Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Pre-exilic Prophets 1 (4)
Pray Psalm 47.1, 2.
Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
For the LORD Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
Sing Psalm 47.1, 2.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
O clap your hands, you peoples all, with joy to God your songs intone!
Shout out to Him, and on Him call, He is the mighty, sovereign One!
Read and meditate on Amos 1.1, 2.
Preparation
1. Who was Amos?
2. What did he say about the words he spoke?
Meditation
Amos was a contemporary of Hosea, although his ministry did not last quite as long. Like his colleague, he kept the focus on Jeroboam II, doubtless for the same reasons Hosea did.
Like Hosea, the primary focus of the message of Amos is Israel, though his base of operations is Jerusalem and Judah. God’s rule extends to all nations, and Amos takes into the scope of his preaching the nations surrounding Judah and Israel and shows us that God judges the nations according to His righteous standards, holding them accountable for transgressions against His Law.
Amos’ words of judgment are directed to Syria (vv. 3-5), Philistia (vv. 6-8), Tyre (vv. 9, 10), Edom (vv. 11, 12), Ammon (vv. 13-15), and Moab (2.1-3), before he then directs his threats against Judah and Israel (ch. 2). The sins for which the nations are judged are primarily those they visited against the people of God, the judgment of Moab being the exception. Thus Amos proclaims the sovereignty of God and His authority to require obedience of all nations.
In the book of Amos, the Lion of God roars through the mouth and pen of a shepherd. He roars out of Zion, where He rules (Ps. 2), pronouncing judgment on the nations. Here the work of Jesus—the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49.8-11) in the guise of a Lamb (Rev. 5.5, 6)—is foreshadowed, both in His ascension (Ps. 47) and for His eternal reign. Jesus rules now and is judging the nations (Rom. 1.18-32). And He will judge them with eternal judgment when He comes again (Rev. 19, 20).
In Jesus, God roars through the Good Shepherd to exercise His divine authority over the world.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162“
The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders/farmers of Tekoa…” (Amos 1.1).
If you have ever felt like you were not equipped to preach the Gospel, or minister to another’s needs, because you have not been to seminary, Amos should be a great encouragement. He certainly is to me.
God calls whom He will, to do His work and preach His Word. And the persons He has chosen are you and me. He saved us then called us. The Scriptures are very clear about that (Eph. 2.8-10).
Our avocation, whatever it is, does not matter; our vocation does. Avocations put food on the table and our vocation is Kingdom work—the same dictum for everyone who calls upon the Name of the LORD to be saved.
Amos happened to be a sheepbreeder/farmer for sustenance; but a prophet of God for calling.
His words were forceful, and they were true.
“The LORD roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem;
The pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers” (Amos 1.2).
Through one sentence he showed us God, the land, the people, and the effects of God upon the same.
God utters His voice and roars, the shepherds and the land mourn, the mountain withers.
Amos knew how to use words effectively.
The Children’s Catechism helps explain his adept turn of the phrase:
Q: Who wrote the Bible?
A: Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.
The Promise has been active throughout history leading, guiding, and teaching people. And now He has been given to us as the Guarantee of our salvation and to teach, lead, and guide us into all truth (Jn. 16.13, 14).
And to use us sheepbreeder/farmer/prophet/servants for His honor and glory.
“Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law:
Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults.
For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool,
but My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation” (Is. 51.7, 8).
God desires that we serve Him faithfully and confidently, without fear of others.
“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth…Serve the LORD!” (Josh. 24.14).
“Serve the LORD with gladness…” (Ps. 100.2).
“Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20.26, 28).
“…through love serve one another” (Gal. 5.13).
Jesus came to earth to do the work He was called to do.
The Son of God, the Ruling King, the LORD of lords, “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men…humbled Himself” (Phil. 2.7, 8) to serve and save.
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me (Elliott, 1864).
Hearing God’s call upon our lives is not hard, as He roars from Zion.
What we do with what we hear is what matters.
Amos responded wholeheartedly. Will we?
Reflection
1. How would you describe your calling from the Lord?
2. Do you believe the Lion of the tribe of Judah can speak through your words? Explain.
3. Whom will you encourage today to press on in their calling the Lord?
We must, at the same time, observe, that the Prophet, who was a shepherd, speaks according to his own character, and the manner of life which he followed. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Amos 1.1, 2
Pray Psalm 47.3-9.
Rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, King of nations. Give Him praise for His majesty and greatness and thanks for His saving mercy and grace. Call on Him to help you fulfill your calling as an ambassador of His Kingdom.
Sing Psalm 47.2-9.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
High is the LORD, O, fear His Name! He rules, a King o’er all the earth.
Nations and peoples He has tamed, the heritage of His holy worth.
God has ascended with a shout, the LORD with sound of trumpet bold!
Sing praise to Him, let praise ring out; let praise throughout the world be told!
God is the King of all the earth; sing praise to Him with glorious psalms!
He rules the nations by His worth, and on His throne receives their alms.
Princes of peoples gather all to Abraham and to our God.
Exalt the LORD, and on Him call. The earth is His, so praise our God!
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.
