Amos 6 (2)

Pray Psalm 77.1-3.
I cried out to God with my voice—
To God with my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.
Selah

Sing Psalm 77.1-3.
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
My voice to God shall rise; I seek Him on His throne.
In days and nights of trouble I seek God alone!
When I remember Him, then am I sore distressed!
My spirit faints and longs to find in Him its rest.

Read Amos 6.1-7; meditate on verses 3-7.

Preparation
1. How did Amos depict the people of Judah?

2. What would happen to them?

Meditation
Amos is still preaching against the people of Judah in these verses. We recall that they had begun to follow the lead of Israel (the northern kingdom) into idolatry and sin. Though they heard the prophecies of judgment against the surrounding nations and even against their “brother”, still, they told themselves “It can’t happen here” (v. 3). And in so doing, they ensured it would (v. 3).

Meanwhile, the people—especially the leaders—of Judah indulged themselves in all manner of sensual pleasures (vv. 4-6). Having a nice bed to sleep in, a couch to lounge around on, music to listen to and sing, and even some nice wine and “the best ointments”—these things are not sinful in themselves. But we recall from verses 1 and 2 that, just like Israel before them, the people of Judah were beginning to take their ease in these pleasures rather than in the Lord.

And worse, upon hearing of God’s judgment against Israel, the people of Judah did not grieve for their brother (v. 6). Had they been receptive to the Word of the Lord, they would have urged Israel to repent and would have repented themselves. As it turned out, Israel would go into captivity first, but Judah would follow not long after that—Israel to Syria and Egypt, Judah to Babylon.

And that would be the end of their lavish lifestyles (v. 7). The wrath and judgment of God are even now falling on those who trust and take their ease in idols (Rom. 1.18-32). Does this trouble us? Do we weep and pray for the lost? Or do we simply go our way, having taken up many of the wrong-believing ways of our materialistic age, all the while thinking to ourselves, “It can’t happen here”?

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Christians often find troubling the teaching of Jesus, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first…So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen” (Matt. 19.30; 20.16).

But we are chosen, we belong to Him, and we don’t mind being last or least because we are loved.

The people of Amos’ day got this troubling word from God: “they shall now go captive as the first of the captives” (Amos 6.7). The first shall be first. Which from my reading does not seem to be a bonus point?

Another area of contention seems to be with the idea that we are our “brother’s keeper”. God came to Cain, after Cain had murdered his brother Abel, with one of those troubling questions: “Where is Abel your brother?” Duck and cover, Cain!

But instead, he lied to God, “I don’t know where he is.” And then he answered God’s question, petulantly, with a foolish question of his own: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4.9). The obvious answer being, “Well, Yes, you are!”

The people of Amos’ day were not mindful of their brother’s wellbeing—physically or spiritually. Woe to you who are comfortably at ease “but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph” (Amos 6.6).

The first will be first to judgment and captivity. Removed. Moveable.
The last shall be firmly planted. Immoveable. Steady.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and
in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that brings forth its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also shall not wither;
and whatever he does shall prosper” (Ps. 1.1-3). Not first but last, yet firmly planted.

And firmly planted we care for all mankind: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ…And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6.2, 9, 10). Last, firmly planted, brother’s keepers—keeping the Law, and loving God and others.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15.58).

Grieved for those who do not know Him; and grieved for those who do, but are not walking obediently with Him.

Happy for wherever we stand in the line because ultimately “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4.16, 17). Comfortable and at ease with God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Loved.

Reflection
1. How do you pray for lost people in your Personal Mission Field?

2. Whom will you encourage today in their walk with and work for the Lord?

3. Why is it so important that we look out for our brethren in the Lord? What are some ways we can do this?

Those who are set upon their pleasures are commonly careless of the troubles of others, but this is great offense to God. Those who placed their happiness in the pleasures of sense, and set their hearts upon them, shall be deprived of those pleasures. Those who try to put the evil day far from them, find it nearest to them. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 5.1-6

Pray Psalm 77.7-15.
Pray that God will lead His people to grieve for their sins and repent of them, and that He will revive us and renew our churches for His glory.

Sing Psalm 77.7-15.
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
O LORD, will You reject Your people without end?
Has favor ceased, are You no more our heav’nly Friend?
Your promise and Your love in anger are obscured;
my sin has turned Your hand away, Your beauty blurred.

Now let us call to mind Your deeds and wonders, LORD,
and meditate on all Your works and praise Your Word.
Full holy is Your way, great God of earth and heav’n;
to You, O God of strength and pow’r all praise be giv’n!

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.