Scripture:
Amos 2:9-16 ESV
[9] “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. [10] Also, it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to possess the land of the Amorite. [11] And I raised up some of your sons for prophets and some of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?” declares the Lord. [12] “But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy.’ [13] “Behold, I will press you down in your place, as a cart full of sheaves presses down. [14] Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life; [15] he who handles the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, nor shall he who rides the horse save his life; [16] and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day,” declares the Lord.
Observation:
I knew that when we got to this portion of the bible, it would be difficult to bring to life the purpose of it. I will always stand on the fact that I believe the bible is the autobiography of jesus. I believe what Amos is pointing out is that it doesn’t matter if your skill set is for battle. There is no defense against the LORD. GOD’S chosen people… the nation HE set aside had drifted away from HIM in their hearts. Sure, they might have been going through the motions. Making sacrifice holding holidays, but their heart was not in it. For a GOD who wants their heart that just wasn’t going to work. The book of Amos seems to be a very stern warning. A cry from the LORD for the heart of HIS people. HE sent Amos to tell them to return to ME (the LORD) no one will be able to stand on his own merret when that day come their only hope is the LORD. It is not going to matter if they are trained in battle. No one has a defense against HIM. I believe the undertone is Jesus. Of course, you don’t hear HIS wonderful name. However, you can see the need for HIM in the outcry of the LORD through Amos. HE is their only defense. All the sacrifice of bulls and goats won’t do it. Their heart needs to belong to the savior.
Application:
If you think you can be good enough, you’re wrong. Every one of us, if standing on what we have done, will be found guilty. On that day (the great and mighty day of the LORD), our only defense will be the son of GOD. We need to get that right. The reason I’m saying this is clear in my mind. We will all stand before HIM. And for the non-believer, that’s not going to be a fun day. They will maybe try to say, but I’m a good person look at all I have done… only to find out it’s not enough. What you have done won’t work. I think about 2 very distinct groups that are mentioned by Jesus Christ HIMSELF. The first group stands with the defense that says, “Didn’t we prophecy and your name… didn’t we heal the sick? Didn’t we, didn’t we, didn’t we. This is the group that I believe is spoken about in this set of scripture. Trusting on who they are. The second group is a lot different. Their question is not focused on what they did. It’s more of a question of when did we visit the sick when? did we feed the homeless? When did we see you in prison? Their heart is not self focused. But, focused on doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. When a believer stands before christ, his only defense is Jesus. Let’s lock that down right now. Without HIS grace, we have no chance. No defense. My point is to keep your eyes on HIM. Stay focused on what HE did, not what you have done.
Prayer:
Father, again, I have to say that the life that you have given us is not about us at all. It’s about you it’s all you. You gave us a defense when we had no way to defend ourselves. When we were trapped in the sin of pride, you showed us that pride won’t work. That statement we make but I I I needs to be turned to you you you. We can and never will be able to stand on what we have done. We have to stand on what you dud at the cross. Let us rest in that knowing that nothing else will work. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.