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7-16-13. Amos 2:4-16. JUDGED BY A HIGHER STANDARD-my devotional

7-16-13.  Amos 2:4-16 . JUDGED BY A HIGHER STANDARD-my devotional

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 Amos 2:4-16                                                                                             Kevin Jesmer

Key Verse: 2:4b                                                                                       7-16-13

“….Because they have rejected the law of the Lord  and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the godstheir ancestors followed,”

     Dear Lord Jesus. Thank you for helping me to keep my heart focused on what is truthful, right and fruitful. Please help me to follow you and mature in you and know you and love you. May I reveal your glory and the gospel in our lives. I pray that you help us to present the two hour personal interest group at the Summer Bible Conference. I pray that we can help the 45 attendees to become more one, together and know about conflict resolution in their marriage. May they experience the joy of Christian marriage. I thank you for also helping me as I worked 7 out of the last 9 nights. It was faith in you that helped me to have the right attitude and mindset and helped me to overcome. Thank you Lord. Now bless me now with some deeper understanding of your word today. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

 Part 1. They Have Rejected The Law Of The Lord (4-5)

Amos must have won over his audience as he proclaimed God’s judgment against the evil nations surrounding Israel. They would be cheering in their hearts that judgment would come upon their enemies. But Amos began to speak against his own nation, Judah, before focusing on God’s indictment of Israel. The point of his message is that the people of Judah were not free from experiencing the consequences of their sins. Look at verses 4-5, “This is what the Lord says: ‘For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the Lord  and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the godstheir ancestors followed, I will send fire on Judah  that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.’”

The people of Judah may have thought that they had some special privileges or standing before God because they were God’s people. They did. But these did not include some special status that made them above the law. When they sinned they would have to experience the consequences of their sins. At this time, in this Old Testament era, they did not obey God’s word because they had been led astray by false gods. As a result they would burn with the fire of God’s wrath. (See verse 5) This sounds very harsh. It would be very hard to live under such a standard. But the truth remains that God roars with anger at man’s inhumanity to man in the gentile world; but he judges his own people by a higher standard–his revealed word.

For us believers, in this the New Testament era, there is one principle here; that being a Christian does not mean that I am exempt from the consequences of my sins. Listen to what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:16-18 reads, “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”  Jesus will come again as he promised, to judge the living and the dead. Even those who are in God’s family and who seem to be good people must stand before the throne of judgment. If the righteous are saved only by God’s grace, what will happen to the ungodly? So we should not be discouraged by suffering; we must commit ourselves to our faithful Creator and continue to do good.” Jesus will come again as he promised, to judge the living and the dead. Even those who are in God’s family and who seem to be good people must stand before the throne of judgment. If the righteous are saved only by God’s grace, what will happen to the ungodly? Or think of it this way…If it is hard for the righteous to be saved (only because of God’s mercy), what chance do those have who reject Christ?

The price for my sin needs to be paid, by someone. On my own, it would definitely have to be paid by me. But thank God that I have a Savior. His name is Jesus Christ. He paid the price for all my sins. Because of his sacrifice I am forgiven. I thank God for this, for it is only by this grace of God that I can stand. But there are still consequences in life if I live in sin. If I don’t study I will fail. If I let sinful thoughts and desires dwell in my heart, I will become weakened and will be in danger of falling victim to the sin within me. If I refuse to exercise and eat junk food I will have a heart attack.

Judgment could also mean earthly discipline from a loving Heavenly Father. “ For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household “ (1 Peter 4:17a) does not only refer to the final judgment of God, but to God’s refining discipline while his people live in this world. God disciplines and trains his people so that they may grow in God’s holiness and share in his glory. Hebrews 12:7 reads, “ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” (NIV) There are times when God seems to allow believers to sin and then experience the consequences. His reasons are redemptive. He could do this for several reasons. First, to show us our potential to sinning. Second, to encourage us to turn from sin and depend more fully on him. Third, to prepare us to face more stronger temptations in the future. And fourth, to help us to stay faithful and keep trusting in him alone. If believers need earthly discipline from their Heavenly Father, (judgment from God) how much more will unbelievers receive it?  (Life Application Bible)

The judgment of God could also mean separation for judgment involves separation. God could be subjecting his people to divine discipline in order to make them into God’s holy people. The people of this world need to see the difference faith in Jesus makes. Look at the verses from the lyrics of the song, “What This World Needs.” “What this world needs is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance. Blending in so well that people can’t see the difference. And it’ the difference that sets the world free.” (Lyrics from: What This World Needs by Casting Crowns.)        Hebrews tells us that God wants us to share in his holiness. Holiness means set apart for God. God wants his people to be set apart from the other people of the world. He wants to reveal the truth about himself, through us, his holy people. We can not do that if we are blending in and living like in the same way as those who do not know the Lord. And so, when we let go of our spiritual struggle and allow our hearts and minds to drift to the idols of our generation, then God needs to do something. He disciplines us as a father disciplines his own children so that they may live as God’s children and be recognizable as God’s children. This is God’s love.

In the last two years I have been receiving God’s discipline in life. My legalistic mind and my fixed ideas were challenged by the life choices of my kids and my wife. My strongly regimented world was crumbling. I desperately wanted to control every outcome but could not. As a result I fell into anger, depression and isolation from all those I love. It was such a hard time. It was such a difficult time. But it was God’s divine discipline in my life to change me and to grow me into his holiness. God is my heavenly Father.

God is working out this very tough, divine discipline,(or judgment), on my life for many reasons. Now, two years after the beginning of this judgment I can see God’s wisdom in the matter. I have learned how to accept the Holy Spirit’s changes and choices. I can be more patient with others. I can not depend on my own “human pushing power”. I also realized recently that God is going to work through me to encourage young missionary families on the mission field. If I was still the “old Kevin” I would be pushing people and trying to convince people and literally destroying the tender work of God beginning to blossom in young missionary’s heart. God is molding me into an encourager and supporter who can love and pray for others and depend on God. I can pray for God to work and not get stressed out by my trying to make things happen.

Part 2. Forgotten Grace (6-16)

In these verses God tells us of his judgment on Israel. They received the grace of God and yet walked all over that grace. Look at verses 6-16, This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines. “Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below. 10 I brought you up out of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to give you the land of the Amorites. 11 “I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. Is this not true, people of Israel?” declares the Lord. 12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy. 13 “Now then, I will crush you  as a cart crushes when loaded with grain. 14 The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life. 15 The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life. 16 Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day,” declares the Lord.”

The sins of northern Israel were even more flagrant. Injustice and blatant immorality, even next to altars, were rampant (6b-8). If we take a closer look at these verses, God condemned Israel for five specific sins…first, the selling of the poor as slaves (Deut 15:7-11; Amos 8:6); exploiting the poor (Exodus 23:6; Deut 16:19); engaging in perverse sexual sins (Lev 20:11,12); taking illegal collateral for loans (Ex 22:26,27; Deuteronomy 24:6,12,13 and worshipping false gods. They were not innocent. These were heinous sins. They deserved what was coming their way.

Let try to find some practical application for us today. Verse 6 reads, “This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.” Amos was speaking to the upper class. There were no middle class in Judah, only the very rich and the very poor. The rich kept religious rituals. They gave extra tithes, went to places of worship, and offered up sacrifices. But they were greedy and unjust, and they took advantage of the helpless, even selling them as slaves. As God’s people we must never neglect the needs of the poor while we faithfully attend church and fulfill religious duties. God expects us to live out our faith, responding to those in need, instead of ignoring them or taking advantage of them. There are some Christian business owners who take advantage of their workers. There are Christians who take advantage of the alien living among us.

What was unjust was that they had received the grace of God and yet ignored that grace and oppressed the weak. Look at verses 9-11, ““Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below. 10 I brought you up out of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness  to give you the land of the Amorites. 11 “I also raised up prophets from among your children and Nazirites from among your youths. Is this not true, people of Israel?” declares the Lord.”  The prophets were constantly challenging people to remember what God had done. When we read a list like this one, we are amazed at Israel’s forgetfulness. The Lord had brought them out of Egypt and fed them in the desert. He had given them the land of the Amorites (Canaan). He had also given them prophets and spiritual leaders, but they would not let the prophets speak God’s word, and they would not let the holy people keep their vows. The Nazarites took a vow of service to God. The vow included abstaining from the wine and never cutting their hair. But instead of being respected for the disciplined and temperate lives, they were being urged to break their vows. But think of the consequences if the Nazarites were corrupted. They would remain little influence for good among the Israelites. In these ways Israel suppressed the expression of faith among them. God’s past faithfulness should have reminded the Israelites to obey him, but they became hardened.

      What would the prophets say about us? America has received the grace of God. This is obvious to the entire world and to all of history. Who can deny it? We are blessed beyond measure? But we do many of the things that Northern Israel was doing in the time of Amos. We are also very religious but we oppress the poor. We take advantage of the innocent. We blatantly sin. We ignore the grace of God. We even suppress servants of God from preaching the truth about God. As individuals we ignore God’s grace. I know I do. God’s grace to me is abundant. But I allow my heart and mind to drift into the secular and begin to live for the idols of my culture, rather than for Jesus. I really need God’s help. What he has done for us should remind us to live for him. It should result in greater love, reverence, worship and service to the Lord.

What would the results be for Israel? Look at verse 16, “Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day,” declares the Lord.” “That day” refers to when Assyria would attack Israel, destroy Samaria and take the people captive in 722 B.C. The Lord would crush them as a loaded cart crushes whatever falls beneath its wheels. No one would escape God’s wrath. This military defeat came only a few decades after this pronouncement. If that is how the strong and wealthy and prosperous Israel fell, how do we think we shall fair? Can we stand when we ignore the Lord?

Prayer: Lord, forgive my sins. Help me to remember your grace with a thankful heart, and serve you.

One Word: Remember his grace; keep his word

 




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