Journal: Amos 1-3 / They Do Not Know How To Do Right

Amos was given a vision concerning Israel and thus he spoke of God's judgment against Judah and Israel and the surrounding nations: Damascus for their cruelty against Gilead; Gaza for taking captive whole communities and selling them to Edom; Tyre also for selling whole communities to Edom; Edom - because he pursued his brother with a sword and slaughtered the women of the land and because his anger raged continually; Ammon because they ripped open pregnant women of Gilead to enlarge their borders; Moab because he burned to ashes the bones of Edom's king. 

And then Amos spoke of God's judgment against Judah because they have rejected the law of YHVH and have not kept His decrees, because they have been led away by false gods; and Israel for selling the innocent and the needy and for trampling on the heads of the poor, for denying justice to the oppressed, for sexual deviance and profaning the name of YHVH. 

YHVH is against Israel, the whole family He brought up out of Egypt.  Out of all the families on earth He chose Israel, therefore He will punish them for all their sins. 

Amos 3:7  Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without first revealing it to His servants the prophets. 

"They do not know how to do right" declares the LORD.  Therefore an enemy will overrun their land, pull down their strongholds and plunder their fortresses. 

Has God sent prophets to warn the world today?  Would we listen to them?  Would I be receptive to a warning message?  Do I have ears to hear?  If there were ever a people who are right in their own eyes - it is the generation in much of the world today.  We are arrogant and proud.  Each nation expresses their superiority over the others.  Each religious sect and church proclaims to carry the mantle of truth.  Where is the humble people for whom YHVH seeks?  Where is the one who reads His word, believes it and trembles?  What is God looking for in His people?  Micah 6:8  He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 

Dear Father,
Show those of us who seek you how to do right.  May we not be too proud to hear the warning message that you send through those whom you choose to send it.  Please help us to do what is good; to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with you - our God. 

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