Read
The Work of a Prophet
3Can two people walk together
without agreeing to meet?
4Does a lion roar in the forest
unless it has caught
a victim?
Does it growl in its den
unless it is eating?
5How can anyone catch a bird
without using a net?
Does a trap spring shut
unless something is caught?
6Isn't the whole city frightened
when the trumpet
signals an attack?
Isn't the Lord the one who brings
disaster on a city?
7Whatever the Lord God
plans to do,
he tells his servants,
the prophets.
8Everyone is terrified
when a lion roars—
and ordinary people
become prophets
when the Lord God speaks.
Samaria Is Doomed
9Here is a message
for the leaders
of Philistia and Egypt—
tell everyone to come together
on the hills of Samaria.
Let them see the injustice
and the lawlessness
in that city.
10The Lord has said
that they don't even know how
to do right.
They have become rich
from violence and robbery.
11And so the Lord God has sworn
that they will be surrounded.
Enemies will break through
their defenses
and steal their treasures.
12The Lord has promised
that only a few from Samaria
will escape with their lives
and with some broken pieces
of their beds and couches.
It will be like when a shepherd
rescues two leg bones
and part of a sheep's ear
from the jaws of a lion.
The Altars at Bethel
13The Lord God All-Powerful
told me to speak this message
against Jacob's descendants:
14 When I, the Lord, punish Israel
for their sins,
I will destroy the altars
at Bethel.
Even the corners of the altar
will be left in the dirt.
15I will tear down winter homes
and summer homes.
Houses decorated with ivory
and all other mansions
will be gone forever.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Reflect
Why did he not warn us the banks would fail and the stock market crash? Why did he not warn us that we would not be able to finish the war we started?
Which crash, which war? That’s the point: there is nothing new under the sun. Greed begets poverty and violence begets violence.
If God does not do anything without telling us first, why do disasters engulf us? He did warn, he is warning, he will keep warning – but he does not need to say another word. Amos has said it all. As night follows day: “Does a trap spring shut unless something is caught?” “They have become rich from violence and robbery” but enemies will “steal their treasures.” The bigger the mansion the bigger the pile of rubble. “Isn’t it the LORD who brings disaster on a city?”
Are we embarrassed by that idea? Why? Is love not justice? Amos invites Israel’s enemies, the Philistines and Egyptians, to visit her cities, to observe their lawlessness and injustice, riches built on the suffering of others. For God will invite them again, to invade, to conquer, to punish. Only a few will escape, clutching fragments of their wealth. He has counted. He has done the math.
“Everyone is terrified when a lion roars – and ordinary people become prophets when the LORD God speaks.” Amos is that ordinary. A shepherd, a man for animals, not people. “It will be like when a shepherd rescues two leg bones” he says, “and part of a sheep’s ear from the jaws of a lion.” He remembered bringing proof of death to the owners of the sheep he tended, lest they think he stole it. Amos could not save the sheep but he must save a remnant. He is reaching into the Lion’s mouth, in Israel’s cities, trying to rescue some, if their ears will just hear his master’s voice.
When we hear Him roar, do we stay ordinary?
Respond
You roar and we hide. You roar again and we listen. You roar again, and we take courage. Roar your words into our hearts. Give us courage by their fierce love. Make us fearless.
Alexander Best
Alexander cultivated a network of Christian leaders, OneMission, to promote collaboration, including service to the 15,000 new students arriving at University of Toronto each fall, under the umbrella, ServeToronto. He helped foster the same at the PanAm Games in Toronto and is the former Canadian Director of the Lausanne Movement Canada. He publishes THisToronto, a social media platform promoting & connecting the activities of over 300 ministries and churches in the city."