Week 2 - Judgement Upon Israel

DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

SVCC is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

wk 1 - Yahweh the universal King ROARS and CIRCLES his prey as a LION

WHY?…

Our worship has to be more than observing special days and gathering together.

Our worship must be a heart felt desire to SEEK Yahweh and His ways!

TODAY: A Faithless People, A Faithful God

The story of God’s faithfulness can include a story of God’s judgment

The HOOK:

Faithless, Faithful, Judgment, Warning:

Israel’s Sin

Israel’s faithlessness

Amos 2:6-8 “6 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals— 7 those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned; 8 they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.”

Israel was corrupt and justice was denied for the poor.

v. 7b highlights the high value of sexual purity by connecting it to God’s holiness

Yahweh’s Salvation

God is faithful

Amos 2:9-11 “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.”

Israel’s Swift Punishment

God’s faithfulness leads to His judgment/discipline

Amos 2:12-16 “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.”

Yahweh’s Selection

God’s faithfulness as warning ROAR

Amos 3:1-8 “1 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: 2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? 4 Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing? 5 Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing? 6 Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it? 7 “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. 8 The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?””

Amos 3:2 ESV

2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

Amos 3:2 “2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

The election of Israel as a people/nation

Implication: election makes you open to God’s discipline (Heb. 12:6 “6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”” ). Judgment starts in the household of God (1 Peter 4:17 “17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” )

The story of God’s faithfulness can become a story of God’s judgment/discipline

Amos 3:6 ESV

6 Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?

Amos 3:6 “6 Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?”

Conclusion/Reflection:

The story of God’s faithfulness can become a story of God’s judgment/discipline if His people remain faithless.

Talk It Over

Discuss

Why do people turn away from God, when he is the only one who is able to save completely? (See Jer. 13:22–23 and Rom. 1:25.)

Jeremiah 2:13 speaks of two great sins.

What are some of the ways in which born-again Christian people can forsake him who is ‘the spring of living water’?

What kind of things do we use to help ourselves, rather than putting our trust in God alone?

What are some of the ways in which nations have shunned the Word of God today?

Christians are required to walk humbly with their God. How do the pressures of modern life divert us from this?

Further Study

Read 2 Kings 17:13–21; what were the consequences of Israel and Judah’s failure to keep God’s commands and honor the covenant he had made with them?

Israel itself came under the condemnation of the Lord and 1 Peter 4:17 tells us that judgement begins ‘with the family of God’. What are some of the consequences for those who do ‘not obey the gospel of God’ (see Matt. 25:31–46; 2 Thes. 1:8–9)?

In Exodus 19:5 we read of God’s choice of Israel as his ‘treasured possession’. Read Exodus 19:5–6: what were the blessings promised to Israel? What were the things that they were required to do? In what ways had Israel failed to do these things in Amos’s time?