AWAKE BIBLE IN A YEAR JULY 3
Read Amos 6-9
Amos is able to persuade God to not completely destroy the crops with locusts which seems like no small thing. When God shows you some thing you can have conversation with him about it.
Amos and Jesus say some of the same things! Amos 6 is similar to Luke 6 with the wording ‘WOE TO YOU’ in the both chapters. Amos says woe to those who are in Zion and sleep in beds of ivory eating young calves, lambs out of the flock. Those who sing idle songs and the sound they invent for themselves music like David and drink wine in bowls but you are not grieved or sick at heart over the affliction and ruin of Joseph. Jesus give s the same word in the New Testament. His WOE in Luke 6 are to those who are rich in this world. Complacent comfort is opposed to sincere faith.
““But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”
Luke 6:24-26 NIV
Amos is mistreated by Amaziah the priest at Bethel. Amos doesn’t claim to be a prophet or s prophet’s son. Yet he sees visions of the summer fruit. Ready to be plucked. Ripe fruit in the heat of summer won’t last long. God will shut the door on mercy. This reminds me of how God shut the door in the days of Noah now each one of us have a day in which the door of mercy is done. It is our last day alive and them no more chances. Choose mercy today. We are not guaranteed an opportunity for seeking God tomorrow.
The future of Northern Israel looks dismal. In light of the final count down total destruction is unavoidable, however there is a future for the house of David. Restoration is promised. The Davidic kingdom will be rebuilt and is quoted literally in the book of Acts when Paul and Barnabas are taking the good news of the gospel to the Gentiles and the church hears of this ministry. James connects the words of Amos to this restoration.
““In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the Lord, who will do these things.”
Amos 9:11-12 NIV
The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’—Acts 15:12-17 NIV
