missio

Here’s my notes on the fourth chapter of Amos, see previous posts for all previous chapters (links: Intro, Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three). The way I’m teaching this chapter is in comparison with Revelation 4-5. You’ll see what I mean.

• Verses 1-3 are directly aimed at the women of Israel. They have gotten “plump” as cows on a fertile plain (Bashan). But pay special attention to verse 1: it is not the fact that they are wealthy that twists and breaks God’s heart. It is how they have become affluent: by stepping upon the heads of the less fortunate. Their sin is that they are using other people for self gain: they have a love for money that surpasses their love for people. This, not wealth itself, is sin. For their sin, they are going to be exported past Mount Harmon by the Assyrians (who traditionally exiled people single file with a fish hook through the lower lip - rough way to go).
• Verses 4-5 are central to the chapter: they express the Lord’s discontent with improper worship, and to us, they reveal the two great enemies of Christ: idolatry and false religion. Bethel was once an idol center, established by Solomon’s son Jeroboam. Now, both Bethel and Gilgal were separate “holy cities” set up during the days of Elijah and Elisha: and the Israelites practiced worship-less sacrifices here in the days of Amos. So God is saying “go ahead and sacrifice, it’s meaningless to me”. They are breaking the first commandment, and in essence, disbelieving the Gospel: that God alone saves.
• Verses 6-11 are God giving physical warnings to the people of Israel, trying to convince them to come back to him. They do not, and compared with all of the other tragedies they face, this is the greatest. The worst possible thing that could ever happen to us as a people is that we ignore the calling of God to Himself. This is ignoring the Gospel, and will only result in the full wrath of God poured out upon us.
• Verses 12-13 are God’s revelation of Himself as supreme, and that He will justly judge those who refuse Him: Christ is ruler over creation, our thoughts and will, and over any kingdoms we try to set up on earth. He is supreme, and we are to will subject ourselves to Him, whether through the love of Christ or the wrath of His judgment.
• So what does this have to do with Revelation 4-5? How does a people go from ignoring a beckoning yet vengeful God as seen in Amos 4 to a “kingdom of priests and kings” before a glorious and beautiful God in Revelation 4-5? The only way is this: a bloody cross and physical resurrection. The Gospel of Christ is the bridge to take a people from Amos 4 ignorance to Revelation 5 worship.

I recorded this lesson, and have it on audio, if you wish to hear it (average quality - I was using a voice recorder). Email me at derek@harmonydc.com.