Just Like All the Others
Opening Prayer
Holy God, You are set apart and You call a people set apart. May we never see the grace of God as license to sin.
Read Amos 2:6-16
[6] This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. [7] They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. [8] They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines. [9] “Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below. [10] I brought you up out of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to give you the land of the Amorites. [11] “I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. Is this not true, people of Israel?” declares the LORD. [12] “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy. [13] “Now then, I will crush you as a cart crushes when loaded with grain. [14] The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life. [15] The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life. [16] Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day,” declares the LORD. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you see indifference to sin in the church? In yourself?Perhaps those hearing Amos’s prophecy had been nodding in agreement as the Lord condemned their neighbors. Now they’re expecting a word of comfort and praise for God’s own people. Not a bit of it.Judah is briefly condemned (2:4,5), but Israel’s charge sheet is long and detailed. Human life in Israel is cheap; the God-fearing and the needy are sold for next to nothing (6). The oppressed and the poor are treated with indifferent contempt (7a). The Law decreed that a girl should be married if a man had sex with her (Exod. 22:16), but here, hideously, she is used by both father and son without redress (7b). Those charged with overseeing worship sleep on garments the Law said should be returned overnight (Exod. 22:26,27), perhaps taking advantage of girls serving at the Temple (8a). All these crimes, the Lord says, “profane my holy name” (7b). Amos reports the Lord’s blunt reminder (9-16): “I dealt with the Amorites because they sinned like this. I’ve called you back to me through prophets and Nazirites, but you’ve silenced and corrupted them. You’ve behaved like the Amorites: now I will deal with you as I dealt with them.”
Apply
Is there a way in which you encourage others to compromise or seek to silence truth-tellers?
Closing prayer
Lord of all, open our eyes that we might live in light of eternity and honor You with lives that are worthy of You.
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