Day 179 – Amos: Theme
“Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7 NIV
The book of Amos opens with this humble shepherd watching his sheep. God then gave him a vision of what was about to happen to the northern kingdom of Israel and its neighbours. God condemned all the nations that had sinned against Him and harmed His people. Beginning with Aram (Syria), he moved quickly through Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab. We can almost hear the Israelites shouting, “Amen!”. Then even Judah, Amos’s homeland, was included in God’s scathing denunciation. How Amos’s listeners must have enjoyed hearing those words! Suddenly, however, he turned to the people of Israel and pronounced God’s judgment on them as the last chapters enumerate and describe their sin.
Fearlessly, Amos continued to relate the visions of future judgment that God gave to him. After all the chapters on judgment, he concludes with a message of hope that God would eventually restore His people and once again make them great.
As you read through Amos, put yourself in the place of those Israelites and listen to the message. Have you grown complacent? Do you ignore people in need or oppress the poor? Importantly, picture yourself in Amos’s shoes, faithfully doing what God called you to do. You, too, can be God’s person.
Prayer: Father, I know far too often we pray “let this cup pass” rather than take up the cross of Your message and boldly proclaim it for those You send us to. Amos travelled from the south to the north to deliver Your word and did not complain or pass the responsibility to someone else. Give us the courage, Lord, to go where You need us to go. Amen.
