Old Testament - Amos 1-2 - November 14

11/14/2022 – Amos 1-2

Long ago, God had chosen Abraham’s seed to be His covenant people so that they would “be a blessing” to all people (Genesis 12:2-3). Time has passed since the days of Joel, and the Lord’s covenant people have once again slid backward, for they are now oppressing the poor and ignoring the prophets and making their acts of worship empty and meaningless. They seemed to think that if the nations that surrounded them were doing these wicked things, then it was okay for them to do them also.

Amos is a herdsman in Judah, and he is the man that the Lord sent to preach repentance to the Kingdom of Israel. Why is it that we can’t seem to remember that the things the Lord cares for most is for us to live a righteous life. That will bring peace, not just to ourselves, but also to those around us.

Amos’ message is not a pleasant one. He is to warn the Israelites that “the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.”  The Lord has Amos tell the people that He will “send a fire into the house of Hazael which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad” (v’s 3-4) He goes further saying He will cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and the people will be taken into captivity once again. (v 5) 

The Lord points out that the Israelites have not made just one mistake, but they continue to live outside the law that the Lord had given them. The terrible punishments he puts on the people are the only thing that might get their attention, but the people continue to go forward in their ways that are now far from the ways the Lord has commanded them to live. They take advantage of the poor, their morality is far from what the Lord has commanded. 

Amos goes over all the ways the people have fallen away from the Lord. He reminds them of His commandments. He reminds them of how the Lord has helped them out of their difficult times. He also reminds them of how many times the Lord has given them hard times, as that was the only way to get their attention. He tells them of the destruction that will come if they don’t straighten up. And then in v’s 14-16 he reminds them that the Lord is stronger than them all: “Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself. And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the Lord.”  And yet they continued in their wicked ways.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:24-52 - January 19, 2022

 1/19/2022 – Moses 6:24-52 The Old Testament tells us just a little about Enoch, but the Book of Moses greatly increases our understanding of his life, his ministry and his teachings. Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam. In those seven generations, many had left the teachings of the Lord. It was when Enoch “journeyed in the land among the people” (v 26) that “He heard a voice from heaven, saying, Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off.” (v 27). I read this and I feel the warning to us that we are not to rely only on our ‘earthly vision’. The Lords rewards are not always immediate. But if we keep the commandments, keeping our eyes focused on the ultimate reward that the Lord holds in store for us, THEN we will be able to “see afar off”.  In v...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 7:16-47 - January 29, 2022

  1/29/2022 - Moses 7:16-47 I didn’t realize I was repeating Moses 6 until I was finished with it the 2nd time. But what was beautiful to me is that studying the same scriptures a second time simply brought more thoughts and understanding and desires to be sure to return to my Father in Heaven….to finish my earthly life with the same goals that I started it. I LOVE studying the scriptures! There were now so many people on earth who had chosen not to follow the ways of the Lord. V 16: And from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness.”  V 18: “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” V 19: “And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.”  Zion was est...
Read more

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 6:40-56 - January 27, 2022

 1/27/2022 – Moses 6:40-59 [I’m still in Moses 6—haven’t figure out I’m reading this again) Enoch has seen and spoken with the Lord, and he follows the Lord’s instructions no matter what they entail.  President Monson once said: “It’s not enough to wish, it’s not enough to dream, it’s not enough to promise. We must do.”  And that’s just what Enoch did! He is going into areas where there is much evil. When the people there ask about him, he tells simply and honestly: “I came out of the land of Cainan, the land of my fathers, a land of righteousness unto this day. And my father taught me all the ways of God.” (v 41) Enoch answers their questions, he teaches them many things about God, but he keeps the profound spiritual things the Lord has revealed unto him to himself. The people he is teaching, are not ready to receive a higher law or standard. In v 46 Enoch tells them that his people keep a “book of remembrance” that they have written, according to the pattern given by th...
Read more