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The Scriptorium

The Sovereign LORD

He is great and terrible. Amos 9.5, 6

Pray Psalm 147.6. 7.
The LORD lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God…

Sing Psalm 147.6, 7.
(St. Anne: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
The humble God exalts above; the wicked He casts down.
Sing thanks to this great God of love; let songs of praise abound.

Read Amos 9.1-6; meditate on verses 5, 6.

Preparation
1. How did the Lord describe Himself?

2. What did He say His Name is?

Meditation
If we’re going to boast that we know the Lord—as Israel did continuously—then it’s a good idea to make sure we know Him. Israel thought they knew the Lord, but as He pointed out through the prophet Hosea, there was no knowledge of God in Israel (Hos. 4.1, 6). This revelation took the people by surprise, and they continued to insist—even in the face of God’s own assessment!—that they knew Him (Hos. 8.2, 3).

Israel’s problem—and it would become Judah’s as well—was that they thought God was just like them (Ps. 50.21). They thought His main purpose for them was that they should be happy. He had plainly said that happiness wasn’t the goal; holiness was. Israel was to be a holy people. But, since they persuaded themselves that happiness was God’s great desire for them, then, they wrongly assumed, He would be happy for them to find happiness wherever they could, even if that meant pagan idols and immoral conduct.

Wrong (Ps. 50.22, 23).

In our text for today, God, through the prophet, reminded His people that He is sovereign and His Name is LORD. The Name of God gets at His eternal and unchanging, ever-present being: He is “I AM” and His power extends to everything He has made, including the land Israel dwelled on, the skies that overarched them, and the waters that refreshed them. He rules all creation according to His purposes, not ours. And His purpose for His people is that we should be holy, soaked and suited in the righteousness of Jesus Christ and living before our heavenly Father for His glory in peace and joy.

All this God had faithfully and clearly revealed to Israel (Ps. 147.19, 20), yet they spurned it all. They would learn that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. And we, who have this same calling, must expect that God will discipline us when we stray from His ways or try to make Him our servant for our “happiness” (Heb. 12.3-11). Let what was written by the prophet, and all the revelation of God, be for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope (Rom. 15.4).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
God is all powerful. We see His power in the creation.
He touches the earth and it melts.
Rivers swell and subside at His command.
He created the layers of the heavens and built the strata into the earth.
He calls for the waters and pours them out on the face of the earth (Amos 9.5, 6).

When God prepared the heavens, Wisdom was there.
When He established the clouds above, strengthened the fountains of the deep,
and assigned the sea its limit, so that waters would not disobey His command,
Wisdom was there (see Prov. 8.22-31).

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?” (Is. 40.12).

God answered Job out of the whirlwind; and He is speaking just as clearly to us:
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements? Surely you know!
Or Who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Or Who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb;
when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band;
when I fixed My limit for it and set bars and doors; when I said,
‘This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!’” (Job 38.4-11).

“Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matt. 8.27)
“The L
ORD God is His Name” (Amos 9.6).

And we who love, trust, and obey Him, can say with fear, praise, and assurance:
“G
OD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear,
even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling” (Ps. 46.1-3).

The One Who is melting and removing and carrying away the earth, and making its waters roar and swell and subside, also has made a way through this mayhem and mess to forgiveness, mercy, and grace— “grace that is greater than all our sin” (Johnston, 1911).

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep,
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep,
O hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
(William Whiting, 1860)

“Whoever is wise will observe these things,
and they will understand the lovingkindness of the L
ORD” (Ps. 107.43).

Reflection
1. What are some ways God shows His sovereign power and love to you through His work in creation?

2. What are some ways you have experienced His sovereign care for you?

3. Whom will you encourage today to rest and rejoice in the sovereign power and love of the eternal Father?

The Prophet describes now in general terms the power of God, that he might the more impress his hearers, and that they might not heedlessly reject what he had previously threatened respecting their approaching ruin; for he had said, 'Lo, God will smite the land, and it shall tremble.'
John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Amos 9.5, 6

Pray Psalm 147.1-3, 15-20.

Praise the sovereign God for making Himself known, drawing us to Himself, teaching us His will, and keeping us in Jesus.

Sing Psalm 147.1-3, 15-20.

(St. Anne:
Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
Praise God, for it is good to sing loud praises to the L
ORD!
With joy our songs of praise we bring to God and to His Word.

The L
ORD builds up His Church and He His people gathers in.
The broken hearts He tenderly repairs and heals their sin.

His Word to earth runs to and fro to carry out His will;
He brings the rain, He sends the snow, and none can keep Him still.

His Word He to His Church bestows—His promises and Law.
No other nation God thus knows: Praise Him with songs of awe!

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).

Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.

And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from theNew 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 fromThe Ailbe Psalter.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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