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July 12th
Today’s bible reading is in Amos chapters 6,7,8,9. 5 visions that God gave Amos.
We will look at the three visions in Chapter 7 for today’s podcast.
But just a brief introduction...Already Amos has called the nations, including Judah and Israel, “to prepare to meet God.” Wow. By the reaction of the vast majority of his audience, we can conclude that “meeting God” was not immediately thought of as a happy meeting with Nana and Granddad for Baskin & Robbin's ice cream. No, Amos’ audience was shocked and made very angry...very uncomfortable.
What an ominous declaration to give to a generation that had pretty much either denied the existence of God or refused any rationale that made them responsible to their creator and covenant maker. No wonder Amos was threatened by priests and kings across his mission field.
Amos predicted an earthquake that would affect 8 nations. Scriptural words like the land melted, the trembling, the shaking, the bones and deaths inside and under buildings, the violent crashing sounds, the sea flooding lands, beyond coastlands. God was going to judge unrighteousnes, and that “death and destruction bringing earthquake” would all happen before the other prediction of Amos. Israel’s invasion by Assyria.
One more thought before the visions...When I read Amos’ words, “prepare to meet your God Israel” in chapter 4, I thought a minute, maybe longer, and became humbly grateful in my mind and heart for Jesus and the salvation He “bought for me” with His death on the cross and His prophesy fulfilling resurrection.
I will meet my God, Jesus, one day...either at my death on earth or in the air at the rapture of the church and all those who have believed Him down through the ages.
I have told people for years that I am not afraid to meet my Savior. He has already saved me from the penalty of my sin. I look forward to the day when I can personally thank Him at the judgment seat of Christ, face to face in the presence of all the saints, for the glorious gift my salvation and so many other gifts.
Now...Three visions of the coming judgment upon Israel.
Locusts after the first harvesting, before the final harvesting. Leaving nothing in the fields. Total complete devastation. Amos prayed that God would not totally destroy Israel. And God relented, only a part of Israel would be destroyed.
Fire...a wildfire of judgment that would not discriminate. A fire that would eat up all of Israel. Amos prayed again that God would not completely destroy Israel. And God relented, only a part of Israel would be affected.
And then a Plumb Line. In the midst of Israel that common and most effective tool for measuring, building and destroying. God was going to measure the hearts of the Israelites. He would determine the “unrighteous heart” and destroy it. He would determine the righteous heart and save it.
And just who is the righteous heart?
“For our sake, God made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin, so that “in him” we might become the righteousness of God.”
