Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Pre-exilic Prophets 1 (6)
Pray Psalm 27.4-6.
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
Sing Psalm 27.4-6.
(St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise)
One thing we request but to dwell with You, LORD.
Your beauty to test and to think on Your Word.
In trouble You hide us secure in Your grace;
no foe may o’erride us: We sing of Your praise.
Read Amos 5.1-25; meditate on verses 4-15.
Preparation
1. What were the people of Israel “seeking”?
2. What did God call them to seek?
Meditation
What does the Lord require of us, that we may live in His love? Only that we seek Him.
Right away my mind turns to Jesus, saying to Andrew and John, “What do you seek?” (Jn. 1.37, 38). Throughout Jesus’ earthly sojourn, multitudes of people sought Him. So many pressed upon Him that, on one occasion, He took to a boat to get some distance from the crowd so He could teach them. They came from all over, drawn by the Spirit of God to the One Who was doing marvelous things and teaching profound and hopeful truths. Seeking Jesus is always the right thing to do.
In Amos 5, “seek” is being used in the sense of desire, trust, worship, obey, honor, and so forth. If we seek anything or anyone other than God, we will lose the blessing of life with Him, life that is full of His precious and very great promises, knowing His Presence and favor, residing within His protection, and growing in His strength. Only by seeking Jesus can anyone find God and all this promise of blessing and bounty (Jn. 14.6).
Israel must have puzzled over what it meant to seek the LORD. They might have turned to the psalms to help them, such as Psalm 27. Now there is no doubt about how to seek Him: Look to Jesus.
We cannot realize all that God has in store for us except by seeking Him day by day for our help and salvation. Seek the LORD, and you will surely live; and seek Him in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The Lord Jesus Christ, in all His healing and teaching, continually referred to Old Testament words about truth, judgment, righteousness, and Himself.
Jesus, two days before the Passover and His crucifixion (Matt. 26.1, 2), spoke Amos’ message loud and clear:
“For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: afflicting the just and taking bribes; diverting the poor from justice at the gate” (Amos 5.12).
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me’” (Matt. 25.41-43).
Conversely, those who were being obedient heard this message:
“Then the King will say… ‘Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me’” (Matt. 25.34-37).
And the verdict? Straight from the mouth of Amos and Jesus— “You who turn justice to wormwood, and lay righteousness to rest in the earth… ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25.45, 46; Amos 5.7).
However, repentance and change is always an option. A Kingdom turn always available:
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”
“It is a joy for the just to do justice…”
“He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor” (Prov. 21.3, 15, 21).
Hope and forgiveness through Jesus—The Way, Truth, and Life (Jn. 14.6):
God, even in His hot displeasure against sin, had a plan for sinners:
“I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion” (Ps. 2.6).
And Jesus’ response?
“I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You’” (Ps. 2.7).
And our Redemptive Hope?
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3.16).
And our part? Our job? Our thankful responsibility?
“Seek the LORD and live” (Amos 5.6).
“Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the LORD God of hosts will be with you…
Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate” (Amos 5.14, 15).
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him…And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 Jn. 4.9, 21).
God said so. Amos said so. Jesus said so.
Maybe we should do so.
Reflection
1. How would you explain to a new believer what it means to seek the Lord Jesus?
2. What are some things that can keep us from seeking Him? How can we overcome these?
3. Whom will you encourage today in seeking the Lord and His salvation?
Those who will seek and love that which is good, may help to save the land from ruin. It behooves us to plead God’s spiritual promises, to beseech him to create in us a clean heart, and to renew a right spirit within us. The Lord is ever ready to be gracious to the souls that seek him; and then piety and every duty will be attended to. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 5.7-18
Pray Psalm 27.1-3, 7-14.
Thank God for His strength and salvation, to guard you against the enemies of your soul. Call on Him to guide you throughout this day and to help you seek Him in all you do. Pray that God’s goodness will come through you to the people you meet today.
Sing Psalm 27.1-3, 7-14.
(St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise)
LORD, You are our Light and our Savior most dear!
You guard us with might; therefore, whom shall we fear?
Though evil surround us, our enemies fall;
no harm shall confound us when on You we call.
Hear, LORD, when we cry and be gracious, we pray!
LORD, do not deny us Your favor this day!
Our help, our salvation, though others may fall,
preserve our good station when on You we call.
LORD, teach us; LORD, lead us because of our foes!
Hear, LORD, when we plead for release from their woes.
Had we not believed all Your goodness to see,
our heart sorely grieved and in turmoil would be.
Wait, wait on the LORD; persevere in His grace.
Hold fast to His Word; seek His radiant face.
Be strong, set your heart to abide in His Word;
His grace He imparts; therefore, wait on the LORD.
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).
Do you pray for your church? What do you pray? Want to pray for your church more consistently and with more power? Our new ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church”, begins this week, and you can read the first installment by clicking here. Update your subscriptions by clicking the website and scrolling to the bottom to receive all 35 installments in this new ReVision series.
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 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.
