Thoughts On Amos 4
Theme: Prepare To Meet Your God
Main Verse
Amos 4:11b – Yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
Supporting Verses
Amos 4:12b– “Therefore, prepare to meet your GOD.”
Amos 4:4- “Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more.Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years”.
Matthew 23: 27 – 28 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Revelation 3:17
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
This chapter is a call to repentance or face judgement.
This was addressed to his own children who, though well blessed by GOD, have turned around to use this same blessing that GOD gave them to promote self- centeredness and to ignore the needy.
We notice the following:
1. A very sophisticated spiritual hypocrisy. The people are apparently deeply religious, adhering strictly to tithing and keeping all the sabbaths, yet they live to please themselves.
2. They have developed a sense of entitlement, wrongfully assuming that their wealthy status and their religious adherence are indications of their right standing with GOD.
3. Because of this lifestyle, GOD sent multiple warnings for them to repent, but they did not connect that with GOD’s correction. This shows that they have lost their ability to discern spiritual signs.
4. Women who are bent on enjoying their lives at all cost, even to stressing their husbands to maintain them on that life style
5. They seem to have forgotten that HE is the omnipotent GOD.
Lessons:
1. Women should be careful not to push their husbands for unnecessary material comfort
2. GOD hates hypocrisy. He is not interested in empty religion. We might be consistent in church, tithing, offering, etc, but if our hearts and lifestyle do not align with GOD’s word, then we should either repent or be ready to face judgement.
3. GOD’s goal while we still are alive is for reconciliation, not punishment, though HE may use challenges to draw our attention to our errors and bring us to repentance.
4. GOD holds everyone accountable, whether women or men, especially when they use HIS blessings to influence others, negatively
5. GOD loves us so much so that even in judgement, HE desires above all, that we repent.
6. HE remains who HE is
Prayer
Dear LORD, pour your love abroad in my heart and may your blessings in my life never cause me to derail. Grant me grace to be strong oh LORD, and help me never to loose sight of who you are, in the mighty name of JESUS, Amen.
Thoughts On Amos 5.
This chapter is a lament and a call to repentance for the nation of Israel emphasizing the importance of seeking God and doing good, not just engaging in religious rituals according to the Working Preacher.
The chapter highlights the impending ruin of Israel due to their sins and oppression of the poor. It urges them to seek the LORD and live, emphasizing that true worship involves justice, righteousness and loving neighbours.
The Key Themes Of This Chapter:
1.A Lament and Warning.
2.A Call to Repentance.
3.Rejection of Hypocrisy. Verses 21-24.
4.Importance of Justice and Righteousness. Verses 14-15.
5.Judgment on the oppressors. Verses 11-12.
6.The Day of the LORD.
Lessons
God loves righteousness and He rewards the upright!
Hebrews 1:9, Psalm 84:11.
Prayers
1. Thank You Father for Your loving kindness to us Your children!
2. Father, help us to love You more and love righteousness so that we may enjoy our redemptive benefits daily in Jesus Christ’s Mighty Name! Amen!
