SEEK THE LORD AND LIVE-AMOS 5:1-17

Introduction

AMOS LAMENTS

Amos 5:1–3 ESV

Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel: “Fallen, no more to rise, is the virgin Israel; forsaken on her land, with none to raise her up.” For thus says the Lord God: “The city that went out a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went out a hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel.”

Amos uses a figurative language to describe Isreal as virgin or a young woman. He paints a picture of dead young woman laid on the ground whom the tears and lament pf the grieved parents and her betrothed can no longer revive her as reference to the future of Isreal. under the captivity of the Babylonians.

Death is sudden “ fallen”

Her corps are unattended “ forsaken with non to raise her up”

Her armies are decimated since it has lost 90 %.

Like Amos Our Lord lamented for Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 -39

Matthew 23:37–39 ESV

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

The picture that Amos paints is picture of all those who here is picture of all those who has who have not believed in Jesus. regardless of how they look, what they have or where they are from.

John 3:18 ESV

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

LIVE - GOD’S CALL TO LIFE

Amos 5:4–7 ESV

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live; but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.” Seek the Lord and live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel, O you who turn justice to wormwood and cast down righteousness to the earth!

unless we understand that we are cannot save our selves, the picture of a dead and helpless woman will be our reality soon. when we realize that through the work of the Holy Spirit of God we will be able to see that God is calling us to life.

“SEEK ME AND LIVE”

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 1875. דָּרַשׁ

דָּרַשׁ dârash, daw-rash´; a prim. root; prop. to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by impl. to seek or ask; spec. to worship:—ask, × at all, care for, × diligently, inquire, make inquisition, [necro-] mancer, question, require, search, seek [for, out], × surely.

Deuteronomy 4:29 ESV

But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Jeremiah 29:7 ESV

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The only the word seek is explained here in these passage is that these guys were looking forward to the promised messiah. They were not to seek

LOSS

Amos 5:10–13 ESV

They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth. Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.

LOVE

Amos 5:14–15 ESV

Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

LAMENT

Amos 5:16–17 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: “In all the squares there shall be wailing, and in all the streets they shall say, ‘Alas! Alas!’ They shall call the farmers to mourning and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation, and in all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through your midst,” says the Lord.

Conclusion