Attitudes toward God determine how we treat People

Read Amos 2.

His name means "burden bearer" and, indeed, Amos bore the burden of declaring God's judgments.  While seven neighboring nations are included, the primary audience in this book is the northern kingdom of Israel.

The sins that brought about these punishments mostly involved their mistreatment and abuse of people.  However, the sin of Judah was generally stated as "they have rejected the law of the LORD and not kept his statutes" (v.4).

Concerning Israel, the list of sins is longer than any of the others.
1. They showed no pity on the poor and sold them into slavery. (v.6)
2. They oppressed the poor with a corrupted judicial system. (v.7a)
3. They openly practiced sex outside of marriage.  Note that God took it personally as against His holy name. (v.7b)
4. They allowed the poor to use their coats as loan collateral in violation of God's specific laws against this. (v.8a)
5. They used confiscated wine to drink in a so-called act of worship. (v.8b)
6. They rebelled against God after He delivered them and made them to prosper. (vv.9-12)

The result would that no one will escape when the judgment falls on Israel.  The Assyrian invasion was brutal.  Those who were not killed lost everything as they scattered far and wide.

This passage should cause us to think about our own attitudes, particularly as it relates to our treatment of the poor.  The Apostle James wrote: "Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?....If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well.  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin..." (James 2:5-9)

A person's attitude toward God will inevitably be seen in the way they treat people.  If one is angry at God, they will be angry with others.  If they claim independence of God, they will act arrogantly toward others.  If they chose to ignore the God who loves them, they will also choose to ignore the people who love them.

The certainty of God's judgment and our Response

Read Amos 1.

The prophet Amos lived in Judah but his ultimate audience was the northern kingdom of Israel.  God's pronouncements of judgment came like a roaring lion, ready to pounce on its prey.  And as such, the intended should have been frozen in fear of what was coming.

The writing structure of this book is fascinating.  Beginning in the north, the judgments against Israel's neighbors geographically move to the south, then to the west, circles to the east, and they continue to spiral until they hit the final target.  Each paragraph follows the same poetic pattern:
1. Judgment is decided.
2. Sin is detailed.
3. God will deliver the punishment.

Each paragraph starts with the same poetic device of "For three transgressions....and for four."  This is commonly used in the Old Testament.  Many hold that it not only points to an escalation the list of sins God has against them but combined the number is seven.  That may indicate that their list of sins is full or complete.  Further, chapters one and two present a total of seven pronouncements of judgments before finally addressing Israel.

In the historical context, it was Assyria who invaded this entire region and executed what is stated here.  However, the LORD made it clear that it was He who ordered and personally empowered the punishment.  No less than thirteen times the phrase "I will" appears in this first chapter.

In light of the consistent veracity of God's word, how much more should those who do not enjoy God's forgiveness and protection be frozen in fear of the eternal judgment to come?
"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31)
Concerning Jesus, the Apostle Peter said, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Payback Time

Read Joel 3.

Here is a verse that is never quoted: "Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears, let the weak say, 'I am a warrior.'"  Verse 10 is the opposite of Micah 4:3 which is depicted in a sculpture at the United Nations building in New York City.

There is coming a day when the nations of earth will gather to fight an ultimate battle.  God's intention in the war is to avenge the blood of His people.  The place is called the Valley of Jehoshaphat.  The meaning of the word Jehoshaphat is "the LORD judges."  The description of this yet future battle exactly matches Armageddon in Revelation 14, 16 and 19.  Joel 3:14 calls it the day of the LORD and that multitudes will be in this "valley of decision."  It is not that the people will be trying to decide something; rather, it is God who rendering His decision, or verdict, of judgment against them.

The sin of the nations against the Jews and this land, promised to Abraham's descendants, is well documented to this very day.  Some of the sins of Joel's time are mentioned in the opening six verses. Every generation of Jews has had an enemy who announced their intent to annihilate them.  The very existence of Jews in the world and a Jewish state occupying at least part of their land is a testimony to the power, protection, and grace of God.

However, in that day the Messiah will visibly be revealed to the world with His heavenly army (Revelation 19:11-21).  He will destroy all of Israel's enemies and establish His kingdom in Jerusalem (Joel 3:16).  As the closing verses of this chapter foretells, the Jews will finally acknowledge Jesus as God and King.  The land will become abundant and prosperous.  Instead of the drought (1:20), the streams that Ezekiel 47 prophesied will flow from the throne of God to water the land.

And, believers will rule and reign with Christ in that earthly kingdom.  "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!  Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)

Understanding that day Today

Read Joel 2.

As one reads this chapter two understandings are required.  First, the term "the day of the LORD" includes both the judgment of God and the joy that will follow.  Second, quite often in the prophetical books there is a merger of the immediate historical context and the future events regarding the end times.

The immediate threat to Judah was the coming invasion by the Babylonians.  In chapter one they are compared to a devastating locust plague.  Innumerable and unstoppable describes this army from the north.  However, it was God Himself who was the real power of this judgment.  Notice the four-fold claim in verse 11 using the word "his": "The LORD utters his voice before his army for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful."

"Yet even now" (vv.12-13) the LORD issued a call for the nation to repent.  Even with the coming punishment on its way, there is a repeat of 1:13-14.  Their relationship with God had been broken due to their sin.  Instead of tearing their garments in the cultural display of grief, He asked them to tear their hearts and return to Him.  The need for prayer and fasting is so urgent that everyone was to stop what they were doing and gather together (v.16).  This was an emergency!

There is a change in theme beginning at verse 18 as the LORD speaks of restoration for Judah.  Describing that future time, He will remove their reproach among the nations.  He will remove their enemies.  The land will flourish again.  And most importantly, "You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else.  And my people shall never again be put to shame." (v.27)

Not only has the world not seen the fulfillment of verse 27, but the events of verses 30-32 remain future to us.  Jesus referred to this passage in Matthew 24:29 and said that these events would take place in conjunction with the tribulation.  This is confirmed in Revelation 6:12.

If the judgment is certain, then why pray?  Because of the nature of God.  Verse 13 tells us who God is: "Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster."  The real question is never about God's love for us, but our loyal love for Him.

3 action steps in a Crisis

Read Joel 1.

This is not merely a prophet's message.  It is "the word of the LORD" (v.1).

The target audience was the southern kingdom of Judah.  What was happening and about to take place had never been experienced in the nation's history.

A devastating locust attack on all the agriculture is described in four waves.  Each wave of infestation destroyed the land to a new low.  Apparently, the locust plague was accompanied by a severe drought (v.20).  The condition of the land was so bad that there was not enough to offer the LORD for the grain and drink offerings at the Temple.  This is a thinly disguised comparison to what the Babylonians would do in their multi-phased invasion of Judah.  Everything will be stripped away; everything will be lost.  The people are compared to drunkards (v.5).  The innumerable Babylonians are compared to attacking lions (v.6).

In brokenness, the nation is urged to go into a state of mourning.  They are told to put on sackcloth and lament (v.13).  But those were only outward signs of grief.  God wanted more from them.  His desire was for them to acknowledge that they brought this on themselves due to their sin and to express sorrow from their hearts.  In verse 14, He issued the following instructions to seek Him.

1. Consecrate a fast.
Fasting indicates there is a priority greater than food.  Most often, a truly grief-stricken person loses their appetite.  This is a time when the spirit needs more attention than the body.  The sense of physical hunger serves as the trigger for a superseding hunger for God.

2. Call a solemn assembly.
Since this was a national dilemma, all the people were called to gather together.  The New Testament reminds us that we are not to neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:25).  We need one another for regular encouragement, instruction, and worship.  How much more when we are faced with overwhelming circumstances!

3. Cry out to the LORD.
The purpose of the gathering was specifically for prayer.  The Hebrew word for "cry" in this verse means "to shriek" as someone would loudly do when in severe pain or terrorized.  Together, as a nation, they were to shriek to the LORD, confessing their sin, and pleading for mercy.

"The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17)

Life at the Crossroads

Read Hosea 14.

God's judgment upon Israel's rebellion was sure, but it would not be permanent.  Even at that this point, He issued a call for them to repent of their sin and turn back to Him.

In the prophetic plan of God, He announced that one day the Jews would return to Him.  At that time, "I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them" (v.4).  But that day of spiritual restoration for the nation has yet to come.  The Apostle Paul looked forward to it in Romans 9-11.

In the LORD's call for repentance, He even instructed the people step by step in what to do.
1. Confessing of sin. (v.2b)
"Take away all iniquity."  The first step is to admit the sin to God and agree with Him of its wrong.  More than that, it is seeking His forgiveness and cleansing from the sin.
"If we confess out sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

2. Offering for sin. (v.2c)
Under the Old Testament Law, the sinner offered to God the blood of sacrificed animals as an atoning payment.  But the blood of animals only covered the sin; it never took it away.  That is why the words of John the Baptist concerning Jesus in John 1:29 are so spiritually earth-shattering.  "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"  Since the crucifixion, there are no more offerings for sin.  The debt has been paid.  Accepting Christ's death as the full and final payment for one's personal sin is the sinner's prayer.

3. Forsaking the sin. (v.3)
Words and rituals may be only a pretense of repentance.  The real proof is in a changed life.  God's call for Israel to demonstrate a new direction included giving up their dependence upon Assyria to protect them and ridding their lives of spiritual allegiance to anything else.  God demands exclusive worship and obedience to Him.

The result?  Those who are totally dependent upon the LORD will find mercy (v.3c).  God answers prayer and cares for us (v.8a).  It is God who is the source of the provisions we need (v.8b).

Like Israel, every life comes to a crossroads and must decide which way they will go.   The closing verse of Hosea issues a clear invitation for a decision.  Those who are wise and understand will choose to turn to the LORD and live in ways that please Him.  Those who turn away from Him will continue to stumble through life and experience the painful consequences.  Choose Him.

Sin, death and the Resurrection

Read Hosea 13.

Judah had been chosen to be tribe of the royal line.  However, when the kingdom divided, Jeroboam became king in the north from the tribe of Ephraim.  Separated from Jerusalem and the Temple, the northern kingdom gave itself to idol worship.

Craftsmen made images of calves out of silver to which the people ascribed spiritual power.  Incredibly, grown men worshipped by kissing an inanimate object they made with their own hands.  Then, in their delusion, they offered human sacrifices to appease it (v.2).  They did this despite their heritage of faith in God, not acknowledging all that God had done for them, and ignoring the prophets He sent to call them to turn back to Him.

In order to bring some reality to their thinking, the LORD reminded them that He alone is God "and there is no savior" apart from Him.  All the religious philosophies and rituals of this world can never take away sin!  There is only one cure for sin, only one source of forgiveness, and only one way to heaven.  Jesus claimed, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

God's judgment on the sin of Israel was pre-announced and sure.  The time had come and He would not relent.  In verse 14, God asked four questions about holding back the punishment, but "compassion is hidden from my eyes."  The Assyrians were used to implement God's plan.

When the Apostle Paul wrote so vigorously concerning the resurrection of Christ as the proof of eternal life for every believer, he first referred to a verse from Isaiah and then quoted two of the questions from Hosea 13:14.
"He will swallow up death forever..." (Isaiah 25:8)
"O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Jesus paid the price for the sin of the world, once for all, when He was crucified.  Therefore, for the believer in Jesus there is no fear of death or uncertainty of what will take place afterwards.  His resurrection is our guarantee.  "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)