If God were to summon the nations of the world to court today and level accusations against them, would these charges resemble those made during the time of Amos?
For instance, Amos accused the Edomites of harboring perpetual anger against their neighbors (Amos 1.11) and the Ammonites of inciting violence against women (Amos 1.13).
He brought the Moabites to court because they sought to utterly destroy the king of Edom by burning his bones to lime (Amos 2.1).
The nations surrounding Israel lacked a covenant relationship with God, unlike the southern kingdom of Judah. Consequently, God held Judah to a different standard, leading to a distinct set of accusations against them.
Thus says the Lord:
For three transgressions of Judah,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have rejected the instruction of the Lord
and have not kept his statutes,
but they have been led astray by the same lies
after which their ancestors walked. (Amos 2.4)
To Whom Much Is Given
Jesus expressed God’s standard for humans when He said, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded” (Luke 12:48).
What did God give to Israel? He set them free from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. He formed a personal relationship with them and gave them 10 commandments which set out the best way to live with Him and to live with one another.
Despite receiving numerous gifts from God, His people rejected His instructions and failed to keep the commandments. Although they outwardly appeared to worship Him, their behavior revealed a different reality.
Take Down Your Spiritual Umbrella
The revivalist Billy Sunday often said, “Take down your spiritual umbrella so that God’s truths, instead of raining onto someone else, can rain down on you.”
Let’s take down our spiritual umbrellas for a few minutes and consider how we have responded to God’s directions.
(1) God brought the nations to court because they failed to have compassion on others.
Do our daily actions demonstrate compassion and kindness? Do we actively seek to help those in need, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and comforting the distressed, as Jesus taught in Matthew 25?
(2) God condemned Judah and Israel because their worship did not translate into love for others. While they worshiped Him, they simultaneously engaged in the practices of Baal. We become like what we worship and Baal worship had no moral component.
Let’s check to see if our worship is a true reflection of our heart’s intentions. Does our worship extend beyond church services and into everyday actions and interactions with others?
(3) In the courtroom scene, God accused the nations of perpetual anger and resentment.
Let’s consider our approach to forgiveness. Are we willing to forgive others as Christ forgave us, and do we actively work toward reconciliation in strained relationships?
(4) One key reason God opposed blending other religious systems into the true faith is the principle that we become like what we worship.
Since Baal lacked morality, blending his worship with the service of the Lord led people to lose their own sense of morality and ethics.
We do well to evaluate the consistency between our professed beliefs and our actions. Do our actions align with the teachings of Jesus, especially in showing love, mercy, and justice to others?
One of the benefits of reading the prophets is that they remind us there is accountability for our behavior.
It’s very important that we stand before God and invite Him to examine our hearts now. As the Spirit uncovers the true nature of our behavior, we should strive to align it with God’s plan for our lives.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 