Amos 7: Vision of Judgement on Israel by Ho King Swee dated 19.3.17

1. Three visions of judgment on Israel (v.1-9)

2. Amaziah opposition (v.10-17)

1. Thee visions of judgment on Israel (v.1-9)

a. Vision of the locusts   (v.1-3)

b. Vision of the fire (v.4-6)

c. Vision of the plumbline (v.7-9)

1(a) Vision of the locusts (v.1-3)

Amos 7:1-3 – locust attacked Israel.  Amos prayed alone for the nation and God relented.

Similar happening during Solomon times 2 Chronicle 7:12-14 – when God punished Israel, Solomon also prayed alone for God to forgive the nation.

1(b) Vision of the fire (v.4-6)

Amos 7:4-6 – God punished Israel by fire, again Amos prayed. God relented.

Amos 7:1-17

In both cases Amos prayed and pleaded with the Lord for mercy and the 2 judgements were averted!

The LORD repented (relented)….

Men deserve more and heavier punishment and judgment for their

sins, evils and wickedness but God has been merciful.

1(c) Vision of the plumb line (v. 7-9)

Amos 7:7-9 – Israel is “not straight” so God set a plumb line on the nation.

Plumb line symbol of judgement of righteousness.  This time is was judgement of destruction of hig places in Israel.

2. Amaziah's opposition (v.10-17)

(a) Amaziah accused Amos and stopped him from prophesying (v10-13)

(b)  Amos's reply (v.14-17)

2(a) Amaziah accused Amos and stopped him from prophesying (v10-13)

Amos 7:10-11 – Amos prophesied Jeroboam to die by the sword.

2 King 14:29 – Jeroboam did not die by the sword, but his son Zechariah died by conspiracy.

Amos 7:12-13 – Amziah asked Amos to go back to his land.

Amos 7:14-15 – Amos said he was not a prophet and obyed God to prophesied in Israel.

Act 4:18-20 – similarly this happended to Peter and John whne the authorities asked them not to speak about Jesus.

2 (b)  Amos's reply (v.14-17)

Amos 7:16-17

Amos obeyed the LORD to speak hard  messages of warnings and judgments So we must speak

whatever God says to us.

When there is disagreement or opposition to us speaking God's hard messages, we must not stop and/or change message to please men.

2 Timothy 4:1-4- preach what are from God.

Application

Take every opportunity to speak, teach and preach God's word

Pray and intercede always for the church and the lost.

Seek God

TODAY

As long as it is called today.

Amos Chapter 3: Announcing Judgement on Israel by Ho King Swee dated 19.2.17

In the earlier chapters Amos warned the surrounding nations.  In this chapter he warned Israel and Judah.

The judgment on Israel 3:1-15

    1. Israel's judgment deserved (1-10)

    2. Israel's judgment described  (11-15)

1. Israel's judgment deserved (v.1-10)

   a) They enjoyed God's special favour (v.1-2)

   b) God's warnings of judgment (v.3-10)

Lev 26:23-25

Do we walk with God?

Walk with Him in agreement mutually?

Only on His term – to obey ALL His commandments

3: 4-5- lion roar for a reason, similarly snare will not spring up if it caught nothing.

There is a reason or cause

 for a thing to happen

Judgment is certain

Sin is the trap that will ultimately kills

Dan 9:13  As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this evil has come on us. Yet we did not make our prayer before Jehovah our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Your truth.

Dan 9:14  Therefore Jehovah has watched over the evil, and has brought it on us. For Jehovah our God is righteous in all His works which He does; for we did not obey His voice. 

3:7-8, 3:9-10

The LORD God had spoken!

His prophet had obeyed and fearlessly  declared to you

Do you see how dreadful your sins are?

Why don’t you repent ?

2. Israel's judgment described  (v.11-15)

 a) A plundering adversary shall destroy thoroughly (v.11-12)

3: 11-12

The LORD is always merciful and gracious to save the remnant of Israel  Amos 3 9:8

V 13-15

Application

Will you repent when the Lord warns you?

Will you obey when the Lord speaks to you?

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know I am God”

Amos Chapter 2 by Pastor Richard Sim dated 5.2.17

Who was Amos?

-          A shepherd from Tekoa

-          A fearless prophet

-          A prophet of justice

The Jewish Nation divided into two kingdoms:

Israel the Northern Kingdom

Judah the Southern Kingdom

Amos

Amos lived during the reign of    Jeraboam II and overlapped with King Uzziah

God Called Amos to preach to the Kingdom of Israel and to share with them the message they needed to hear

His work was 2 years before the earthquake and most scholars   date it at 760 – 755

From 805bc to 740bc  the Jewish nations were enjoying a period of expansion, peace and prosperity.

Israel  -   the Northern Kingdom  -  under  Jeroboam II

Judah – the Southern Kingdom  - under Uzziah

The Jewish people were enjoying a good time of peace and prosperity. The wealthy were getting richer. They lived in big comfortable mansions with all kind of luxuries. They eat and drink and party all the time. With prosperity, the people lost sight of their need for God.  They forgot their roots.

The poor getting poorer. They were exploited by the rich.

God sent Amos to warn them. In Chapter 2 Amos turned his attention to Israel and Judah. Chapter 2:6 – 8.

The Jewish nations of Israel and Judah were in grave dangers of being destroy because of their great sins against humanity as against God.  Like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Warnings to Israel:

      1.       Israel’s sin exposed v 6-8

      2.       The aggravation of Israel’s sins V 9-12

      3.       Warning of the consequences to sins v 13-16

What a Dreadful and fearful warning !

God had given them victory, but now they trusted not in God but in their own strength. They thought and believed that the peace and prosperity were the work of their own hands and they deserved it.

They were religious outwardly, but inwardly, they despised God. Outwardly they appeared to be very religious, but inwardly, they were very far away from God.  They relied on their own strength and forgot their God.

What about us?

We live in a great country.  When the British came, they were God fearing people.

Now we have forgotten God.

Today

Corruption and injustice is headline news in our paper/media almost everyday. Are we any different from the society in Amos’ days? The rich getting richer and they also exploit the poor.  Father and son having sex with the same woman.

Warning

Amos gave to the Israelites is also the warnings for us today.

Repent and return to God or else…

Many have turned their back on God and walked their own way.

There is no God, this is my life and I can do what I like and want.

Are you called to be an AMOS  ?