IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

A Shepherd Speaks God's Message

Date: Aug. 16, 2019

Passage

Amos 1:1-15 (ESV)

The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

And he said:

  “The LORD roars from Zion
    and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
  the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
    and the top of Carmel withers.”

Thus says the LORD:

  “For three transgressions of Damascus,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
  because they have threshed Gilead
    with threshing sledges of iron.
  So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael,
    and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.
  I will break the gate-bar of Damascus,
    and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven,
  and him who holds the scepter from Beth-eden;
    and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir,”
      says the LORD.

Thus says the LORD:

  “For three transgressions of Gaza,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
  because they carried into exile a whole people
    to deliver them up to Edom.
  So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
    and it shall devour her strongholds.
  I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod,
    and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
  I will turn my hand against Ekron,
    and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,”
      says the Lord GOD.

Thus says the LORD:

  “For three transgressions of Tyre,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
  because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,
    and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
10   So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre,
    and it shall devour her strongholds.”

11 Thus says the LORD:

  “For three transgressions of Edom,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
  because he pursued his brother with the sword
    and cast off all pity,
  and his anger tore perpetually,
    and he kept his wrath forever.
12   So I will send a fire upon Teman,
    and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah.”

13 Thus says the LORD:

  “For three transgressions of the Ammonites,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
  because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead,
    that they might enlarge their border.
14   So I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah,
    and it shall devour her strongholds,
  with shouting on the day of battle,
    with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind;
15   and their king shall go into exile,
    he and his princes together,”
      says the LORD.

Daily Bread

Introduction to Amos

Key Verse: 1:2

And he said:

  “The LORD roars from Zion
    and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
  the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
    and the top of Carmel withers.”

1. Amos' vision of the LORD (1-2)

Amos was a shepherd from Judah to whom God gave visions and prophecies of judgment. The surrounding nations committed terrible evils against people. Injustice was everywhere. But the LORD, the God of Israel, still ruled the world. He roared from Zion and thundered from Jerusalem. He would bring judgment against the nations.

2. Judgment on Israel's neighbors (3-15)

Amos' message was primarily for Israel but he began with prophecies against the surrounding nations. The king of Aram would be destroyed and the people sent into exile for their mistreatment of the people of Gilead. The Philistines and the people of Tyre sold whole communities to Edom. The Edomites pursued their own brothers, the Israelites. Both Edomites and Ammonites killed women in war. God would bring fire, war, and destruction upon all these nations.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, though people are wicked, and the world is dark, you are sovereign and will bring judgment on all evil. Help me to pursue righteousness.

One Word: The LORD roars from Zion

Daily Bread

Do Not Be Afraid, Jacob

Jeremiah 46:27-47:7

Key Verse: 46:46:27

  Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
      declares the LORD,
    for I am with you.
  I will make a full end of all the nations
    to which I have driven you,
    but of you I will not make a full end.
  I will discipline you in just measure,
    and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

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Intro Daily