Amos: Privilege Creates Responsibility

Opening:

Jumping back into the BIG PICTURE

**Announce: TWO SESSIONS—THEN BREAK,, NEW TOPIC OVER SUMMER… **

Tonight: AIMING to COVER ALL of AMOS (9 CHAPTERS) — LOTS of SUMMARY — JUMPING AROUND…

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Historical Setting/Background:

Recap: DIVIDED KINGDOM…

SOLOMON’S SIN & REHOBOAM’S FOLLY

GOD SENDING PROPHETS to HIS PEOPLE

Focus: THIS MONTH— FOCUSING on FINAL DAYS of ISRAEL (NORTH)

Historical Background: CONTINUAL WICKEDNESS in ISRAEL— NO RIGHTEOUS KINGS **SEE TIMELINE**

JEROBOAM I — IDOLATRY

AHAB — BAAL

Setting: YRS LATER— JEROBOAM II — BAD GUY — TIME of AMOS.

Read Amos 1:1

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Teaching:

Chapter 1: Intro & Sin of Nations

Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

Background (Amos, prophet):

FROM JUDAH (SEE MAP)

FARMER —CATTLE, SHEEP, FIGS (Ref. Ch. 7).

PROPHESIES DURING JEROBOAM II (ISRAEL) & UZZIAH (JUDAH)

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**TURN to 2 KINGS 14...**

Jeroboam II — Wicked King

2 Kings 14:23–24 ESV

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

Historical Context: DESPITE HIS EVIL—THINGS WERE PROSPEROUS

2 Kings 14:25–26 ESV

25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel.

**SEE P.P. PIC**

Background: ASSYRIA & SYRIA FIGHTING — ISRAEL COULD RETAKE LAND

Sin Problem: ECONOMIC PROSPERITY = ABUSE of POOR, LACK of JUSTICE

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Focus: GOD SENDS AMOS—HIS MOUTHPIECE

READ: AMOS 1:2

Amos 1:2 ESV

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.”

AMOS—GOD’S MOUTHPIECE,, DECLARING JUDGMENT

**SUMMARY** PATTERN ACROSS NATIONS…

LOOK @@ VS. 3…

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Amos 1-2 The Sin of the Nations

Amos 1:3 ESV

3 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron.

DAMASCUS—SYRIA

GAZA—PHILISTINES (V6)

TRYE (V9)

EDOM (V11)

AMMONITES (V13)

MOAB (2:1)

EACH INSTANCE—GOD HAS a SPECIFIC CASE AGAINST THEM.

Exhort: GOD KEEPS TRACK of SIN (FOR 3...AND FOR 4....)

**JUDGE of ALL the EARTH WILL ACT JUSTLY**

STRUGGLING W/ PROSPERITY of WICKED?? HE’LL HANDLE IT.

Relate: IMAGINE, ISRAEL PROBABLY FEELS GOOD ABOUT THIS??

“GET ‘EM!”

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Transition ➡ STORY’S NOT OVER YET…

READ: CH. 2 v4-5

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Chapter 2: The Sin of Judah & Israel

Amos 2:4–5 ESV

4 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked. 5 So I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.”

FROM NATIONS… to JUDAH (CLOSER to HOME)

(Q) DO YOU NOTICE GOD’S CHARGE? WHAT’D THEY DO WRONG?? BROKE GOD’S LAW.

**THEY WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE for WHAT THEY KNEW**

JUDAH KNEW BETTER.

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Transition ➡ CHARGE GETS EVEN CLOSER…

READ: v6-8

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Sin of Israel

Amos 2:6–8 ESV

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 NOW in GOD’S SIGHTS… ABUSE of POOR, SEXUAL SIN, ETC…

Problem: ISRAEL & JUDAH KNEW BETTER…

DO YOU THINK ISRAELITES WERE STILL CELEBRATING AMOS’ PREACHING??

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Scary Truth: EASY to SAY “AMEN!” — TO MESSAGE ABOUT SINNERS “OUT THERE.”

HARDER— ACCEPT MESSAGE… SINNER “IN MIRROR”

ALL HUMANS — HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY GENERAL REVELATION (CREATION)

COVENANT PEOPLE — HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY SPECIAL REVELATION (SCRIPTURE)

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Exhort: PRIVILEGE CREATES RESPONSIBILITY

KNOWLEDGE CREATES RESPONSIBILITY

Challenge: GOD DESIRES NOT JUST BIBLE KNOWLEDGE from HIS PEOPLE—BUT BIBLE APPLICATION.

James 1:22 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

THINKING KNOWING = ENOUGH .… DECEIVED…

KNOWING MORE + DISOBEYING MORE = INDICTING!

GOD’S PEOPLE—SPITTING in HIS FACE… DESPITE ALL HE’D DONE…

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Transition ➡ READ: 2:9-11

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Recounting Grace (2:9-11)

Amos 2:9–11 ESV

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.

GOD HAD BEEN SO KIND to THEM— & THEY SHOULD HAVE LIVED in RESPONSE!

REHEARSAL of GRACE:

HE GAVE THEM CANAAN — OVER GIANTS (RECAP JOSHUA)

DELIVERED THEM FROM EGYPT

**THEY OUGHT to RESPOND to HIS GRACE**

SIMILAR IDEA... READ: 3:1-2

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Amos 3:1–2 ESV

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.

GOD HAD CHOSEN ISRAEL…

AGAIN: PRIVILEGE CREATES RESPONSIBILITY.

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Background: Israel, God’s Covenant People

Exodus 19:5–6 ESV

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

ISRAEL—TO BE GOD’S “HOLY” SPECIAL, DISTINCT PEOPLE…

HELD to THAT STANDARD…

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Challenge: CONSIDER for US

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

CHURCH = GOD’S HOLY, SPECIAL PEOPLE…

**WE WON’T BE PERFECT,

BUT WE OUGHT to BE DISTINCT**

WE’RE GOD’S REPRESENTATIVES

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(2:7) ISRAEL’S ACTS “PROFANED” GOD’S HOLY NAME!

Challenge:

WE MIGHT BE the ONLY BIBLE SOME PEOPLE READ...

OUR PRESENCE...POSS. ONLY CHURCH SERVICE THEY ATTEND…

KNOWING GOD—HE DESIRES US to REPRESENT HIM.

**NOT LEGALISM** BUT a “THANKS” for SAVING US!

**AGAIN,, RECAP: CHOSEN, EGYPT, AMORITE** — GOD HAD ALREADY GRACED THEM W/ SO MUCH!!

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Conclusion: ISRAEL—ALSO UNDER JUDGMENT.

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Transition ➡ WE’LL SEE THIS MORE CLEARLY...

READ: V12-15

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Amos 3:12–15 (ESV) Samaria as Leftover Lamb (v12-15)

12 Thus says the Lord: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.

13 “Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord God, the God of hosts,

14 “that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.

15 I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end,” declares the Lord.

SAMARIA (ISRAEL’S CAPITAL) = GLORIOUS CITY—DESTINED for DESTRUCTION…

**LIKE LEFTOVERS from a LION’S DINNER!!**

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Stark Contrast: PRESENT BLESSEDNESS—FUTURE DESTRUCTION

Exhort: PROSPERITY DOESN’T ALWAYS EQUAL GOD’S APPROVAL…

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HOUSE of CARDS—BUILT on TAKING ADVANTAGE of the POOR…

THEIR EXTERNAL BEAUTY MERELY HID INTERNAL DECAY.

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**Disclaimer** A God of Amazing Grace:

Encourage: BUT NOTE THAT GOD DIDN’T DESTROY THEM RIGHT AWAY

Exhort: SCRIPTURE TEACHES: GOD is SLOW to ANGER

JEROBOAM II— KING for 41 YRS!

Implication: PLENTY of TIME to GET RIGHT W/ GOD...

**HE’S SELDOM the GOD of the LIGHTNING BOLT**

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Transition ➡ HE’D GIVEN THEM PLENTY of OPPORTUNITIES…

Read: chapter 4:6-13

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Chapter 4: A Refusal to Return (v6-13)

Amos 4:6–13 (ESV)

6 “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord.

7 “I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would have rain, and the field on which it did not rain would wither;

8 so two or three cities would wander to another city to drink water, and would not be satisfied; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord.

9 “I struck you with blight and mildew; your many gardens and your vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord.

10 “I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, and carried away your horses, and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord.

11 “I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord.

12 “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!

**APPARENTLY a PREVIOUS TIME**

Conclusion: GOD COULDN’T GET THEIR ATTENTION—THEY DIDN’T CARE!

FAMINE

NO RAIN/HARVEST

BLIGHT

MILDEW

LOCUSTS

Conclusion: YET YOU DID NOT RETURN to ME....

GOD GAVE THEM AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES!

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Transition ➡ & HE WAS GOING to GIVE THEM ONE MORE...

READ: CH. 5… V4-6

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Chapter 5—A call to return “Seek me and live” (v4-6, 14-15)

Amos 5:4–6 (ESV)

4 For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live;

5 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.”

6 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,

JUDGMENT DIDN’T NEED to BE the END…

GOD SAID “SEEK ME & LIVE!”

Recap: Joel’s Ministry

Joel 2:12 ESV

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

2 Options:

GENUINELY SEEK GOD & RETURN to HIM.… & LIVE.

REFUSE, FORSAKE GOD… & DIE.

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**Essential: IF THEY WERE GOING to RETURN—MUST BE WHOLE-HEARTED**

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Transition ➡ READ: AMOS. 5:21-24

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Refusing Feasts—Accepting Justice (v21-24)

Amos 5:21–24 ESV

21 “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

GOD DIDN’T WANT THEM to DRAW NEAR W/ LIPS—WHILE HEARTS WERE FAR FROM HIM…

NO DESIRE for SACRIFICE

WORSHIP

FEASTS

(V24) GOD DESIRED JUSTICE & RIGHTEOUSNESS—ACTUAL CHANGE

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Consider, John the Baptist’s Preaching:

Matthew 3:8 ESV

8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

DON’T JUST “SAY” SORRY… “SHOW” IT!

PEOPLE WOULDN’T TURN…

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**Summarizing Ch. 6-8**

Ch. 6 — WOE to THOSE AT EASE

NO SECURITY WITHOUT GOD.

CH. 7 — GOD’S LAW LIKE a PLUMBLINE— JUDGMENT SURE to COME

CH. 8 — PICTURE— “RIPE” for JUDGMENT

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Transition ➡ CH. 9 BEGINS W/ JUDGMENT ORACLE… BUT ENDS W/ HOPE.

READ: 9:11-15

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Future Hope: Amos 9:11–15 (ESV)

11 “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old,

12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the Lord who does this.

13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.

14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.

15 I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

JUDGMENT LOOMING—PROBLEMS on HORIZON…

FUTURE DAY of BLESSEDNESS WOULD COME…

(Q) MANY SESSIONS AGO—DAVIDIC COVENANT… GOD PROMISED to BUILD DAVID a..… HOUSE

(V11) BOOTH/TENT of DAVID — REFERS to PRESENT DILAPIDATED STATUS of DAVIDIC “HOUSE”/ MONARCHY...

GOD HAD FUTURE PLANS for HIS PEOPLE—RESTORATION

LINKED W/ DAVIDIC KING ((JERUSALEM,, SOUTH))

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INAUGURATED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST—the REBUILDER of DAVID’S FALLEN TENT...

(v12-15) A RETURN to EDEN…

WHAT WE SEE in REV. CH. 21-22

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LOOKING @ BIG PICTURE

AMOS PROPHESIES DESTRUCTION of ISRAEL —

WE’LL SEE THIS NEXT TIME (722 BC),... ASSYRIA CONQUERS SAMARIA...

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Takeaways:

AMOS TEACHES US—GOD CARES ABOUT JUSTICE

HE KEEPS TRACK of SIN—ALL PEOPLE

Romans 1:20 ESV

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

CREATION = SUFFICIENT to CONDEMN—PEOPLE SUPRESS the TRUTH ABOUT GOD…

DAY of JUDGMENT = STILL to COME— BUT DAY of SALVATION for BELIEVER

Exhort: JUSTICE of GOD MANIFESTED @ CALVARY…

DOES GOD CARE ABOUT SIN??? — LOOK @ THE CROSS!

OUR ONLY CHANGE—SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

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2. PRIVILEGE CREATES RESPONSIBILITY

BEING GOD’S PEOPLE—THE CHURCH—WE SHOULDN’T LIVE PRESUMPTUOUSLY…

Romans 2:4 ESV

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Exhort: NOT SAVED BY WORKS—BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN GOD DOESN’T CARE…

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

GOD CARES HOW WE LIVE—WE’RE HIS REPRESENTATIVES…

GOD DELIVERED ISRAEL from EGYPT

HE DELIVERED US from SIN & DEATH

SHOULD WE NOT SERVE HIM in RESPONSE??

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

IN VIEW of GOD’S MERCIES—WE GIVE EVERYTHING to HIM & HIS SERVICE…

STRIVE to BRING GOD NO DISHONOR BY HOW WE LIVE…

Ephesians 4:30 NLT

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

AMOS CHALLENGES US… BUT LEAVES US WITH HOPE—

HOPE LINKED to DAVIDIC KING… JESUS CHRIST,, & HIM ALONE.

Closing Questions/Thoughts??

!! Close in Prayer !!