SEEK THE LORD AND GOODNESS AND NOT EVIL — Amos 5:4-15

Amos was sent to the Northern Kingdom, the ten tribes, of Israel. They sought evil and not good, and gods and not God! They, from the beginning went into idolatry and never followed God in all of their history. This was from the spilt of Israel into two kingdoms tell they were carried into captivity. God sends Amos to them to warn them of pending doom if they did not repent. In the passage before us God tells them to seek Him and to seek good.

I. SEEK THE LORD AND LIVE, OR FACE THE FIRE OF HIS INDIGNATION.

1. Seek the LORD and not Bethel—place of idolatry.

2. Idolatry and sin always brings one into captivity.

A. First the soul and spirit are brought into captivity.

B. Sins brings us into captivity: Rom 7:23

C. Nevertheless, we find ourselves often powerless to resist sin, except by God’s grace: Psa 19:13

3. For the fire of God is against all that sin the sin of idolatry: 2 Thes 1:7-9; Heb 12:29

A. Knowing God’s great displeasure with idolatry, what kind of people ought we to be? 2 Pet 3:11-14

B. The church of Thyatira is a good example of this: Rev 2:18-24

C. The wicked are self diluted, they think that they can overcome God: Rev 20:9

4. {Am5:6b} God’s wrath cannot be quenched; neither by idols nor by anything else!

II. SEEK GOD, THE CREATOR, THOSE THAT CORRUPT JUDGMENT.

1. {Am5:7} Turn the judgment of God to a curse: Isa 5:18-23

A. Their judgment is the opposite of God’s judgment.

B. They make fun, demote, and try to turn it around.

C. They repented not, nor change their minds against God’s judgment.

2. The Holy Spirit is now reproofing the world: John 16:8

3. But, atlas they will not turn from their wicked ways, and will face Jesus at the White Throne Judgment: Acts 17:31

4. {Am5:8} Man should look to God’s judgment for He is the Creator.

5. {Am5:10-12} They that have turned away form God’s judgment shall answer to God.

A. {Am5:10} They hate the just at the gate, and corrupt their sayings.

B. They steal from the poor and the just.

C. God knows and keeps an account of their transgressions.

D. They Bribe to hide the eyes judges from justice, and righteousness.

III. SEEK GOD AND GOOD, WHEN THE PRUDENT KEEP SILENT.

1. {Am5:13} The prudent are the wise and know when to hold their peace.

A. Wisdom is one of the greatest failing of saints today: Mat 10:16

B. There is a time to stand and make a noise, and there is also a time to keep quite. The prudent ones of God know the difference.

2. {Am5:14} If we seek good and not evil, then we shall live.

A. BE WISE IN GOOD THINGS, AND SIMPLE IN EVIL ONES! Rom 16:19-20; 1Cor. 14:20: 1 Cor 14:20

3. {Am5:15} “Hate the evil, and love the good and establish judgment in the gate:”

A. We must, as much as lies with us, to preserve judgment and goodness! Php 2:15

B. We need to, by the Grace of God, Judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

4. If we do seek and love the Lord and that which is good, He will be with us.

5. If we seek and love the LORD & His goodness; He will be gracious to us.

We need to seek the LORD at all times, He is the creator, and keeper of our souls. We are to love goodness, hate evil and judge with righteous judgment. Those that do not judge righteously; there is a certain fire awaiting them. For those that seek God in Love and judgment, with them will He be gracious.

Amos 5:4-15

G 12/26/01 W; 11/28/90 W