Amos 5 (2)

Pray Psalm 115.4-8.
Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

Sing Psalm 115.4-8.
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
Idols made by men’s own hand—ever to Your Name be glory—
see nor hear nor understand: Ever to Your Name be glory!
They neither feel nor walk, nor can they speak or talk;
all those who serve them fall: But unto Your Name be glory!

Read Amos 5.1-9; meditate on verses 4-9.

Preparation
1. What was Israel not to seek?

2. How did the Lord describe Himself?

Meditation
The sovereign power of God is great and awesome. He made both Pleiades and Orion—one of the smallest star clusters and one of the largest. Pleiades displays in the southern sky, Orion in the northern. This device is called a merism, a statement of opposites intended to encompass the whole. In fact, here we have a double merism (small/large; south/north). God might as well have said that He made all the stars. It’s just more poetic and memorable to say it as He did.

He brings the new day; He ushers in the night. He evaporates water from the sea and deposits in on the earth. He Who can do this can ruin every strong man and pour fury upon every fortress. The LORD is His Name.

And yet this all-powerful, all-sovereign God calls us to seek Him—not to seek vain idols, like Israel did, but to seek Him, to know, love, and serve Him. Twice in our passage God promised life to those who seek Him and threatened devouring fire for those who prefer idols instead. God shows Himself to those who seek Him for justice and righteousness. Those who do not shall “come to nothing” and “go into captivity”.

Why does God keep saying this, one way or another, over and over? Because we need to hear it by as many means as possible, again and again. Let’s not kid ourselves: We can neglect our great salvation as easily as Israel did (Heb. 2.1-3). Only the grace of our all-powerful, all-beautiful, always faithful God keeps us where we need to be—seeking Him and His glory (Ps. 27.4).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
These verses are full of life-saving verbs.

We are told by God to “seek Me and live”, and “seek the LORD and live” (Amos 5.4, 6). Seek Him and live.

We are also told what He has done, and can do: He made, He turns, He makes, He calls, He pours, and He rains (Amos 5.8, 9). Power to create and to destroy.

Even if the Creation is all we know of Him, it can and should force us to our knees in adoration and respect

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handwork.
Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.
Their sound has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (Ps. 19.1-4).

As a prelude to his words on the galaxies, and God’s creative power, Job observed:
“God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?”

Then his exposition of verbs, on what God can, and will do:
“He removes the mountains, and they do not know when He overturns them in His anger;
He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
He commands the sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars;
He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea;
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number.”

Then an action question to humanity:
“If He takes away, who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’”  (Job 9.4-12).

Most rational people have respect for authority. Yet do we have respect for God’s?

He is a God of action and will not tolerate evil indefinitely:
“You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness” (Hab. 1.13).
For safety’s sake we must first and foremost respect His authority:
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11.33).

Amos warned the people, and us, not to plumb the depths of these “unsearchable judgments” and “ways past finding out”. We can read about them, we can believe in them, but we do not want to come face to face with them. We really don’t. “The LORD is His Name” (Amos 5.8).

“The LORD will be awesome to them,
for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth;
people shall worship Him…” (Zeph. 2.11).

Seek, obey, and follow Him. Verbs worthy of doing.

Reflection
1. How would you explain to a new believer what it means to seek the Lord?

2. When should we seek the Lord? Should we ever stop seeking the Lord? Explain.

3. What should you expect as you seek the Lord?

While they refuse to come to Christ and to seek mercy in and by him, that they may live, the fire of Divine wrath breaks forth upon them. Men may make an idol of the world, but will find it cannot protect. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 5.1-6

Pray Psalm 115.1-3, 9-18.
Pray that the Lord will enable you to seek Him and His glory in everything you do today.

Sing Psalm 115.1-3, 9-18.
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
Not to us, O God, not us, but unto Your Name give glory!
For Your love and faithfulness, ever to Your Name be glory!
Why should the nations cry, “Where is their God on high?”
You rule us, LORD, on high: Ever to Your Name be glory!

All who trust in Jesus yield—ever to His Name be glory—
find in Him their help and shield: Ever to Your Name be glory!
O Israel, trust the LORD! He helps us evermore!
Fear Him obey His Word: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Blessings from our gracious LORD —ever to Your Name be glory—
will attend us evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless all who fear You, LORD, all who obey Your Word,
all who Your Name adore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Grant us, Savior, great increase—ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless us with eternal peace: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Heaven and earth are Yours; let every soul adore
and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

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.