Amos 5 (1)

Pray Psalm 35.17-21.
Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue me from their destructions,
My precious life from the lions.
I will give You thanks in the great assembly;
I will praise You among many people.
Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies;
Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful matters
Against the quiet ones in the land.
They also opened their mouth wide against me,
And said, “Aha, aha!
Our eyes have seen it.”

Sing Psalm 35.17-21.
(Creation: The Spacious Firmament on High)
How long, O LORD, will You sit by? O rescue my soul, or I shall die!
Thus praise and thanks I’ll give to You with all who hold You dear and true.
The wicked would rejoice with glee, and gloat in triumph over me.
They speak no peace, their words are lies; they seek our destruction before their eyes.

Read and meditate on Amos 5.1-3.

Preparation
1. What did Amos “take up” against Israel?

2. What did he foresee happening to them?

Meditation
God does not delight in the destruction of His enemies. He takes no joy in disciplining His people. Like Jesus, weeping over Jerusalem, God loves His people with an everlasting love. But the nation of Israel had proved that it was not God’s people. And the judgment to come evoked these words of lamentation from the prophet.

Only a tenth of the nation—that is, a very small remnant—would survive the coming judgment (v. 3). The rest would fall and no longer exist as a people. They would be forsaken by God, having their heritage, and there would be no one to raise them up again (v. 2). The destruction of Israel would be complete.

Why this word here? God has spoken harshly, even angrily against His people in preceding chapters. He hates sin (cf. v. 15), and He wanted Israel—and us—to know that. Yet He loved Israel, even in their rebellion, and their impending captivity gave Him no joy. All heaven rejoices with the Lord over one soul who comes to faith in Jesus Christ. But there is no gloating in heaven and no glee in God when people invoke the consequences of their sin upon their heads.

The Man of Sorrows endured the cross to carry away the sins of God’s people. God took no pleasure in judging His Son, but He takes great pleasure in the fact that, because of Jesus, we are members of His household, His people, His inheritance.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
How glorious that “we are members of His household, His people, His inheritance.”

In warning, Amos’ lamentation included this phrase concerning Israel, “There is no one to raise her up” (Amos 5.2). But for those under the judgment of God, as everyone is, there remains hope of something, and Someone to make us members of His household. A better solution. A saving resolution to sin. So that we need not have a lamentation like this said for us.

“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. So she arose and served Him” (Matt. 8.14, 15). The NKJV has as its first rendering, “she served them”; but other manuscript texts read “Him”. I think “Him” is the better choice when we read it in the context of what Jesus said to Martha: “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things (e.g. “serving them”). But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her”—sitting at Jesus’ feet and learning from Him; and serving Him (Lk. 10.41, 42).

Like Peter’s mother-in-law, we are not without Someone who will raise us up. Jesus. No matter how dire the situation seems, or is, He is with us to raise us up—now and later. “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion’, says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’” (Lam. 3.21-24).

Jesus said to numerous people, on many different occasions, “Follow Me”.
He says the same to us today: “Follow Me”. And I will raise you up.

No need to fear that we will be forsaken, for we are told: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13.5).

There is just one tiny caveat/addendum to that promise, and it is this: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.” In other words, Keep the Law of God. Love and serve Him only. And He will be with us always, will never forsake us, and will raise us up.

Let’s not get stuck on the disobedience loop that tripped up the Israelites. History repeats itself, make no mistake, and God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13.8). He can accomplish these same judgments against us, should we choose them. But why would we? We can see the handwriting clearly on the wall. Or can we?

The finger of God wrote this as a judgment against Belshazzar: “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
This is the interpretation of each word:
MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it.
TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting.
PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (Dan. 5.22-28).

And what was Belshazzar’s transgression? “The God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.”
“I AM the LORD, that is My Name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images” (Is. 42.8).

The Lamentation for Israel need not be ours. But to avoid it, we must serve God and glorify Him. Only.

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4.11).

To be members of Your household, Your people, and Your inheritance.

Reflection
1. Why was Israel unable to know the blessings of God? Why did they fall under His judgment?

2. God has not changed. Should we expect His discipline if we depart from Him? What might that look like (Heb. 12.3-11)?

3. We need the encouragement of our fellow believers to stay on the path with Jesus. Whom will you encourage today?

The convincing, awakening word must be heard and heeded, as well as words of comfort and peace; for whether we hear or forbear, the word of God shall take effect. The Lord still proclaims mercy to men, but they often expect deliverance from such self-invented forms as make their condemnation sure. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 5.1-3

Pray Psalm 35.22-28.
Pray for revival throughout the churches of the Lord. Pray that the enemies of the Church would be silenced and dispersed and that great renewal and awakening to Jesus will sweep the world.

Sing Psalm 35.22-28.
(Creation: The Spacious Firmament on High)
Stir up, O God, and wake to my right; defend my cause with all Your might,
And judge me in Your righteousness; let not my foes bring me to distress.
Let shame, dishonor be their gown who would Your holy ones bring down.
Let all who would themselves exalt be humbled, shamed, and brought to naught.

Let all rejoice triumphantly who would our vindication see.
Let them exalt the LORD above who love the ones that Jesus loves.
And let our tongues declare Your praise, and worship Jesus all our days.
Let those whom You are pleased to bless forever declare Your righteousness!

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.