What Did I Do?

Introduction:

Some of you were always chosen first for backyard kickball and it shows.

Some of you were the prettiest girl in your class or the most handsome guy and it shows.

Some of you got the best grades and it shows.

Some of you were the teacher’s pet.

Some of you grew up with wealth.

Some of you grew up in the country.

Some grew up with both parents.

Some grew up with a roof over our heads.

Some grew up with 3 square meals a day.

Some grew up with a bed that was all their own.

Some grew up with the Bible in a language you can actually read.

All of us grew up with and currently have God-given privileges.

Chosen Status

From Abraham to Moses

Israel had enjoyed a special status as God’s chosen people.

God through Amos specifically reminds them of the unity He created for them by calling them a “family”.

God through Amos specifically mentions the Exodus in v. 1.

Israel’s Status Was Unique

“You only have I known of all the families of the earth...”

No other nations enjoyed this special status.

Exodus 19:6 “and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.””

Israel enjoyed great spiritual privilege.

What happens to humans when we are given special status or privileges?

We start to think we deserve it.

We start to think we earned it.

We start to expect others to cater to it.

We start to get easily offended when we don’t get it.

Illustration: Hotel reviews

There was no mint on my pillow!

There was a smudge on the mirror in the bathroom!

The person working the front desk took more than 30 seconds to find my room key!

Maybe the real problem is that your expecting Ritz-Carlton service at the Super 8.

We become entitled so easily.

Amos’ Argument: Israel’s chosen status did not guarantee blessing or make them immune to judgment.

Thus he communicates God’s message to them, “therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

God had had enough of them acting like a spoiled child who is absolutely shocked when they get reprimanded from something.

If you play stupid game what do you win? - stupid prizes

As we mentioned last week, privilege comes with a heavy weight of responsibility. It isn’t free.

What has God privileged you with that you need to use for His glory?

Money - no matter how little or much you have.

Time

Family

Work

Home

Health

Life is a God-given privilege not a right.

Cause and Effect

Amos illustrates the point he is about to make with 9 cause and effect questions.

Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?

In Amos’ you couldn’t text somebody and say, “hey do you want to go for a walk?”

You had to make arrangements ahead of time.

The effect of walking together can only take place if the cause of making the arraignments has already happened.

Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey?

A lion doesn’t roar when it is stalking it’s prey.

The effect of a lion roaring comes when the cause of it catching its prey has already occured.

Perhaps it roars to scare the scavengers away.

Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?

Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it?

If you want the effect of trapping a bird you must first set the cause which is of course the trap.

No trap, no bird.

Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing?

Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid?

If the people of a city are afraid it is because a warning trumpet has been blown.

They have a cause to feel afraid.

Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?

Here Amos parallels his point.

If the effect your are experiencing is the judgment of God then the cause is your sin.

God doesn’t judge without a cause.

So why are you acting so surprised? What did I do?

The lion has roared; who will not fear?

Fear is the appropriate effect to the cause of the roar of the Lord.

Amos 1:2 “And he said: “The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers.””

The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?

Amos didn’t have a choice.

This was not a message he could keep to himself just because it was tragic and painful.

God has a cause for every effect you have experienced. Which reminds us:

God is more involved in your life than you realize.

Life’s little things matter.

We need to ask the question, “what is God trying to teach me?” more often.

Not every disaster is a direct judgment from the God.

Job teaches us that.

Jesus teaches us that. (Who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind?)

But here Israel had a prophet telling them that the disaster they were about to face was without question judgment from God and their response was, “what did I do?”

Commissioned Judgment

Enemies Entertained (v. 9)

The people of Israel will be humiliated.

When you get used to being picked first it is a humbling this to not get picked at all.

Absence of Shame (v. 10)

They have been living in their sin so long they can’t even remember how to do right.

Sin is now the norm. They have no shame for what they are doing.

Judgment Described (v. 11)

Surrounded - by an adversary, that we know to be Assyria

Brought Down - they are defeated

Plundered - even the temple

Judgment Pictured (v. 12)

A shepherd’s failed attempt at rescuing a lamb.

Two legs and an piece of an ear.

Well, at least I got part of it.

When Assyria is done with you there will only be a a corner of a couch and a piece of a bed left.

Judgment Aimed (v. 13-15)

Worship: Altars of Bethel

King Jeroboam, fearing that northern tribes would develop divided loyalties by traveling to Jerusalem for worship.

So he exploited Bethel’s religious tradition by establishing golden calves there as an alternative worship center.

Wealth and Luxury

Conclusion:

We are not above God’s correction.

Examine criticism before dismissing it. Israel should have listened to her prophets.

God has a cause for every effect you have experienced.

Wealth only brings a false sense of security.