Seek The Lord | Amos 5:5-8
Notes
Transcript
Read: Amos 5:5-8
Read: Amos 5:5-8
5 But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, And pass not to Beer-sheba: For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Beth-el shall come to nought. 6 Seek the Lord, and ye shall live; Lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el. 7 Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, And leave off righteousness in the earth, 8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, And turneth the shadow of death into the morning, And maketh the day dark with night: That calleth for the waters of the sea, And poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name:
Introduction:
Introduction:
How bad are you at losing your car?
I’m terrible at it.
When I park the car and go in the store or place of business, by the time I come out I have to stop and think where I parked.
One time I got lost in the St. Francis Hospital parking garage. It seemed like hours. I’m not one to panic, but I was starting to feel it that day. I kept pushing my car alarm button but couldn’t hear anything. Finally I got close enough and heard it on the next floor down. What a relief to finally crawl inside, “I found my way back home”
I don’t think I’m quite as bad as the poor man from Germany. He parked his car at a place of business, but later couldn’t find it. He reported the car missing in 1997 the police looked but could never find it. 20 years later, at 76 years-old, the man recieved a phone call from the police, a construction crew preparing to demolish a building and lot and found a derelict car and reported it.
The man went to recover the car, and realized, it was right where he had parked it.
I’ve never taken 20 years to find my car yet....
But sometimes it takes people a long time, or at least serious trouble before they begin to seek the Lord.
That’s what is going on in our scripture passage tonight.
I don’t know what it was really like, but I picture it like this:
According to Amos 7:13, Amos is preaching by the entrance to the temple at Bethel. No doubt it is a lively and bustling atmosphere. The hustle and bustle of commerce, the dancing and singing processionals of religious festivals, streams of worshiper carrying or leading their offerings destined for sacrifice on the altar. (Allen Guenther)
It’s at this moment that Amos, surrounded by city life, sophistication, and wealth, while he just a hillbilly farmer from Tekoa, in his greasy overalls, plaid shirt, straw hat, and southern accent breaks out in a mournful funeral dirge.
What a contrast to the noise and music around him,
One has made a literary outline of this section of Amos like this: showing the chiastic structure -
It’s Your Funeral, 5:1–3
There’s One Way Out, Maybe, 5:4–6
Cause of Death, 5:7
God’s in Charge: I AM! 5:8–9
Cause of Death, 5:10–13
There’s One Way Out, Maybe, 5:14–15
It’s Your Funeral, 5:16–17
Amos is declaring - “Thus sayeth the Lord, judgment is coming, we are dead.”
But then as I have told you several times before, “Judgement is never God’s last word.”
Amos says, there may be a way out.
One way - it has nothing to do with politics, standing up for rights, or fighting.
It’s a simple imperative -
SEEK THE LORD!!!
You have been distracted - you have forgotten where you parked, you have lost your reference point. That is restored only by seeking God.
Three times Amos in his funeral dirge says, there’s only one way out - maybe it’s not too late.
Two of those times Amos 5:4, 5:6 says their very life depends upon their seeking the Lord.
What does it mean to seek the Lord?
To seek means to “earnestly try to encounter the presence of a deity; often involving requests or petitions to the deity.”
The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 3: Isaiah–Malachi 2. First Letter to the Exiles (29:4–20)
Seeking God is another form of prayer. It represents putting all one’s energies into the quest for God. To seek God includes confession and forsaking of sin
The turning point in our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is.
Patrick Morley in The Seasons of a Man's Life. Leadership, Vol. 17, no. 3.
A Proper Location of God
Where this God is not - He’s not in Bethel, GIlgal, etc
There are some places God refuses to stay - Bethel used to be the place of God’s revelation and the worship of God.
Things had drifted, compromise had set in, people had left the true worship for something else and now judgment was coming.
A Proper Approach to that God
Urgency
6 Seek the Lord, and ye shall live; Lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el.
Isaiah 55:6 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near:”
A mother, a son, and a daughter are clinging to the upper branches of a large tree surrounded by raging flood waters. The rescue team in a boat cannot get right up to the tree because of debris, but the distance between the boat and the tree can be jumped with effort. The team in the boat shout with urgency, “Jump, jump,” but the family members are afraid. Finally, summoning up courage, the son jumps and lands safely in the boat. Then the daughter jumps. She falls into the water, but the rescuers are ready and quickly pull her into the boat. Now the rescuers along with the son and daughter plead with the mother, “Jump, jump, you can do it! We’ll catch you if you fall short.” There is a compelling urgency in the invitation. But she is afraid, and as she debates whether to jump or remain in the apparent safety of the tree, there is a terrible crack, the tree falls, and she is swept away with it. “Seek the LORD while he may be found.”
John N. Oswalt, The NIV Application Commentary: Isaiah, NIV Application Commentary (Zondervan, 2003), Is 55.
Wholeheartedness
Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Completely Comitted:
A hen and a pig approached a church and read the advertised sermon topic: “What can we do to help the poor?” Immediately the hen suggested they feed them bacon and eggs. The pig thought for a moment and said, “There is only one thing wrong with feeding bacon and eggs to the poor. For you it requires only a contribution, but for me it requires total commitment!”219
Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000). 73.
NOT LEAVING ANYTHING:
One Haitian pastor illustrates the need for total commitment to Christ with this parable:
A certain man wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn’t afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: he would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door.
After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So first the owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable, and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.
The Haitian pastor’s conclusion: “If we leave the Devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ’s habitation.”
Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002). 70.
Repentance
We are managing our sin rather than repenting of our sin.
, 6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths, (Omaha, Nebraska: Christianity Today, 1997), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Repentance".
A Proper Understanding of God - Seek the one who made the stars
The Sovereign God!! The God who is in control and can do something.
I look around and all kinds of people are working on the crisis that are all around us - and yet I don’t see much improvement.
I know President Trump is doing everything within his power to do what he can, and yet it isn’t going anywhere.
Whether it is real pandemic or as some are calling it a scandemic - but it’s not going away - it is still affecting our lives. it is still changing the way American’s have lived their lives for many years.
But we aren’t going to Washington DC (today’s Bethel) for answers.
We aren’t going to Topeka (Gilgal)
WE are going to GOD!! The TRUE GOD who hears and answers prayer
A God who said - SEEK ME BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.
I’m afraid the Church is losing it’s way - fighting with carnal means and methods - we use political favors and pull strings to try and get our way -
4. Sometimes I think we need to seek using unconventional methods - to help get us out of our ruts and comfort zones.
Luke 19:1-10 has a fascinating story -
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Like Zacchaeus we must determine that I must seek Jesus
No matter the obstacles or hindrances - I’ve got to get to Jesus.
No matter what I am like - I’ve got to seek Jesus He can help me (He can change me)
I will do whatever it takes to see Jesus - do you feel that way or is it a whatever will be will be attitude?
While Zacchaeus needed salvation - I know in a group this size someone needs Jesus to help them.
God says “Seek Me and Live”
Let’s quit circling the parking lot - let’s not give up for 20 years - lets SEEK GOD and get the answers we need!!!