God Is Not Silent

A Nation In Trouble:  God Is Not Silent

Often times we only WANT Him to tell us good things and to encourage us, but many times we NEED Him to tell us what we are doing wrong.  Today we begin a journey in the OT that will reveal some incredible things to us about God. 

Background

   -Amos was a sheepherder, not a professional—750 BC

   -name means burden—1 of 12 minor prophets—first written

   -native of Tekoa—12 miles south of Bethlehem

   -contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea

   -Uzziah was king of Judah & Jeroboam II was king of Israel

   -prophesied in northern kingdom—Israel

   -Israel had become very prosperous—led to luxury & entitlement

     -which led people to THINK they didn’t need God

   -Amaziah is the priest in Jeroboam’s court—not much spiritual

   -Amos is WARNING of God’s coming judgment—just a messenger

Amos 1:1-2:5

Theme of the Warnings—1:1-2

   -Amos is a “prophet of righteousness”—calling people to live rightly

   -gives his credentials and even dates it—2 years before earthquake

     -Zechariah 14:5—in days of Uzziah—great fear

     -II Chron 26:16—Uzziah entered priests office to burn incense

     -historian Josephus records the earthquake

   v. 2—“Lord roars from Zion” = lion roars before He tears—God too

     -roars are acts of mercy as warnings for His people

   -“from Jersu. He utters His voice” = center of Jerusalem—God is

   “shepherds pasture grounds mourn” = fear the Lord and/or drought

   “summit or Carmel dries up” = very fruitful fields—causes distress

   -God is using Amos to warn His people—leaders aren’t listening

Prophecies

   -7 neighbors around them—they only care about themselves

   “for 3 transgressions . . . and for 4”—many and last is specific

     -last is a sin of persecution charged against the people of God

   -“I will not revoke its punishment” -  God is not going to delay more

   -fire—means destruction sent by God

1.  v. 3-5-Damascus—head city of Syria—contentious w/ Israel

   -sin--“threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron”

     -tortured and cruelly killed those from Gilead they captured

   -punishment—fire on King Hazael’s house & palaces of Benhadad

     -Also gate bar will be broken allowing enemies easy access

     -And cut off those who worship idols in valley of Aven

     -And ruler of house of pleasure in Betheden will be cut off

     -And majority of nation taken into captivity

      -fulfilled 732 BC when king of Assyria did it  {II Kings 16:7-9}

2.  v. 6-8-Gaza—city of Philistines—metropolis of that day

   -sin—“deported entire population-delivered to Edom”

     -seized those who fled to them for shelter when Sennacharib

     invaded Judah and sold them as slaves to Edom—enemies of God

     (Joel 3)

   -punishment—fire on palaces of Gaza & destruction of city

     -And those in Ashdod, Ashkelon, & Ekron (Phil. cities) cut off

     -And he will destroy even the remnant

       -they had no mercy on God’s own—He will show them the same!

3.  v. 9-10-Tyre—city of great wealth & strength—a kingdom

   -sin—“delivered entire pop. to Edom &broke covenant-brotherhood

     -seized those who fled to them and only wanted gain for themselves

     -{I King 5}—Solomon and Hiram, king of Tyre made intimate cov.

     -so much so that Hiram called him his brother

   -punishment—fire will destroy the walls & palaces

     -Nebuchadnezzar did that when he invaded after 13 yr. siege.

4.  v. 11-12-Edom—the descendants of Esau—neighbors

   -sin—anytime an enemy pursued Is or Judah, Edom would pursue

     & pounce relentlessly—never willing to face in a battle—Cowards!

     -many different times—passed from Esau who hated bro. Jacob

   -punishment—fire to destroy their cities & palaces-Teman &Bozrah

   -fire of our anger against brothers kindles God’s anger against us

5.  v. 13-15-Ammon-east of Gilead which they tried to obtain

   -sin—killing pregnant women to enlarge their borders—WRONG

   -punishment—fire on the capital of Rabbah-tempest will stoke it

     -And king & princes will be taken into exile—forced

6.  v. 2:1-3-Moab—on the east of the Jordan and Dead Sea

   -sin—caused a cruel death to king of Edom or desecrated grave

     -done out of anger & not necessary!

   -punishment—fire to destroy palaces of capital city

     -And people will die in great war

     -And judge and princes responsible for kings death to be cut off

7.  v. 4-5-Judah—descendents of Jacob from original 12 tribes

   -sin—directly against God, not others:

     -rejected God’s law

     -not been obedient to God’s Word

     -have worshipped idols—lied to God

   -punishment—fire sent on nation of Judah

     -fire to consume Jerusalem—place where God is known!

Lessons for U.S.:

1.  God is seeing all that we do against Him.

2.  He expects His own to honor Him.

3.  Our sin is not ignored.

God is not silent!