God's Chosen
God’s Chosen
Many Christians want to be exempt from their behavior that is against God’s Word, but God is holy and will not allow that. Jesus is the Savior of the world, but God expects His to live for Him and not use forgiveness as excuse to commit sin.
Background
-Amos was a sheepherder, not a professional—750 BC
-name means burden—1 of 12 minor prophets—first written
-native of Tekoa—12 miles south of Bethlehem
-contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea
-prophesied in northern kingdom—Israel
-Israel had become very prosperous—led to luxury & entitlement
-which led people to THINK they didn’t need God
-Amos is WARNING of God’s coming judgment—just a messenger
-last week—7 nations announced judgment—God is serious
-God is serious about sin of His people—so much so He sent Jesus
Amos 2:6-8--Israel Is Not Exempt
Israel—center of God’s working & His people—He is known
Sin:
v. 6--make the righteous pay for their release & poor give “sandals”
v. 7—take advantage of the oppressed & grieving—even orphans
-father & son use same concubine or temple prostitute—learned!
v. 8—were keeping pledges from poor—against God’s law
(Deut. 24:12-13)
-flaunted their gains from oppression in temple—God’s place
-somehow they thought that was OK with God
-Proverbs 14:9—fools mock at sin
-Galatians 6:7—don’t be deceived; God is not mocked
Amos 2:9-16--Israel Had Enjoyed Proof
-God reminds them of what He has done for THEM-promised land
v. 9—God is the one who defeated the enemies going in to promised
-the enemies were powerful and strong, but no match for God
v. 10—God made it possible for them to possess any land
-He brought them out of Egypt & through wilderness—40 years
v. 11—raised up some young men to be Godly leaders
-prophets—spoke for Him & Nazirites—vow of holiness to God
v. 12—but they enticed Nazirites to break vow
-they told prophets not to speak—meant not doing what God wanted
v. 13—their sin weighs God down—like wagon filled w/ sheaves
v. 14-16—those who try to flee God’s judgment will not succeed
-strength will be gone from the strong
-the fast will be made slow
-the warrior will be unstable
-the brave will run scared but not escape
Amos 3:1-8—The Obvious Is Evident
v. 1-2—Lord is speaking against whole nation—all punished
v. 3—he uses these obvious statements to make them realize
-God’s grave and favors does not exempt them from his wrath
-Can 2 walk together if not agreed? No, and God doesn’t either
-lion roar in forest when no prey? No—God will act
-young lion roar in den without capture? No—their acts deserve this
-bird fall into trap w/o bait? No—judgt. will come & last until done
-trap spring w/o a prey? No, God’s Word will stand until complete
-they have shown no repentance or remorse
-trumpet blown & people not respond? No, all bad will be from God
-calamity in city w/o God doing it? No, God will be the cause
v. 7-8—God speaks through his prophets & it is real—He speaks!
Amos 3:9-15—The Wrath Is Real
v. 9—God will make sure all the neighbors know what He does
-Ashdod is neighbor—Egypt is a neighbor
-all of the Israelite bear responsibility and blame
v. 10—they do not know any more how to do right
-they do violence & destroy even in the places of “refuge”
-God will correct that and teach them a lesson
v. 11—an enemy will destroy them—strength no more
v. 12—when God is finished not much will be left of them
-just like a shepherd taking only parts of lamb from lion’s mouth
v. 13-all are guilty
v. 14-15—His wrath will be felt and God will destroy the idols
-punish the altars of Bethel—royal sanctuary of Jeroboam II
-smite winter & summer houses & ivory—no one can hide
-not even the wealthy can hide or buy their way out
God’s Chosen:
1. Are held to a higher standard—believers—in Christ
2. Are going to be judged by Christ
3. Are NOT exempt from God’s wrath