Old Testament - Amos 5-6 - November 16

 

11/16/2022 – Amos 5-6


The Israelites have completely fallen away from the Lord, and in His place they have turned to idols and wickedness, the Lord is doing His best to warn them to turn around and change their lives. In Chapter 5 the Lord is telling His people to seek Him and to do good. His very words are “Seek ye me, and ye shall live.” (v 4 AND v 6) Doing that will allow them to avoid the harsh ways the Lord must sometimes use of getting our attention, the ways He uses when we refuse to obey the commandments and seek His directions. He is doing all He can to help us use our time on this earth wisely, and thus grow closer and stronger in our relations with Him. 

In v 8 He explains that seeking Him, and finding Him, “turneth the shadow of death into the morning”. He repeats again and again “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live…Hate the evil, and love the good; establish judgement…” (v15) He then goes on to name for the Israelites all the things they are doing that are not good. Their part of this is to listen and to do—and He then leaves it up to us as to what we will do.

Chapter 6 seems to tell me to work hard and to trust in the Lord; only He says it this way: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…” (v 1) In verses 3-7, the Lord describes an easy, lackadaisical, way of living. I think He is telling us the importance of having compassion for others, and showing that compassion through our actions. 

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