Amos 4 (7)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 14.1-3
The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

Sing Psalm 14.1-3
(St. Anne: O God, Our Help in Ages Past)
The fool within his heart proclaims, “There is no God at all!”
His deeds are wicked, filled with shame who on God will not call.

No good in such as these is found; corruption fills their breast.
God from His heav’nly throne looks down, their hearts and ways to test.

Read Amos 4.1-13; meditate on verses 4, 5.

Preparation
1. How was it clear that Israel did not love the LORD?

2. What did they love instead?

Meditation
What Israel did not love was the LORD Who had delivered them from Egypt, settled them in their land, bore patiently with their rebellion, re-established their boundaries, and warned them again and again to repent of their sins. They did not love God.

They gave their sacrifices, tithes, and free will offerings to false pagan deities because these did not require anything more from them and allowed them much more “freedom” to indulge in sin. This is what Israel loved: sin. And themselves. And they loved these so much that they would not return to the LORD no matter how firmly or frequently He warned them.

The heart is the heart of matter in human life. What we desire, we will pursue. What we love, we will indulge. What we delight in, we will return to. What we aspire to, we will strive to achieve. And if our desires, love, delights, and aspirations are for sin and self, we can expect that God will step in to set us straight (Heb. 12.3-11).

The Corinthians departed the Jesus Path and got into all kinds of troubles because they did not guard their affections (2 Cor. 6.12). God commands us to love Him with all our heart, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. That’s it. And He has provided abundant additional instruction as to how that works out and sent His Spirit to dwell in us and transform us into the likeness of Jesus (2 Cor. 3.12-18). But we need to ponder every day and throughout the day the question Jesus asked Peter: “Do you love Me?”

We see how much of Father loves us (Jn. 3.16). Let Him see how much we love Him.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The Champlain Valley Exposition and Fair just ended this week. As the advertisements proclaimed, “It is the exclamation point of summer!” (Euphemisms galore). Sadly, because we are older, the weather was bad, it is 15 minutes from our house, it is a lot of walking (pick one), we did not attend this year. But our kids and grandkids had a marvelous time and rode lots of rides and ate lots of fair food. It is a requirement of sorts, that one consumes enough fair food to feel a little queasy at the end.

But my point in bringing up the fair is to mention the salesmen that line the fairway. Now, I’m sure a lot of them are well-meaning and love to entertain and make people happy; but maybe just a few are trying to sell you something you really don’t need or want to participate in. But either way, they are trying to get your attention and bring you into their sphere of activity.

Out of the purest heart of love—because it is God we are speaking about--He hollered to His children in much the same way. Come into My sphere of thinking. Hear how I long for you to come to Me. I’m trying to get your attention, for your sakes, as this is your eternal life at stake:
Step right up.
Come to Bethel and transgress. How about:
Come to Gilgal and multiply those transgressions.
Bring those sacrifices every morning!
Bring those tithes every three days!
Keep offering those sacrifices of “thanksgiving”.
Proclaim and announce those “freewill offerings”.
Come on people. You know you love this!
Right over here. Step right up!

Somehow this Proverb seems appropriate: “A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
but even the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (12.10).

God’s children were offering sacrifices and tithes and thanksgiving, yet their hearts were far from Him. It looked obedient and dutiful, but in fact was cruel and sinful and wicked. They “honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me…” (Matt. 15.8, 9), God said.

The simplicity of what God wants should shame us into obedience.
He wants us to know and obey Him. He wants us to believe that Jesus, His Son, is God.
He wants us to know that believing in Jesus is the way to eternal life with Him.
He wants us to live for Him in His Kingdom.
He wants us to listen to His Word, pray, and follow the Holy Spirit, and live through His power.
By these gestures and lifestyle we show that we love and appreciate Him (Jn. 14.15; 15.14); and want very much to step into His sphere of activity.

God speaks in many ways to His children. His repertoire is limitless.
“And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kgs. 19.11, 12).

God is calling to us: either like those on the fairway, or in the still small voice. To hear Him each morning while reading His Word, speaking with Him quietly in His Presence, communing continuously with Him throughout the day, seems to me, a beautiful way to live one’s life.

Yet because of His great love for us, He will communicate in other ways as well. Personally, I prefer the quiet.

But you choose. He has many ways. But frankly, “Watch what you love.”

Reflection
1. God calls to us every day from His Word. How has He called you today?

2. Besides in His Word, how else does God speak to us? How can you know when He is speaking to you?

3. When is the best time to check the things you love? How can you make sure they’re what you should love?

How miserable are those whose confidence in unscriptural observances only prove that they believe a lie! Let us see to it that our faith, hope, and worship, are warranted by the Divine word.  Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 3.3

Closing Prayer: Psalm 14.4-7
Spend time in silent prayer, asking the Lord to reveal any wrong loves that may be lurking in your soul. Ask Him to renew you for increasing love for Jesus.

Sing Psalm 14.4-7
(St. Anne: O God, Our Help in Ages Past)
None understands, none seeks the LORD; they all have turned aside.
Deception leads them from God’s Word who have His grace denied.

The workers of iniquity consume God’s sheep like bread;
they trust not in the LORD, and He shall fill their hearts with dread.

For Jesus with the righteous stands, though they be put to shame.
He holds them safely in His hands who shelter in His Name.

Restore Your Church, let Zion sing; our captive hearts release,
that we may Your salvation bring, rejoicing and in peace.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.