prosperity. On April 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave a Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer. You would be hard pressed to conceive of such a proclamation being made in our day and age. Read the words of this great man of God and see if what he said did not pertain to Israel and nations like it, like ours:

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, the many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to God that made us It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

God blessed Israel. God has blessed our nation. God has blessed us. God has blessed us with His word and we should not ignore it. God has a plan and purpose for all believers. But to those who God gives a plan and purpose comes responsibility. All the excuses and attempts to relate to God on our terms must be set aside and we must come to God on His terms through faith alone in Christ alone by God’s grace alone (Ephesians 2:1-10). Nothing else is acceptable to God. We need to "hear" the Lord actively, and wholeheartedly. We need to seek Him and learn about the life He offers to us that is so rich and free and abundant. How about you, have you heard His roar in these words? On whose terms have you been trying to seek God? Have you set God and His word aside and said, "Not now LORD, I’m busy, too busy having fun." Don’t forget God and His blessings. Don’t settle for coming to God on your terms, it won’t work and it isn’t worth it. God has spoken, have you heard Him?

(1)  http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/r/repentance.htm