Amos 5- Good vs Evil

 ”For the Lord says to the house of Israel: Seek me and live! 

The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the water of the sea and pours it out over the surface of the earth  — the Lord is his name. 

Pursue good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Armies, will be with you as you have claimed. 

Hate evil and love good; establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.“

‭‭Amos‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬, ‭8‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭24‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Good vs evil…it is a repeated theme as God is highlighting what is not going right for His people.  This chapter emphasizes the destruction that they deserve, but follows each statement with reminders of who God is, and very clearly lays out what He desires from us.

It is surprising that they needed the simple reminder to flee from evil and chase after that is good!  That seems like it should be a no brainer!  But when I reflect on my own choices I find that there is often a mixture of good and evil, even if only in my motivations.  Sometimes I want something for the simple reason that it makes me feel good even if it is worse for someone else, or it is the opposite of what God wants me to do.

Lord, You have blessed me in so many ways, You have loved me through foolish decisions and You have SAVED ME!  Help me to live every aspect of my life prayerfully seeking you and what you want from me.  Help me to see where I am being selfish and strengthen me to choose good over evil…even when it seems less enjoyable.  Give me your eternal joy in my obedience to you in every part of life and thought!

Amos 4- Wants to be Known

 ”He is here: the one who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, the one who makes the dawn out of darkness and strides on the heights of the earth. The Lord, the God of Armies, is his name.“

‭‭Amos‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God continues to list out the ways He has attempted to get the attention of His people in ch4.  But, at the end He describes Himself…He tells about what he has made, His power to change and create…but then most astonishingly He says He wants us to know His thoughts!

That may seem insignificant to us as we know that is how to make friends and enjoy one another.  Telling others what we think is natural in close relationships…The reason this is mind blowing to me is that it would be similar to me making a fleet of paper airplanes, then gathering them together to tell them what I think.  That is the vast difference between us and God.  Yet that is exactly what He does!

Lord, you put so much effort into helping me understand who you are, and often I take it for granted.  I don’t realize how incredibly precious we are to you.  Help me to value Your Word and our time together in prayer as much as You do!  Let it be the most important part of my day!!!

Amos 3- Knowing God

 ”I have known only you out of all the clans of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities. If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the Lord done it?“

‭‭Amos‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬, ‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context 

Prior to Jesus sacrifice of dying on the cross in our place, the agreement that God had with His people was that if they lived according to His ways they would be blessed, or else they would suffer punishment.  They had to live with the consequences of their actions.  God would use disaster and even Israel’s enemy’s to punish them.

I find this an interesting statement from God: “I have known only you”… This is a statement of intimacy, a declaration of intentionality to draw near to Israel, an unworthy group of people.  Although God only holds our punishment against us now if we have NOT trusted Jesus, he does still seek to know us individually.  He desires relationship with me personally…that blows me away…the God who created everything, controls all things and yet still has time to want to know me intimately.

Lord, help me to remember this really is who You are. Remind me that knowing You is the most joyous task on my list every day.  Since that is true, help me to live as if it were true and the most important thing.

Amos 2- Foolishness of Pride

 ”The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Judah for three crimes, even four, because they have rejected the instruction of the Lord and have not kept his statutes. The lies that their ancestors followed have led them astray. Therefore, I will send fire against Judah, and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.“

‭‭Amos‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

After condemning all of Israel’s neighbors, God turns his sights on His own people.  Frustrated and angry that they have turned away from the most important thing He has called them to be about: no longer are they trusting in God to protect them, but rather trusting in their own strengths and abilities.

His people were expecting their citadel to protect them and God reminds them that it is weak in comparison to His power…and He is willing to prove it to get their attention.  I have needed this same treatment to refocus my attention and remind me that God is ultimately the one I should trust, no one or no thing else.

Lord, I need you to keep my mind and heart focused on you, not my strengths or skills.  You have blessed me in many ways, so it is easy to fall back into trusting myself…which is PRIDE in the extreme!  I need You Lord, every hour I need you!!!

Amos 1- Gods Protection

 ”He said: The Lord roars from Zion and makes his voice heard from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers. The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Damascus for three crimes, even four, because they threshed Gilead with iron sledges.“

‭‭Amos‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This chapter demonstrates Gods intense love and care for His people, Israel. He lists out the nations around them who have devastated them or abused their people…God is not letting those bullies off the hook.  God will protect Israel and unleash furry on their enemies.

This is the unfailing love of a father or big brother to protect their family…sometimes I forget about Gods protection.  I get distracted to think only about how He wants me to think or act.  I get so caught up in attempting to do good on my own that I forget that God is for me.  That God is on my side, rooting for me.  That God is actively fighting against my enemies (my freshly desires, the worlds influence and the forces of Satan).

God help me to remember all of who You are.  Help me to recall the fighting you do for me and the great love you have for me.  Remind me that you are for me, and desire my protection. Help me to live in light of your Faithfulness!

Joel 3- Perfect Timing

 ”Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will flow with water, and a spring will issue from the Lord’s house, watering the Valley of Acacias.“

‭‭Joel‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬, ‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

God it telling His people that at a specific time, He will accomplish all that is prophesied, both the punishment and the blessing.  It will not happen until the timing is perfect…

If I am honest, Gods timing rarely lines up with mine…When He does things quickly, I wish He would have waited longer…When He is working slowly, I beg for Him to move faster!  I often wonder if He is doing anything at all!  However, when I look back and have some perspective, I see that EVERY TIME: His timing is perfect!!!

Lord, help me to trust Your timeline…give me eyes to see how You are working and faith to trust You when I can’t see it.  You are always faithful.  You are always good.  You are always working things for my growth and blessing.  Help me to trust Your timing and rest in knowing You have perfect timing!

Joel.2-Repentance and Blessing

 ”Even now — this is the Lord’s declaration — turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him, so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God. 

I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — my great army that I sent against you. You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied. You will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. My people will never again be put to shame. You will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame.“

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭14‬, ‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

The description of total destruction continues with a terrifying image of a shadowy army decimating everything in its path…then suddenly the narrative is interrupted by good news: “turn to the Lord with your whole being”!  Don’t make a show of it on the outside, but really make the changes on the inside.  That is what the Lord wants!

Joel goes on to say that if we repent, God will bless us by restoring all the things we had lost in our rebellion. He will make Himself known to us and we will live in satisfaction.

Lord, You know my heart…You know that when I was attempting to chase after what seemed right to me, it never led to satisfaction…always to needing more.  Now, You have changed my heart, changed my desires, and brought me peace.  You are near and guide me and continue to bless me in so many ways.  Thank You!