(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)
(Amos 3:1-15)1 Hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt:
2 “You only have I known among all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you for all your wrongdoing.”
3 Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no device in it?
Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?
6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will the people not tremble?
If a disaster occurs in a city, has the Lord not brought it about?
7 Certainly the Lord God does nothing
Unless He reveals His secret plan
To His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken! Who can do anything but prophesy?
9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great panic within her and the oppressions in her midst. 10 But they do not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord, “these who store up violence and devastation in their citadels.”
11 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says:
“An enemy, one surrounding the land,
Will take down your fortifications from you,
And your citadels will be looted.”
12 This is what the Lord says:
“Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion’s mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear,
So will the sons of Israel living in Samaria be snatched away—
With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch!
13 Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,”
Declares the Lord God, the God of armies.
14 “For on the day that I punish Israel’s offenses,
I will also punish the altars of Bethel;
The horns of the altar will be cut off,
And will fall to the ground.
15 I will also strike the winter house together with the summer house;
The houses of ivory will also perish,
And the great houses will come to an end,”
Declares the Lord.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Verse 7 tells us that the Lord doesn't do anything unless He tells us about it. Because the Lord is fair and just, He is not only going to tell us His law, but also what will happen to those who reject Him as Lord, and what will happen to those who accept Him as Lord. Just like in parenting, it is not fair to a child to be told what is expected of them without explaining to them the importance of listening, and it is not fair to a child to suddenly be rewarded or disciplined for something they didn't know about.
Since the Lord is God and we cannot see Him fact to face right now, we cannot know Him unless He tells us what we need to know. So, the Lord lets people know what will happen if they reject Him, as a warning so that they have an opportunity to change their mind. He also tells us the good news of His certain hope that we can have when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, because He desires that all come to know Him. To actually KNOW Him and know what to expect from Him, as well as what He expects from us so that we can have a life of purpose, in His love, grace, guidance and strength.
No comments:
Post a Comment