Prepare to meet God!
Scripture reading for September 13th: Amos 3-5
Amos, a country preacher, used plain language! Country people don’t usually beat around the bush. They call it like it is. I imagine that Amos made a few people pretty mad! For instance, in Amos 4:1 he calls the women of Samaria “cows”. These women were likened to the well-fed cattle of Bashan, a farming area east of the Sea of Galilee. These women were demanding drinks from their husbands and were oppressing the poor and needy while they enjoyed an abundance. Amos promised them that God’s punishment was on the way.
Amos told the people to go up to Bethel and sin. They were religious and brought offerings that they boasted about. God had tried to correct them and get their attention, but to no avail! (Amos 4:6, 9, 11) The final call was for them to prepare to meet their God! (Amos 4:12) Amos then took up a funeral lament for Israel as if she had died and met God! (Amos 5:1-3)
What was Amos’ remedy for these hardened religious people? He told them to seek the Lord and live! (Amos 5:8-9) Their God had power that should be feared and He should be revered! They were to seek good and not evil. God eternally hates evil and his wrath is always against it. (Amos 5:14-15)
Amos reproved this religious people again for saying that they longed for the day of the Lord! He told them that it would be a day of darkness, not light for them! (Amos 5:18) It would be like a man fleeing from a lion, only to meet a bear. These people were going through the motions and God hated their songs, festivals, feasts and offerings! He wanted justice and righteousness that resulted from His people living by faith in the fear of the Lord! (Amos 5:24)
As we listen to this farmer-preacher, we hear truth spoken in plain language. The times he lived in are a lot like ours. Are we sure we are seeking the Lord with our hearts, and not just words and ritual? Do we hate evil and love good! Are we working for justice and help for the poor. The day of the Lord is coming! We must be prepared to meet our God!
“. . . prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” Amos 4:12b
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