IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

God's Judgment Compels Us to Speak

Date: Aug. 18, 2014

Passage

Amos 3:1-15 (ESV)

Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:

  “You only have I known
    of all the families of the earth;
  therefore I will punish you
    for all your iniquities.
  “Do two walk together,
    unless they have agreed to meet?
  Does a lion roar in the forest,
    when he has no prey?
  Does a young lion cry out from his den,
    if he has taken nothing?
  Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth,
    when there is no trap for it?
  Does a snare spring up from the ground,
    when it has taken nothing?
  Is a trumpet blown in a city,
    and the people are not afraid?
  Does disaster come to a city,
    unless the LORD has done it?
  “For the Lord GOD does nothing
    without revealing his secret
    to his servants the prophets.
  The lion has roared;
    who will not fear?
  The Lord GOD has spoken;
    who can but prophesy?”
  Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod
    and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt,
  and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria,
    and see the great tumults within her,
    and the oppressed in her midst.”
10   “They do not know how to do right,” declares the LORD,
    “those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.”

11 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:

  “An adversary shall surround the land
    and bring down your defenses from you,
    and your strongholds shall be plundered.”

12 Thus says the LORD: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.

13   “Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,”
    declares the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
14   “that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions,
    I will punish the altars of Bethel,
  and the horns of the altar shall be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15   I will strike the winter house along with the summer house,
    and the houses of ivory shall perish,
  and the great houses shall come to an end,”
      declares the LORD.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 3:8

  The lion has roared;
    who will not fear?
  The Lord GOD has spoken;
    who can but prophesy?”

First, God's people will have to answer (1-8).

Soon the city would be laid waste. It would happen for a reason. Whatever happens has a cause. In this case, the Lord allowed judgment to happen because of unrepentant sins. In light of this upcoming judgment, Amos was called to speak the difficult message of repentance. He was compelled. For when the Lord speaks, who can but prophesy?

Second, Samaria faced God's judgment (9-15).

God proclaimed judgment on Samaria. Jeroboam I introduced idol worship that led the hearts of the people astray. The lifestyles of the rich oppressed the poor. Unless Samaria repented they would face judgment. The King of Assyria would empty the palaces in Israel of their ill-gotten riches. The few people left would be like a piece of an ear from a sheep taken from the mouth of ravaging lion. We must take heed, repent of our sins and draw near to the Lord right now, for today is the day of salvation. He is waiting to restore our hearts.

Prayer: Lord, help us to hear your clear warnings and draw near to you for salvation. Help us to listen to your words of life and chart a new course.

One Word: The Lord has spoken; we must speak

Daily Bread

In the Eyes of the Lord

2 Kings 15:17-38

Key Verse: 15:34

And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

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