Amos 8:1-14 – A famine in hearing God’s word
If it was illegal to read your bible over this last week from Monday to Saturday could you get charged?
When you go away on holidays do you read God’s word?
What costs would you be prepared to bear to own and read your own bible?
Amos 8
… a famine in hearing God’s word.
A bowl of ripe fruit
… time has now run out for Israel.
Amos 8:3, “In that day”, declares the sovereign Lord, “the songs in the temple will turn to wailing. Many, many bodies – flung everywhere! Silence!”
God’s judgement is just – v 4-6
What is God’s judgement going to be? – v 7-14
… a lack of God’s word.
For us today
1) God is a God who brings judgement as well
Grace, love and patience do not mean we are immune from his judgement.
Amos 8:7, “I will never forget anything they have done”
… the reality our own sin and also the reality of God’s just judgement should remind us that each of us equally before God do not stand a chance.
… this reminds us of the desperate need we have for Jesus.
… helps us to grasp the enormity of God’s gracious offer of forgiveness that comes about through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
God is now speaking to his people again through Jesus
– Hebrews 1:1-2, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways. But in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son, who is an exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
2) What God loves
… what would God say to us about our love of economic gain verses our love of him?
… What would God say to us about our love of economic gain verses our love of honesty?
… What would God make of our love of self-indulgence or our pursuit of self-satisfaction?
No ‘cost free’ way of following Jesus.
3) Do we hunger and thirst for God’s word?
What sort of thirst do you have for God’s word?