Amos 4
COMMENTARY:
: 6 And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have you not returned unto me, says the LORD. (2640 “want” [chocer] means lack of, need, become empty, scarce, be abated, be devoid of or poverty.)
DEVOTION: The phrase “cleanness of teeth” is interesting. If you have nothing to eat your teeth have nothing to get caught in between them. They are clean.
Next HE takes away their only stable food. Bread was very important to the children of Israel. They had it with every meal. I married into a family that is a lover of bread. They have fresh bread at almost every family gathering. My wife makes homemade bread regularly and shares it with our son and his family.
What would happen if you didn’t have your favorite item of food? What would you do? Would you go to the store in the middle of the night to try to find that item?
The children of Israel could not be satisfied if they didn’t have bread. However, the source of all things is the LORD and they didn’t want to go to HIM for their bread. They were stubborn.
When we lack basic necessities what do we do? Do we turn to the LORD and ask HIM to forgive us for not being faithful to HIM. OR do we just continue on our present course of action without realizing that HE is trying to get our attention?
CHALLENGE: If our circumstances seem impossible to conquer, it should cause us to ask why. Then we should go to the LORD in prayer and ask how we can allow HIM to change our circumstances.
: 7 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain on another city: one piece was rained on, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. (4513 “withholden” [mana‘] means keep back, refrain, deny, hinder, or refuse to hand over or share.)
DEVOTION: Here we find that the LORD is in control of the weather. HE uses many means to get our attention. HE used the lack of rain to get the attention of the children of Israel.
They were a people who were farmers. They needed rain so that their crops would grow. They needed rain to have enough water to drink. They needed rain so that their animals could live.
God took away their rain so that they would return to HIM. HE had a purpose for a famine. HIS purpose is always to have HIS people come to HIM in prayer and ask for forgiveness of sin.
HE sent disease to the plants so that they were no good to eat. So the people were without a good crop and even what they had wasn’t good to eat.
If a people is thirsty and hungry and still doesn’t return to the LORD. Where do they go? Humans have the feeling that they can conquer any problem themselves without the LORD. They are wrong but we have these same thoughts even today.
CHALLENGE: If the LORD is trying to get your attention by some things that are happening in your life, go to HIM in prayer and ask for wisdom to know what HE is expecting of you.
: 8 So two or three cities wandered to one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied; yet have you not returned to ME, says the LORD. (7725 “returned” [shuwb] means to turn away from sin, to turn back, go back, come back, apostatize, repent, or physical motion to point of departure.)
DEVOTION: There is a tendency in the Christian life to wander from the LORD. We still have our sin nature after salvation. We still have a struggle understanding the Christian life. We are still tempted to do and say things that the LORD doesn’t approve of.
Each year there are new trials the LORD allows in our life. HE is not tempting us to sin. God never tempts anyone to sin. HE wants us to grow in our knowledge of HIM and this only happen through suffering.
The children of Israel were faced with famine and instead of repenting and turning from their sins they continued in sin and looked for other sources of help to relieve their thirst.
In this chapter the LORD keeps stating through HIS prophet Amos that no matter what HE sent their way for them to come back to HIM, they didn’t come. The word “return” is used to tell us what the LORD wanted HIS people to do but they didn’t. HE didn’t force them to return but HE gave them opportunity.
We have the same opportunity in our life if we stray from the LORD. HE wants us to return to HIM. If you have strayed don’t stay there, come back to the LORD. HIS arms are open just like the father of the prodigal son.
CHALLENGE: When the LORD repeats a statement through HIS prophet we should even listen today.
: 12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. (3559 “prepare” [kuwn] means to be firm, be stable, be established, set up, be ready, or be securely determined.)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel were sent five warning of judgment. They were sent prophets to preach the coming captivity. They were sent drought to tell them that the LORD was not pleased with their actions. They were sent armies against them. Cities were destroyed. Natural disasters were sent. The people saw all these things happening around them and yet they would not return to the LORD.
As we look around our world do we see the same types of warnings going on? Is the LORD still trying to communicate with HIS world with natural disasters, war, and famine? Are we listening to HIS warnings? How many more warnings does HE have to send before we will return to HIS standards?
We realize that most of those in the world will never make a decision to follow Christ. They are blinded by sin. They just don’t see the truth of what is happening around them. Satan has them believing lies and liars. They want to listen to people who say they can make their life better. They promise a rose garden but give land full of weeds.
Are we ready to meet our God? In every funeral I preach I present the gospel message to those who are there. Some people only come to funerals and weddings to hear the word of God. They are warned that they have a choice to make concerning their future. Most who don’t know Christ leave the building thinking that they have plenty of time to make a decision to follow the LORD.
One of my friends just died and it only took less than a second before he was in the presence of the LORD. He knew the LORD but many do not. Our responsibility is to warn them of coming judgment and their need to be ready. It is our desire that all in our world would make a decision to follow Jesus. How about those in your world?
God gives enough warning to get the attention of HIS people. IF they don’t respond correctly, HE has to end their life. In the New Testament we are told to examine ourselves so that we can know where we stand with our fellowship with the LORD.
If we don’t respond correctly, HE will send weakness, then sickness and finally pre-mature death.
CHALLENGE: If we stray, we need to return to the LORD through confession and seek a new direction toward HIM. The alternative means an end of life.
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