Amos 5 (6)

Pray Psalm 80.12-15.
Why have You broken down her hedges,
So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?
The boar out of the woods uproots it,
And the wild beast of the field devours it.
Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts;
Look down from heaven and see,
And visit this vine
And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted,
And the branch that You made strong for Yourself.

Sing Psalm 80.12-15
(St. Theodulph: All Glory, Laud, and Honor)
Now You in wrath have spoken and bruised Your chosen vine.
We languish, LORD, are broken by wrath, deserved, divine.
Once more, LORD, hear our pleading: return and heal this vine!
Look down on us, so needy, and show Your love divine!

Read Amos 5.1-27; meditate on verses 25-27.

Preparation
1. What did Israel do in the Wilderness?

2. What will God do as a result?

Meditation
The people of Israel were idolaters from the beginning. They saw the way God delivered them from Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. They received His Law and devoted themselves to obey it. They ate from His table every day during their wilderness wanderings, and they observed His Presence with them in the fire and cloud, as well as in the tabernacle.

But God wasn’t enough for many of them. They clung to their hand-made idols and household deities—Sikkuth and Chiun and probably others. They fixed their trust on these idols even as they gave God the offerings He required. They claimed to be part of the people of God, but they were instead people devoted to idols.

Idols they wanted, and idols God would give them. Their captivity “beyond Damascus” would eradicate all the last vestiges of the worship of God, and they would assimilate the idols and wicked practices of their neighbors, their identity as God’s people lost forever. The God of hosts will not be mocked by being made to play second fiddle to false idols.

That was true then, and it’s still true today. What idols do we trust in more than the Lord? Good political outcomes? A secure retirement? Plenty of free time—including Sundays—to pursue our recreational interests? Stuff? Fun? Sikkuth? Chiun? Who’s the star god in our secret pantheon?

God will not tolerate worshiping Him and clinging to idols. No, He will not.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Some may remember the ridiculous public service announcement, during the Cold War of the fifties, that in the event of a nuclear attack we were to duck and cover under our school desks. To be safe. Right.

When God starts asking questions it seems a good time to “duck and cover”, equally as ineffectual as seeking protection from a piece of furniture; however, taking notice of the impending cataclysm is a worthy activity.

When Adam and Eve sinned, and tried to hide from God, Adam was asked these two questions:
“Where are you?” and “Who told you that you were naked?” (Gen. 3.9, 11). Duck and cover, Adam.

When Job was struggling with his desire for an explanation from God about his suffering, God asked him:
“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”
“Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?” (Job 38.2; 40.2).
And in between those two verses are a plethora of others to put him in his place. Duck and cover, Job.

And then here, through Amos, God questions the children of Israel:
“Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years…?” And “you also carried Sikkuth…and Chiun, your idols, the star of your gods, which you made for yourselves” (Amos 5.25, 26).
Yep. Duck and cover, children.

Here is the truth of the matter. God cares about us, no doubt. He cares enough to send His Own Beloved Son, Jesus, to take the penalty for our multitude of sins. But we are just people. We are not now, nor ever will be, God. And He says to us, when we get confused about Who is in charge:
“Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; for shall the thing made say of him who made it, ‘He did not make me’? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’?” (Is. 29.16).
“Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it?
Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?” (Is. 10.15)
“Woe to him who strives with his Maker!” (Is. 45.9) Indeed. That’s us: duck and cover!

“Did you?” “Therefore I will.” (Amos 5.25, 27).
And no desk can protect us from that.

Simple solution, though: Obey God. Worship His way. Keep His Law.
Love Him first and foremost—no idols attached (Matt. 22.37-40).
“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and
for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Ps. 107.19-21).

That’s us too: safe (Lk. 15.7, 10).

Reflection
1. What are some things that can lead us to take up idols for our happiness in life?

2. How can we arrest those things? Or even better, keep them from ever being a problem?

3. Obedience to God is an everyday little thing. Explain. How would you counsel a new believer to cultivate such obedience?

The people of Israel copied the crimes of their forefathers. The law of worshipping the Lord our God, is, Him only we must serve. Professors thrive so little, because they have little or no communion with God in their duties. They were led captive by Satan into idolatry, therefore God caused them to go into captivity among idolaters. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 5.18-27

Pray Psalm 80.1-7.
Pray for revival—for yourself, your church, churches throughout your community, and churches all over the world. Ask the Lord to help you cast off any idols that possess more of your trust and hope than He does.

Sing Psalm 80.1-7
(St. Theodulph: All Glory, Laud, and Honor)
O God of grace, restore us, and shine on us Your face!
O save us, LORD, work for us; renew us by Your grace!
Give ear, O gracious Savior, Who leads us as Your flock:
Stir up Your pow’r and favor, our King and LORD and Rock!

How long will You ignore all Your people’s fervent prayer?
Shall bitter tears fall ever? O LORD, renew Your care!
Our neighbors mock and scorn us, they laugh at our distress.
Renew, O LORD, and turn us, look down on us and bless!

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.