July 14, 2019 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

“1 ¶ Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king’s mowings. 2 And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: “O Lord GOD, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!” 3 So the LORD relented concerning this. “It shall not be,” said the LORD. 4 Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, the Lord GOD called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory. 5 Then I said: “O Lord GOD, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!” 6 So the LORD relented concerning this. “This also shall not be,” said the Lord GOD. 7 Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. 8 And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said: “Behold, I am setting a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. 9 The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.” 10 ¶ Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11 “For thus Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, And Israel shall surely be led away captive From their own land.’ ” 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos: “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, And there prophesy. 13 But never again prophesy at Bethel, For it is the king’s sanctuary, And it is the royal residence.” 14 Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. 15 Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, And the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ 16 Now therefore, hear the word of the LORD: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.’ 17 “Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own land.’ ”” (Amos 7:1-17 NKJV)

In response to the sin and unfaithfulness of Israel God brings a series of “natural” disasters on them. Amos understood this was God’s judgment but prayed and cried for God to forgive Jacob’s people because they were such a small and vulnerable nation.

Locusts- even today a swarm of locusts brings fear to the hearts of many! Every crop and plant is devoured and devastation is left behind. In the time of Amos losing a crop meant a year of starvation and often of the loss of next years seed. These swarms are like God is swallowing up the blessings already given.

Conflict by fire – even today fire brings and leaves a scorched earth behind. But fire is also used for war. War is a fire burning in the heart destroying love and leaves us with a hate without sympathy and can lead to torture and genocide. Both sides are destroyed and even the victor is a loser.

Like Abraham, Amos dickered with God depending on the love and mercy of God. God “relented” twice at the prayer of Amos and we are shown the power of a prayer of mercy and faith. Amos rightly declares the desperate situation Jacob’s children are in and their dependence on God.

The third time God tells Amos there is a plumb lines set for Israel. A plumb lime is used to see if a vertical structure is straight. God finds Israel crooked and tells Amos to flee Israel for destruction is coming! Just as an unstable building will fall so will a person and a nation. Verses 16-17 paints a picture that is so horrific we can be left beyond tears.

Some will ask how could God be so evil as to allow such devastation to come to His people. But shouldn’t we also ask why did God wait so long to punish them? Looking over the list of the Kings of Israel how many stood up for God? See the decades and generations God warned Jacob’s people by many prophets. As they were adulterers to God, offered their children to other god’s, stole others land and forced people to be sold into slavery. Their not being on the level is the source of their fall.

God’s judgment did not fall upon an “innocent” people for the poor were stolen from, widows were mistreated, the rich got richer and Israel sought their power in local gods rather than in the Lord God almighty.

When we turn away from God do we have the right to condemn God for judging us? When we devour the weak and strengthen the strong is it right to blame God for what happens? If Israel is not “on the level” how can they blame God when they fall? If we are not “on the level” how can we blame God?

We often blame God for the troubles in life

when our troubles are the result of our sin!!!