July 23,
2017
Amos 9:1-15
Amos’
message is relentless. One after another, Amos’ visions and messages take on
the establishment of Israel on a deeply personal level. God judged the people
in Amos’ day because they had grown careless and complacent, and their religion
had become counterfeit. The abused and the poor took advantage of the widow.
Yet through it all, God’s purpose in judging people is not annihilation, but
salvation – to weed out the fakes and safeguard the faithful. Comfort to the
afflicted and affliction to the comfortable. A new day is dawning for those who
place their faith in Christ, and whose lives glorify God, when futility and
desolation will be replaced by prosperity and joy.
Have
you ever experienced the days that follow a hurricane, tornado, or any other
disaster? How did you feel? How did people treated each other?
How
are verses 1-10 different from verses 11-15? Why do you think this is the case?
Why
do you think that all of this punishment and destruction must take place before
restoration would follow?
Read
verses 13-15. What stands out to you? How do the images of these verses compare
to the current condition of Israel?
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