Amos 6:13-7:9 - Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness—you who rejoice in the conquest of Lo Debar and say, “Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?” For the LORD God Almighty declares, “I will stir up a nation against you, Israel, that will oppress you all the way from Lebo Hamath to the valley of the Arabah.” This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king’s share had been harvested and just as the late crops were coming up. When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign LORD, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” So the LORD relented. “This will not happen,” the LORD said. This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: The Sovereign LORD was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. Then I cried out, “Sovereign LORD, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” So the LORD relented. “This will not happen either,” the Sovereign LORD said. This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the LORD asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. “The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword I will rise against the house of Jeroboam.”
Jeremiah 7:16 - “So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you.
1 Kings 13:34 - This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.
Application:
· Is God listening to my prayers when I am unfaithful to following His will?
· Do I persist in worship that is evil in God's eyes?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
In Zion And On Mount Samaria
Amos 5:26-6:4 - You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god—which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is God Almighty. Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! Go to Kalneh and look at it; go from there to great Hamath, and then go down to Gath in Philistia. Are they better off than your two kingdoms? Is their land larger than yours? You put off the day of disaster and bring near a reign of terror. You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves.
Amos 3:9 - Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses of Egypt: “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest within her and the oppression among her people.”
Amos 2:4-5 - This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.”
Ezekiel 34:2-3 - “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.
Conclusions:
· Am I heedless of the justice called for in God's law?
· Do I disobey the revealed law of God?
· Do I only take care of myself?
· Do I take care of my flock?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Amos 3:9 - Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses of Egypt: “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria; see the great unrest within her and the oppression among her people.”
Amos 2:4-5 - This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.”
Ezekiel 34:2-3 - “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.
Conclusions:
· Am I heedless of the justice called for in God's law?
· Do I disobey the revealed law of God?
· Do I only take care of myself?
· Do I take care of my flock?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Justice and Righteousness
Amos 5:7,23-25 - There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground…Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! “Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
Micah 6:8 - He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 - But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”
Numbers 14:34 - For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’
Application:
· Do I act justly and love mercy?
· Do I ignore His law and despise true religion?
· Is my relationship with the Lord based on obedience?
· Are my sacrifices done with an attitude of obedience and devotion to the Lord?
· Do I set my own will above the command of the Lord?
· Do I refuse to carry out what the Lord commissions me to do?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Micah 6:8 - He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 - But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”
Numbers 14:34 - For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’
Application:
· Do I act justly and love mercy?
· Do I ignore His law and despise true religion?
· Is my relationship with the Lord based on obedience?
· Are my sacrifices done with an attitude of obedience and devotion to the Lord?
· Do I set my own will above the command of the Lord?
· Do I refuse to carry out what the Lord commissions me to do?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Day Of The Lord
Amos 5:19-22 - It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
Jeremiah 48:44 - “Whoever flees from the terror will fall into a pit, whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare; for I will bring on Moab the year of her punishment,” declares the LORD.
Obadiah 15 - “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.
Jeremiah 7:21 - “‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves!
Psalm 40:6 - Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened—burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Jeremiah 14:12 - Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.”
Micah 6:6 - With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Application:
· Divine judgment, once determined, is unavoidable.
· Will the Day of the Lord result in my judgment or my salvation?
· My sacrifices are worthless if my deeds are sinful.
· Am I obedient to God's moral law?
· Sacrifice is to no avail when unaccompanied by repentance.
· It does no good to offer sacrifices without obedience.
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Jeremiah 48:44 - “Whoever flees from the terror will fall into a pit, whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare; for I will bring on Moab the year of her punishment,” declares the LORD.
Obadiah 15 - “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.
Jeremiah 7:21 - “‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves!
Psalm 40:6 - Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened—burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Jeremiah 14:12 - Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.”
Micah 6:6 - With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Application:
· Divine judgment, once determined, is unavoidable.
· Will the Day of the Lord result in my judgment or my salvation?
· My sacrifices are worthless if my deeds are sinful.
· Am I obedient to God's moral law?
· Sacrifice is to no avail when unaccompanied by repentance.
· It does no good to offer sacrifices without obedience.
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Monday, January 24, 2011
Seek Good
Amos 5:12 -15 - For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil. Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.
Amos 2:7 - They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.
Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
Romans 12:9 - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Genesis 18:25 - Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Jeremiah 36:3 - Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn from their wicked ways; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.”
Application:
· Do I defend the poor and oppressed? Or, do I trample on them or deny them justice?
· Do I take advantage of the weaK? Or do I encourage them, defend them and plead for them?
· Is my love for fellow Christians and my fellowman sincere?
· The Judge of all the earth is just and does what is right!!!
· If I am repentant, the Lord will forgive my wickedness and sin!!!
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Amos 2:7 - They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.
Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
Romans 12:9 - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Genesis 18:25 - Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Jeremiah 36:3 - Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn from their wicked ways; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.”
Application:
· Do I defend the poor and oppressed? Or, do I trample on them or deny them justice?
· Do I take advantage of the weaK? Or do I encourage them, defend them and plead for them?
· Is my love for fellow Christians and my fellowman sincere?
· The Judge of all the earth is just and does what is right!!!
· If I am repentant, the Lord will forgive my wickedness and sin!!!
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Friday, January 21, 2011
Gilgal
Amos 5:4-6 - This is what the LORD says to Israel: “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.” Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.
Hosea 4:15 - “Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
Zephaniah 2:3 - Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
Leviticus 18:5 - Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.
Application:
· Do I use oaths deceitfully, as though I am truly honoring the Lord?
· Have I abandoned the arrogance of my idolatry and wickedness? Have I humbled myself in repentance before God?
· Is the law a way of life for me? It is not a way of salvation!!!
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Hosea 4:15 - “Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. “Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’
Zephaniah 2:3 - Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
Leviticus 18:5 - Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.
Application:
· Do I use oaths deceitfully, as though I am truly honoring the Lord?
· Have I abandoned the arrogance of my idolatry and wickedness? Have I humbled myself in repentance before God?
· Is the law a way of life for me? It is not a way of salvation!!!
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Seek
Amos 5:3-5 - This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Israel: “Your city that marches out a thousand strong will have only a hundred left; your town that marches out a hundred strong will have only ten left.” This is what the LORD says to Israel: “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.”
Deuteronomy 4:29 - But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Isaiah 55:3 - Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
Ezekiel 18:9 - He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Application:
· Do I seek and fear Him? Do I live in obedience to Him? Do I love and serve Him? When I forsake Him, do I renew my allegiance and commitment to Him?
· Do I listen to my God so that my soul may live?
· Is my life more than mere existence? Does my life include communion with God?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
Deuteronomy 4:29 - But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Isaiah 55:3 - Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
Ezekiel 18:9 - He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Application:
· Do I seek and fear Him? Do I live in obedience to Him? Do I love and serve Him? When I forsake Him, do I renew my allegiance and commitment to Him?
· Do I listen to my God so that my soul may live?
· Is my life more than mere existence? Does my life include communion with God?
All Scripture verses taken from NIV
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