Amos 5 (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 5.1-27; meditate on verses 4, 6, 14, 24.
Preparation
1. What kinds of “pursuits” were the people of Israel following?
2. What did God call them to seek?
Meditation
Like people in every age, those in Israel were engaged in a wide range of pursuits. A quick review of Amos 5 shows us what occupied their hearts, minds, time, and strength: false deities (vv. 4, 5); injustice and unrighteousness (v. 7); release from God’s Law (v. 10); self-aggrandizement (v. 11); unbridled sin (v. 12); farms and vineyards (vv. 16, 17); religious shows (vv. 21-24); and, again, false gods (vv. 25, 26).
Anything we pursue in life requires time and energy. Want to graduate from college? Make good use of your time and energy to complete all your assignments. Want to have a good marriage? Be a success in your chosen line of work? Have lots of friends? Yeah, you’re gonna have to work at all those pursuits.
It takes time and energy to pursue our pursuits, including those which keep us from the Word and will of God. The people of Israel had many different pursuits with which they filled up their time and spent their strength. They simply chose to seek these rather than the Lord. Like people today, they could not gin up a lot of enthusiasm for seeking the Lord, His goodness, His justice, and His righteousness.
And that would be tragically too bad for them.
Many Christians today are so busy with their many pursuits that they don’t have much time for the Lord. Too busy thinking about this, that, and the other; too much of their time wasted in vain pursuits; so tired and worn out that they can’t find the strength to pray or seek the Lord in His Word. But they’ll be in church, yes indeed, and telling themselves that’s all of God they need to pursue. Wrong.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Seek Me and live.”
“Seek the LORD and live.”
“Seek good and not evil that you may live” (Amos 5.4, 5, 14).
The transitive verb seek means: to try to locate or discover; to search for; to endeavor to obtain or reach; to go to or toward. The word vibrates with activity. One does not sit idly by whilst seeking.
We must actively seek the LORD in His Word, through keeping His Law, through prayer, through living by the power of the Holy Spirit, through turning away from sinfulness, and turning to righteousness. Vigorously and intentionally.
David pled with God to aid him in seeking:
“Hear, O LORD when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When You said, ‘Seek My face,’
my heart said to You, ‘Your face, LORD, I will seek.’
Do not hide Your face from me;
do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation” (Ps. 27.7-9).
“Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him;
and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Is. 55.6, 7).
Jesus taught, regarding seeking Him and the Holy Spirit:
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you;
Seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Lk. 11.9, 10, 13).
Paul taught concerning seeking God:
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3.1-3).
When we seek Him and live, then from us will flow justice and righteousness—not unlike a waterfall or a mighty stream. And in that, God will find great delight, and will bless us with peace in Him.
“Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places…” (Is. 32.16-18).
Actively and vigorously seek the LORD and live!
Through the power of the asked for, sought after, and found Holy Spirit:
Let justice and righteousness roll down mightily!
Let God delight in you (Prov. 11.20).
Reflection
1. How would you explain to a new believer what it means to seek the Lord?
2. What are some things that can keep you from seeking the Lord?
3. Do you think believers should try to seek the Lord together? Explain.
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
Closing Prayer: Psalm 14.4-7
Pray that your pursuits may be the ones God calls you to seek. Wait on the Lord in silent prayer, asking Him to reveal any vain pursuits in your life.
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.
