Jul 15 – Amos 1, Amos 2 Romans 2:17-29, Romans 3:1-8 Proverbs 17:5-14

Amos 1:1

The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

Also was a cattle breeder. a herdsmen from Tekoa – south east of Bethlehem. He didn’t seek the calling a prophet, nor did he gain from it. But God called him to speak to His nation.

This book took place during the reign of Uzziah, king of Israel two years before an earthquake. Because it’s possible to place the date of this earthquake Amos’ ministry happened between 765-760 BC.

Amos told the northern Kingdom God was about to bring it to an end. It shows that tier outward displays of worship and seeming to do everything right could not cover up for their lack of compassion.

Tis book is challenge to us too, today. God isn’t looking for a church that gets it right on the outside, whilst ignoring the heart. There’s some harsh judgements in this book, but as we’ve read in the books of Kings – they’re about to come to pass in Israel.

Amos 2:21-23

you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

You who boast in the law dishonour God by breaking the law. 

Amos is speaking to Israel here. They were meant to be a light to the nations – it was through them that the world was meant to see God. But they were in no position to teach the world, as they were getting it wrong themselves.

This should come as a rebuke to us too. Both the church and us as individuals. How can we teach others if we do not follow the truth ourselves? All people will see is hypocrisy.

We cannot boast about the goodness of the law if we break it. We cannot speak out against sexual immorality whilst engaging in it.

Those are extremes, of course. But it would do us all good to look at ourselves seriously. Are we practising what we preach?

We are meant to be a light to the world. In order to do that, we have to be a shinning example not a sinning example.

Prov 17:14

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

What a great proverb. Trouble often starts small. Arguments swell up – they rarely start full blown.

Water trickles out of a crack, but it’s not long before it bursts down the dam.

You can see the warning signs. You know when an argument is brewing (you’ve had enough of them) – so learn the lesson. Quit before the quarrel starts. Otherwise you’ll be hit by the torrent.