King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Sunday, July 09, 2023
Chapters: AMOS 1-4
Study: Heed The Warning
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
Well, we did it, I am officially a married woman. I told my husband that I now feel free, just like when I accepted Christ and felt free I feel free being married to my beloved. There is something about being within the confines of that fence that Christ has around you that secures you. Did you know that if a sheep keeps wandering off from its confinements that the shepherd will break its leg? This is so that it learns its lesson to stay close to the shepherd. Did you also know that while the sheep’s leg heals, it is nursed and the shepherd carries the sheep around their neck and carries it until it is healed? [Luke 15:4-6 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.]
The Book of Amos contains nine chapters, and was written by Amos to Israel. The timeline is approximately 776-763 BC. The purpose of the book was to call Israel back to God. What we are to learn from the book is that God calls all nations to prepare for the day they will meet Him for judgment, [Amos 4:13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.]
Yesterday, we read about Assyria invading Samaria, it was Amos who was given this prophecy probably about fifty years earlier, at the beginning of Uzziah’s reign in Judah. Israel, was not the only nation being judged, God was sending judgment upon every nation that had any association with Israel or was an enemy. Amos, who is the father of Isaiah, was a shepherd, and sent, not only to Judah and Israel to warn of God’s judgment upon them, but to all the nations surrounding them, one by one, nation upon nation is called out by God.
[Amos 1:1-4 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither. 3 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: 4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.]
[two years before the earthquake.] The earthquake, mentioned here occurred during Uzziah’s reign at the time of his being stricken with leprosy for going into the temple. It was only mentioned by Zechariah, who was the one who tried to stop Uzziah, [Zechariah 14:5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.]
[The LORD will roar from Zion,] The Lion of Judah, that is His name, Jesus Christ Himself, and when He returns He will judge all nations from His throne in Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus, often stood upon the Mount of Olives when on earth, it was where He often prayed to the Father. He even ascended up into heaven from there after His passion. Jesus, said this before He ascended, [Acts 1:7-8 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.]
These judgments that we are seeing all over the world, are only a glimpse of what God is going to do. Now, God goes on to warn of the judgment of Gaza, Edom, as well as Ammon. Notice that, it was always four transgressions that they were guilty of, and that it would be fire that destroyed them.
[Amos 1:6,9,11,13-14 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: 9 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant: 11 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: 13 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border: 14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:]
[with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:] Every one of the judgments has God sending fire on them to devour them except for this one. This judgment would come suddenly, without any warning, with a great force, and a storm added to the fire. While some of God’s judgments are quick others do tend to linger unless some repentance is involved. When Jesus returns, there will be no warning, except for the sound of trumpet, [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]
God, will always give ample warning before judgment takes place to give them a chance to repent before it happens, and He will also tell you why He places judgment on them. Moab, is also included in the judgment, but notice why God is judging them.
[Amos 2:1-3 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime: 2 But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet: 3 And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.]
[because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:] Say what? We thought that God hated Edom? What Moab did was unthinkable, he not only burned the bones of the king by fire into ashes, he used his ashes instead of lime to plaster the walls and roofs of his palace. God, hated that Esau sold his birthright. God, hated that he turned on his brother, Jacob. God, hated that he turned his nation away from Him. God, did not hate Edom, and gives all the choice to repent, [Hebrews 12:14-17 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.]
There is a very good reason why God’s judgment is much better to deal with than mans. God’s judgment is just, mans judgment is cruel, but God looks to our motives, as well as our conduct. Those that deal cruelly, shall be dealt with cruelly, but God was not done, now, He is warning His people of the judgment coming to them, first Judah, [Amos 2:4-5 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked: 5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.]
[because they have despised the law of the LORD,] Every time a religion or individual picks and chooses what they believe and follow from the Word of God rather than the entire Law they are despising God’s Law. We cannot choose to obey what we want, if we are going to choose God, then we believe and follow all of His Word. Being saved by grace is one thing, establishing the Law is another thing, [Romans 3:21-24 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.]
You see, God, was giving Judah ample time to repent before He sent judgment upon them, that is why He I is telling them to get back to following the Law while they still had the opportunity. As for the rest of Israel, their opportunities were over, God, has been warning them since Jeroboam had those stupid calves made and turned the nation away from Him. Take note though, what their transgressions are.
[Amos 2:6-7,13-16 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; 7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name: 13 Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. 14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: 15 Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself. 16 And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.]
[Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift,] Do you know what the best way to bring a nation back to God is? Weaken them. Take away their strength, and they will either return or reject God, and then there will be judgment. Keep in mind also that God will protect His people, even if He has to send them away from their own country for a while. Just think about Judah and Babylon and you will understand, [Jeremiah 18:7-10 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.]
Look at what is happening right now in our countries, while I am blessed to be in a state that does not have as much violence and looting because we have a governor that will not stand for it, many do not. They want to blame all that is going on on someones skin color, guns, reproductive rights, dysphoria, or privilege, but the truth is, they are the only ones to blame. And do you know why? Well, God knows why and this time, He has a message for the entire nation of Israel.
[Amos 3:1-3,6-7,10-11 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? 6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? 7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 10 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. 11 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.]
[You only have I known of all the families of the earth:] Keep in mind that these are people who are very well aware that God is real, they just choose their own man made gods over Him. God, did not choose Israel to be His people because of their faithfulness and righteousness, He did it because of one mans faithfulness and righteousness, and the promise that He made to that man. That man was Abraham. The Jews have this false assumption that because they are Jews they are automatically saved, this is false, and so is the assumption that all religions lead to God. A Catholic is no more privileged to be saved than a Baptist, we all face judgment, [Romans 2:9-11 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.]
[but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.] Do you know how many religions claim to know God, and Christ for that matter, but certainly do not walk with God? They walk around in their arrogant pride as though they know God or are a god themselves, oblivious to the fact that they know not what they do. Jesus said this on the cross as He watched the people gambling for a piece of His clothing, [Luke 23:33-35 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.]
To the world, Christ, truly is a mystery because God chose to only reveal Himself to the true believers. And there is a difference between a true believer and someone pretending to be. No matter what God does to show them that He is true, and serious about His judgment, they continue to reject the warnings, and choose their false gods over Him. And this is exactly what God is telling Israel, this was their last warning.
[Amos 4:9-12 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 10 I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.]
[I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt:] Sound familiar? God is using all these things that are taking place right now to warn us that judgment is coming if we as a nation do not return to Him. Let me tell you, God’s mercy endures, but there does come a time when enough is enough. We truly are turning into something resembling Sodom and Gomorrah, and will lose the protections of God upon this nation if we do not heed these warnings.
[Isaiah 1:10,16-20 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You are the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lion of Judah, that is Your name. You are also, the Almighty and only living God, who has an abundance of mercy on all who call upon You. Thank You, for loving us so much to warn us repeatedly of Your judgment so that all have a chance to seek You, and live. Thank You, for showing us the right way, and what we need to do to live peacefully in this dark world. Lord, keep us faithful and growing as we await Your return. Open the hearts of those whom have not returned to You, and bring them to repentance. Give us Your power and strength to reach whomever You place before us with the Gospel. Keep us humble, and let us be the Godly example You need us to a world that knows not what they do. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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