Righteousness Shown

Amos 7:1 CSB

The Lord God showed me this: He was forming a swarm of locusts at the time the spring crop first began to sprout—after the cutting of the king’s hay.

INTRO—

The LORD God showed me…The LORD asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” [Visions…pictures…demonstrations]

Since Righteousness has been lost, God reminds his people of not only the crimes…but also the standard to which he calls his people. He shows them…consequences, compassion, the standard…and Amos stands as one needing to see as well as helping show God’s people the way—the righteousness—the LORD requires from them…from us.

[Amos 7.1-6] - The Compassion of Righteousness

We’re starting in a strange place as we begin this chapter. A necessary place for us to gain a proper perspective.

Amos 7:3 CSB

The Lord relented concerning this. “It will not happen,” he said.

Amos 7:6 CSB

The Lord relented concerning this. “This will not happen either,” said the Lord God.

Jonah 3:10 CSB

God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—so God relented from the disaster he had threatened them with. And he did not do it.

Psalm 106:45 CSB

remembered his covenant with them, and relented according to the abundance of his faithful love.

[The beauty of our Lord’s compassion…the need for corporate repentance…the significance of justice (again, this time from a psalmist]

[Preview…just remember…Matthew 11.29 “Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” ]

[Amos 7.7-17] - The Line of Righteousness

[Sin “still” requires consequences/judgment]

Compassion does not eliminate judgment…in fact, complete and perfect righteousness DEMANDS judgment against sin. (7.9)

RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOWN (7.7-8)

The Plumb Line (Show my D-I-Y plumb line…).

God has set for his people the standard(s) by which we should live.

Isaiah 28:17 CSB

And I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the mason’s level.” Hail will sweep away the false refuge, and water will flood your hiding place.

{also Micah 6.8; }

RIGHTEOUSNESS DECLARED <further shown> (7.10-17)

Amos took the message to heart…and set about proclaiming it faithfully. How do we know?...

Isaac - (7.9…7.16)

Sanctuaries(y) - (7.9…7.13)

House of Jeroboam - (7.9…7.10b-11a)

Sword - (7.9…7.11)

Righteousness is too often hard to accept…even among the people who are supposedly committed to it .

CONCL—

When we see the line, we must commit to the line! (7.14-17)

Challenges will come…from ourselves & others.

Amos 7:17 CSB

Therefore, this is what the Lord says: Your wife will be a prostitute in the city, your sons and daughters will fall by the sword, and your land will be divided up with a measuring line. You yourself will die on pagan soil, and Israel will certainly go into exile from its homeland.