From the Pulpit...

In Sunday school, our teacher James taught from Amos 9:10-15. The people of Israel had a misplaced trust in their status as "God's people." They were that, but this did not exempt them from punishment for their sin. In fact, their status as God's people actually heightened their responsibility. Where the people went wrong is that they looked at what God did in making them special as Him granting them possessory rights, rights that others do not have. They thought then that nothing could take those away. In fact, they have promissory rights, but there are conditions that come with such rights. There is a bi-lateral nature to these rights. They wanted God to keep His part of the agreement, while they did not keep up their side of the agreement. For us, Amos seems afar off. He prophesied 2,800 years ago. And the things he speaks in 9:11-15 are in the future for us. But they are an encouragement for us because God will accomplish His purposes. God always has a remnant. God will never fail.

Some Scriptures that deal with their special status before God: Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6-9, 26:18, 32:9; Psalm 147:19.

Where the people went wrong is that they looked at what God did in making them special as Him granting them possessory rights, rights that other do not have. They thought then that nothing could take those away. In fact, they have promissory rights, but there are conditions that come with such rights. There is a bi-lateral nature to these rights. Israel's possession of the land is unconditional; their occupation of the land is conditional on Israel's obedience.

They wanted God to keep His part of the agreement, while they did not keep up their side of the agreement. All the sinners of God's people would die by the sword.

There are ten verses in Amos that mention judgment declared by God (thus says the Lord) because of transgressions. Judah also is in line for judgment. Amos 1:3, 1:6, 1:7, 1:9, 1:11, 1:13, 2:1, 2:4, 2:6, 3:14, 5:12. See also Gen 18:23 and following.

At verse 11, there is a dramatic shift in the content. It sounds entirely different than judgment and famine which was the focus for most of the prior part of the book. The Day of the Lord referred to earlier in the book was near-term. But now, "that day" refers to a future period of time. Despite its future timing for them and yet for us, it was still to be an encouragement to the audience of Amos. We understand the text literally.

To demonstrate that this is future, we can ask a simple question: has the tabernacle of David (the Davidic dynasty) been rebuilt? It existed as a split kingdom at the time of Amos's writing. The near future was that the Assyrians were coming. 722 B.C. was the approximate date for the destruction of the northern kingdom. Judah was not taken at that point, though the southern kingdom was damaged by the Assyrians. Jerusalem was protected. Then in 586 B.C. the southern kingdom was finally taken in the third incursion of the Babylonians. From that time, David's dynasty was in need of restoration.

For us, Amos seems afar off. He prophesied 2,800 years ago. And the things he speaks in 9:11-15 are in the future for us. But they are an encouragement for us because God will accomplish His purposes. God always has a remnant. God will never fail.