Scripture
Amos 2:13-3:8
Open your mind and heart as you read the passage of Scripture aloud and then again quietly to yourself. Listen for God’s word to you.
Observation
Amos 2:13-3:8
God was burdened by His people, rather than finding them a joy. He saw what was going on and promised to set it right. His people would be severely punished. Israel had grown confident of its own ability to succeed. They did not believe they needed God, but He would set them right and show them that they did, no matter how brave or skilled or strong they were.
God had rescued the people of Israel from Egypt and yet they were now rejecting Him. He was angry. The Exodus was central to God’s dealings with His people. They were repeatedly told to look back and remember His act of redemption, just as 21st century Christ-followers are called to look back and remember Jesus’ act of redemption on the cross. The people had been privileged and were responsible before God for their relationship with Him. The greater the privilege, the greater the responsibility. In the next four verses, Amos poses questions which build towards the truth of the final statement.
People will know that when judgment comes against the cities in Israel it will come from God. God gave His prophets the warnings about judgment for a long time before it happened. They had every opportunity to repent and turn back to Him. They were told so that they could spread the word to other people too. It is inevitable that people are afraid when a lion roars. In the same way, it is inevitable that a prophet speak out God’s message when it is revealed to them.
Icebreaker:
Do you consider the Gracepoint congregation to be family for you? Why/why not? What influence do they have on the decisions you make, the action you take, the places and people you visit? Who has been family to you recently (whether they are part of the Gracepoint congregation or not)?
Application
- If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a member of God’s family. Do you feel as if you belong? What responsibility does such family membership place on you? How do you feel about such a responsibility? How do you respond to it?
- What do you understand about the differences between oneness and unity? What do you see happening at Gracepoint? Are you one – or are you united? Or are there elements of both?
- What is the purpose of Gracepoint? What is your goal as a church? Would you say the congregation agrees on both the purpose and the goal of Gracepoint? How is the church moving from purpose to goal?
- When you are together as a group, or as a congregation, do you really listen to one another? What do you understand by listening? How does it feel when someone listens to you? How often do you really listen to someone, both within and beyond your church?
- How often do you really listen to God? What hinders you from doing so? What helps you to do so? How do you feel when you hear from Him?
- God is a communicator. Are you? What holds you back from speaking out in love? How do you feel when someone speaks out in love to you?
- What loving task is God calling you to do at this time that will reach out His hand of love to those who may not know Him? How do you need God to help you in this regard?
- How can the group help you with the struggles you have mentioned during this session?
Prayer
Pray for one another in regard to the issues that have been raised during your discussion time, and in regard to other needs of the group.
Service
Divide the group into pairs (not husband and wife, preferably) and agree together to reach out God’s hand of love in some way as He leads you during the coming week. Be accountable to each other. Share with the group when you meet again what happened.
Extra information for Amos 3 & 4
Amos 3
Ashdod was a Philistine city. The Philistines and the Egyptians were invited by God to represent the other nations and visit Samaria to see the sin in Israel and understand the judgment that God would bring down on His people. Samaria was the capital city of northern Israel. God’s people believed they were superior to other nations in the way they lived, yet they too used their wealth and power to oppress and steal from others.
Amos’ prophecy about Israel’s adversary was fulfilled less than thirty years later. Israel was invaded and subjected by the Assyrian Empire for ten years when they were taken out of their land and scattered throughout the Empire.
God stated, through Amos, that He would destroy the places of idol worship His people had set up, as well as any grand buildings that had been constructed as a result of oppressing and robbing people.
Archaeological finds show the houses before Jeroboam’s reign were very similar in size. However around the time of Amos, cities like Tirzah show evidence of large, extravagant homes and tiny, crowded structures indicating the wealth and poverty that had developed in the land.
Amos 4
Bashan was in the north of Israel – now known as the Golan Heights – and it was renowned for its healthy cattle – its fat cows. Amos’ description of the women was sarcastic, and yet it implied the idea of the people being led out to slaughter. These women were affluent and they used their wealth for their own pleasure whilst oppressing those who were not as wealthy as they were.
God made them a solemn oath – on the very essence of His existence – His own holiness. Such an oath would not fail but would materialise because God does not lie. Assyrians would take their victims captive and lead them, naked, for hundreds of miles, tied together with string attached to fishhooks that pierced their lower lips. God’s people would be treated in this humiliating way because they were unrepentant.
The kings of northern Israel did not want their people to go to Jerusalem in Judah to make their sacrifices, so they set up places of worship in Bethel and Gilgal. In this way, they transgressed God’s command and were disobedient to Him. God also commanded tithes every three years but the people had strayed so far from Him it would not matter if they tithed every three days. It meant nothing. Their sacrifices were a mockery. Yet they loved the way they worshipped. It pleased them but it did not honour God.
God told them through Amos that there would be famine and drought. He would make rain fall in specific places and hold it back in other areas so there could be no doubt that this was His doing. Yet they did not hear His message and did not turn to Him.
As a result, God sent more signs not of His punishment but of His love for them. He began with small signs and increased their strength as people continued to ignore Him.
God’s instruction to prepare to meet Him in verses 12 and 13 can be taken three ways:
- As a challenge for all those who ignore or reject God;
- As an invitation for a blessing
- As a summons to all people, for at some time each one will meet the Lord God – creator, sovereign, all-powerful, supreme ruler.
Bibliography
Recent Comments