Amos 5:1-17 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Amos 5:1-17. Let’s go!
Amos 5:1-2 (NIV)
1 Hear this word, O house of Israel, this lament I take up concerning you:
2 “Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up.”
On verses 1-3, 16-17: Having been given a preview of Israel’s eventual demise because of her continual idolatry (v3, 16-17), Amos laments for Israel. As Amos says in verse 1, “Hear this word, O house of Israel, this lament I take up concerning you”. I believe Amos’ lamenting heart here is in line with God’s. God is not one who delights in our destruction, even when we get what we deserve for our sin. A loving Father who cares deeply for His children, God grieves and weeps for His children when they make wrong choices and suffer as a result.
Amos 5:4 (NIV)
4 This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live;
On verses 4-6: To a nation of Israelites who had run away from Him, the Lord tells them repeatedly to seek Him and in so doing they will find life: “Seek me and live” (v4), “Seek the Lord and live” (v6), “Seek good, not evil, that you may live” (v14). In contrast, the Lord tells the Israelites not to seek the towns of Gilgal or Bethel, which had become centres of idol worship, for they would not find life there (v5).
What can we learn from this? If you really want life, seek God. Life is where God is, and God is good. Seek God and you will find life. Our problem is that we love what is evil as much as we love what is good. As Romans 3:10-12 says, “…There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
It is for this reason that we need a Saviour. Praise God for sending Jesus Christ His Son to die on the cross for our sins. God did so because He loves us and wants us to find life with Him.
Amos 5:11-12 (NIV)
11 You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.
12 For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
On verses 7-15: God is a God of justice. God cares about there being justice in our courts, justice in our government, justice in the way the poor are treated.
Heavenly Father, when I seek You I find life, whereas when I seek anything else first, I hit a dead end. May iI seek You today and live. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
