Amos Judgement Has Its Limits
Series: JUSTICE
Speaker: James Shepherd
Date: 2nd July 2017
Passage: Amos 9:1-15
00:00:00 --> 00:00:00 Well, good morning, everyone.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:08 It's an absolute privilege and a bit sad to be here this morning to preach my last sermon to you here.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:13 I remember when I first came to St. Paul's, I was asked, I'm not sure why I was asked to say this,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:19 but I shared with you all my passion for ministry and, I guess, why I do what I do.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 Sorry.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:22 Sorry.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:29 I didn't plan for this.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:39 From Ephesians 1, Paul prays for the Ephesians, reminding of the hope that I have,
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 all the benefits of salvation that I enjoy, and he says this,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you and my prayers.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:54 I keep asking that God, our Father, Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,
00:00:55 --> 00:01:00 may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:07 I pray the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you
00:01:07 --> 00:01:11 in the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 That's my prayer for you for the last two and a half years.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:19 That's my prayer for you this morning as we look at God's word.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:23 So please pray with me as we open up his word once more.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:30 Heavenly Father, we give you great thanks and praise for the privilege it is to sit under your word.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:34 You're a God who is holy and perfect, powerful, mighty,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:40 and we ask, Lord, that you would give us eyes to see who you are this morning
00:01:40 --> 00:01:44 and the great privilege it is that we can come before you through your son, Jesus Christ,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 to worship you and to love you.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 We give you thanks and praise that we can do this now.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 We pray this in your son's name.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:52 Amen.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 I'm going to just clean myself up here.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:56 Okay.
00:01:56 --> 00:02:04 You've been weighed, you've been measured, and you've been found wanting.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 I first heard this quote from the movie A Knight's Tale.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 You haven't seen it.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 It's a fantastic film set in medieval times.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:17 The basic plot line is a young squire, a knight in training, Heath Ledger,
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 dreamy, gorgeous Heath Ledger,
00:02:20 --> 00:02:24 who dreams of becoming a knight one day.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:25 And he eventually does.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 By fraudulently taking upon his dead master's name and title as knight,
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 he goes in as Sir Orlick von Liechtenstein,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:39 and he beats every single knight in every single jasping tournament there is
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 in Paris and in London,
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 except for one knight, Count Adhemar.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 Early on in the movie, he loses to Count Adhemar,
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 and Heath Ledger's character says to Count Adhemar,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:56 Next time I face you, you will look at me from the flat of your back.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:01 And Count Adhemar, from his position of having just beaten Heath Ledger in this jasping tournament,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:02 says to him,
00:03:02 --> 00:03:08 You've been weighed, you've been measured, and you've been found wanting.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 In other words, you've been tested, and you've failed.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:16 Your actions don't stand up to the measure set before you.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:23 Such a response is an appropriate way to describe the people of God in the book of Amos.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 As we saw last week with the imagery of the plumb line in chapter 7,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:33 God's people did not measure up to God's standard set by his law and covenant.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 They had been found wanting.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 They had not lived as God's people.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 Amos 9 comes to a boiling point.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:47 This chapter is probably the most devastating of all judgment oracles in this book,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 and yet towards the end of the chapter, there is hope.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 There's a promise of restoration.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 It'd be easy for us to skip to the hope bit and focus on that,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 thinking that's what's applied to us.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:06 But I believe God is still roaring through the book of Amos,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 and this roar of judgment is still declared,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:14 sorry, directed towards his people, Christians, and to us as a church today.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 It's something that we must hear and reflect upon,
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 lest we end up like the nation of Israel.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:23 But we will all face judgment.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 We will be weighed.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 We will be measured.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 But the question is, is whether or not we'll be found wanting.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:37 In chapter 9, we learn the full consequences and dangers
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 of presuming upon God's love and status,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:44 that God must punish and judge sin.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:49 But we also learn the extent of God's grace,
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 that God's judgment is not forever.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 There are two main points this morning.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:58 Firstly, to those who presume upon God's favor and love,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 God promises to punish them.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:06 In verse 1, Amos has changed in introduction.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:11 No longer is the prophet being shown something by the Lord or declared a vision,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 Amos now sees the Lord in action.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:19 He is described as standing beside the altar.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:23 The phrase is very similar to the one used in chapter 7, verse 7,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:27 of God standing beside the wall of the plumb line.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:31 This conscious connection between God standing beside the altar
00:05:31 --> 00:05:38 is supposed to bring to mind the illustration of God standing beside the wall of the plumb line,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 measuring up the Israelites' obedience against the law itself.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:49 And here now, more specifically, he measures their sacrifice upon the altar,
00:05:49 --> 00:05:53 against their lives, their hearts,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 and concludes that they are found wanting.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:02 And instead of consuming the sacrifice and sparing them from his judgment,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 he instead rejects their sacrifice,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:09 and from the altar he pours out his judgment upon the people.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 Strike the tops of the pillars,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 let the threshold shake,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 bring them down their heads.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 Of all the people, those who are left,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 I will kill the sword.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 No one will get away.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 None will escape.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 It's a picture of God bringing down the temple
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 whilst his people are inside it.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:36 Can you imagine if our building right now just collapsed in on us?
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 That's what's going on here in this image.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 As we saw in our series in Leviticus,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:47 the altar was once a place where God's people could meet with them
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 and experience his grace and love,
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 his mercy, his forgiveness.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 It was a divine barbecue
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 on which the nation could bring the meat,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 the bull, the pigeons, etc.,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 to sacrifice for their sins.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:06 These animals would take the judgment of God for Israel.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 So Israel wouldn't have to experience the wrath
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 and anger and judgment of God
00:07:13 --> 00:07:17 and instead enjoy his presence and grace.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 Here in Amos 9,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 the people still gather with this intention.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 They still come to God and bring him sacrifice.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 They still come and gather these people to worship him,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 expecting blessing,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:35 expecting to enjoy his presence and grace and mercy,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:40 completely unsuspecting of what was about to happen
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 the moment they brought their sacrifice to him.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 It's kind of like in Star Wars,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 The Empire Strikes Back,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:51 when Han Solo and the crew of the Millennium Falcon
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 are seeking refuge from the Empire
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 and Han decides to go to Cloud City
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 to seek refuge from his friend Lando Calrissian
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 in the Bespin system.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 I know my Star Wars quite well,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 for those who don't know me.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 But when they go to dinner that night
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 and the doors are opened,
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 before them is Darth Vader.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 And in that moment,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 as soon as they see Darth Vader,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 they know they've been betrayed.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 And the look on their faces
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 says that they had no idea.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 They had no idea the whole time
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 they were in danger.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 They were never safe,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 never secure.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 The place they thought was refuge
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 turned out to be the most dangerous place of all to be.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 In a similar way,
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 the Israelite people thought they were safe.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:49 They thought that coming before the altar of God
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 would mean safety and blessing for them,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 that they could find refuge in him,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 knowing that their sins might be forgiven.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 But they could not be in any more danger now.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:07 As they approached a holy and awesome God,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 they presumed upon his goodness
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 when in fact he was angry with them
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 because of their sin.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 In chapter 5,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 we get an idea of what he thinks of their worship.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:20 I hate, I despise your feasts.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 and grain offerings,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 I will not accept them.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 And the peace offerings of your fasting animals,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 I will not look upon them.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 Take away from the noise of your songs.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 To the melody of your harps,
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 I will not listen.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 The altar was once a place of grace
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 and mercy,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 a place which allowed the people of God
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 to escape God's judgment
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 and enjoy his presence.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 But here in Amos 9,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 the place, the altar,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 has become the place of judgment
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 from which no one will escape.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 This scene is a devastating one.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 You can imagine the terror and upheaval
00:10:05 --> 00:10:09 as people try to escape the Lord God Almighty.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 People will trample on each other
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 to try and get out of the temple
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 to escape the debris.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 But no one will escape his judgment.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 Though they dig down to the depths below,
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 from there my hand will take them.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 Though they climb up to the heavens above,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 from there I will bring them down.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 Though they hide themselves
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 on top of Mount Carmel,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 there I will hunt them down and seize them.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 Though they hide from my eyes
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 at the bottom of the sea,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 there I will command the serpent
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 to bite them.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 Though they are driven to exile
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 by their enemies,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 there I will command the sword
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 to slay them.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 Nowhere is safe.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 God will make sure
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 everyone is brought under judgment.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 And he concludes in verse 4,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 I will keep my eye on them for harm
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 and not for good.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:04 They presumed they were safe
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 in the presence of God
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 before the altar,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 when in fact they never were.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 Their sin blinded them
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 to the reality that they were fools
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 to offer worship and sacrifice
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 without recognizing their need
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 for repentance.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 They were fools to think
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 they could buy God's protection
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 instead of devoting themselves
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 to obedience and holiness.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 But the tables have turned
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 and their foolishness
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 has come to light.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 No longer does God look upon
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 his people with blessing
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 and good intention,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 but he intends to judge them
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 and punish them.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 The altar,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 once the place
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 of receiving God's mercy,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 has now become the place
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 of receiving God's judgment.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 It's a bit much to hear
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 at the moment, is it?
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 The lot coming in through here.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 Can you imagine
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 Aeolus' hearers
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 being stunned at this?
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 I mean, they were God's people,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 chosen, taken from Egypt.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 They thought God loved them.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 It's a bit of a
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 deer-in-the-headlights moment.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 It's a bit of a
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 Han Solo-seen Darth Vader moment.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 What is going on?
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 And then God interjects again
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 in verse 7.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 Are you not like the Cushites
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 to me, O people of Israel?
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 Declares the Lord.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 Did I not bring up Israel
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 from the land of Egypt
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 and the Philistines
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 from Kapdor
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 and the Syrians
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 from Kerr?
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 The Cushites were
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 a remote people
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 who the Israelites
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 considered as
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 very insignificant,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 a small,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 tribal-type people.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 And so hearing that
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 their God thinks of them
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 like the Cushites,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 that they are
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 an insignificant people,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 not worth a second look at
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 or a second thought,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 would have stung them
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 to the core.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 But what is more stinging
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 is the next question.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 God has not only saved
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 his own people from Egypt,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 but the Philistines
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 from Kapdor
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 and the Syrians
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 from Kerr.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 There was nothing unique
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 in the saving of God's people
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 from Egypt
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 that prevented them
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 from facing judgment
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 for sin.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 God has saved
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 other nations
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 from other nations
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 as well.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 They thought the Exodus
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 in and of itself
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 made them special
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and unique
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 compared to every
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 other nation,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 but it's very clear
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 that God's sovereignty
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 and care
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 extends beyond
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 just Israel
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 to the other nations
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 as well.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 Any pride
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 they might have had,
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 any smugness
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 they might have had
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 about their status
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 and favour
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 was dashed away
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 at God's
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 impending judgement
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 and not even
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 their exodus
00:13:48 --> 00:13:51 from Egypt
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 could do anything
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 about it.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 We might look
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 at the northern kingdom,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 the Israelites
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 and think,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 such fools!
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 What are they doing?
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 But I wonder
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 if we'd only be
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 making ourselves
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 out to be fools
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 as well.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 The northern kingdom
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 thought they were
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 in the right
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 because of who they were
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 by the fact
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 they were sacrificing
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 and worshipping,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 by the fact
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 that they were
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 God's people
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 taken out of Egypt,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 doing all the right
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 things,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 but they were
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 proven to be fools.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 Their sacrifices
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 were measured
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 and weighed
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 and they were
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 found wanting.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 I wonder
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 if we think
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 we are in the right
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 with God
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 when in fact
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 we might be
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 dangerously
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 presuming
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 upon Him
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 as well.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 Do we think
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 we are safe
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 as we gather
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 here now
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 before Him
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 praising Him
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 and praying to Him
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 and reading His word
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 when in fact
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 maybe we're not?
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 It depends
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 upon our picture
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 of God.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 Do we think
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 that we can buy
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 God's favour and love
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 like the Israelites did
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 by showing Him
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 our good works
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 and our good deeds
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 that we come to church
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 every Sunday
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 that we read our Bibles
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 and pray
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 that we serve
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 at morning tea
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 or throughout the week?
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 Or do we think
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 God doesn't care
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 about sin?
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 That He doesn't
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 want to judge you?
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 He's not angry
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 at you?
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 He doesn't want to
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 punish you
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 for your sin.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 He's all sugar
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 and spice
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 and everything nice.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 He says
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 come as you are
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 no need to change.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 The problem
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 with both those views
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 with both those responses
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 is they presume
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 upon who God is
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 based on what
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 we think He is
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 from a human point of view.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 And surely
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 this passage
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 so far
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 teaches us
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 to never do that
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 to never presume
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 upon who God is
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 and what He is like
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 from our point of view
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 from our perspective.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 Anyone who tries
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 to measure up
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 upon their own
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 thinking they are
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 in the right
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 with God
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 whilst remaining
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 in sin
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 will be destroyed.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 And anyone who thinks
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 sin is irrelevant
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 God will destroy them
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 as well.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 Only a fool
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 would presume
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 to be in the right
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 with God
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 based on his own
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 status and actions
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 or based upon
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 sin
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 not having any
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 consequences at all.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 A misunderstanding
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 of what God's love is.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 Such a fool
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 will discover
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 in the same way
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 the people of Israel
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 did
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 God's awful
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 judgment.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 As Jesus
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 says Himself
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 in Matthew 7
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 many will say
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 to me on that day
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 Lord, Lord
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 did we not
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 prophesy
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 in your name
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 and your name
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 drive out demons
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 and your name
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 perform many miracles
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 then I will tell
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 them plainly
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 I never knew you
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 away from me
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 you evil
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 doers.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 At the heart
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 of the issue
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 is being
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 presumptuous
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 upon God's
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 love and favour
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 towards them.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 Amos
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 warns us
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 to not
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 to never
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 presume
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 upon
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 God's love
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 and favour
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 because God
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 promises to destroy
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 all who do so
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 promising to judge
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 and punish them
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 for ignoring
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 and not acknowledging
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 their sin.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 But
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 God is also
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 faithful to
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 His promise
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 that He's made
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 to His people
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 in the past
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 which is my
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 second point
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 here this morning.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 God remains
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 faithful to
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 His promise
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 of salvation
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 even when
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 His people
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 remain
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 unfaithful.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 Verse 8
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 Behold the eyes
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 of the Lord God
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 are upon this
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 sinful nation
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 and I will
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 destroy it
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 from the surface
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 of the ground
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 except that I
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 will not utterly
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 destroy the house
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 of Jacob
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 declares the Lord.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 God will not
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 destroy His people
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 completely.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 His promise
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 to remain
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 faithful to
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 His covenant
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 by saving
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 a few.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 God is always
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 faithful to
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 His promises
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 that He made
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 way back
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 in Genesis
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 chapter 12
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 that Abraham
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 and the nation
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 that would come
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 through Him
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 would be a
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 great nation
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 would be a
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 blessing to
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 all the nations.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 He remembers
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 His promise to
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 David in 2 Samuel 7
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 when He said
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 that He would
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 always establish
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 His throne
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 forever.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 and so despite
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 the sin
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 of the people
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 how far
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 gone they are
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 we know how
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 far gone
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 they are
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 God is still
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 going to make
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 good on His
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 promise
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 by being the
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 one to do
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 the work
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 Himself.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 He is going
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 to remain
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 faithful
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 when His
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 people
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 remain unfaithful.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 He will
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 establish a
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 better king.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 Verse 11
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 In that day
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 I will restore
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 David's fallen
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 shelter
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 I will repair
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 its broken
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 walls
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 and restore
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 its ruins
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 and rebuild
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 it as it
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 used to be.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 The language
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 of repairing
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 broken walls
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 and restoring
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 ruined cities
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 is figurative.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 The kings
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 that had come
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 before
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 did not measure
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 up to God's
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 standard.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 They had failed
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 the test
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 of the plumb
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 line.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 They did not
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 execute their
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 office of king
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 in a worthy
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 manner.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 required by
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 God.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 Thus they
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 crumbled
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 and failed
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 and became
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 ruined.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 The nation
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 therefore as a
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 result also
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 became ruined
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 in shambles.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 But God
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 will repair
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 and restore
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 the kingship
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 to one who
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 would uphold
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 the office
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 with integrity
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 and in a
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 deserving manner.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 He would love
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 justice
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 and love
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 mercy.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 He would
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 protect the
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 poor
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 and the
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 vulnerable.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 He would
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 love righteousness
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 and hate
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 evil.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 He would
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 uphold the
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 righteous
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 and punish
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 the
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 evildoer.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 He will be
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 the king
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 Israel has
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 longed for
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 since David.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 But he will
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 be a better
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 king for this
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 king will
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 have a kingdom
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 that's much
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 vaster than
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 the one that's
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 gone before.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 Verse 12
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 said to
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 Edom.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:05 The grand
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 plan of
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 this
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 restoration
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 was to
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 include the
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 surrounding
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 nations
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 who will
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 bear God's
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 name also.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 The mercy
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 and grace
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 of God
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 will not
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 only extend
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 to Israel
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 but to
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 Edom
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 and to
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 all the
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 nations as
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 well.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 The same
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 God who
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 punished and
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 judged the
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 nations in
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 the opening
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 chapters of
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 Amos will
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 also extend
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 his mercy
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 and his
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 grace to
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 them also.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 That they
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 might be
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 included as
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 his people
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 and receive
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 salvation.
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 For as God
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 told us a few
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 verses earlier,
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 his care and
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 his sovereignty
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 goes beyond
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 just Israel.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 And through
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 the work
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 of Christ
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 we enjoy
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 this reality
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 now ourselves.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 For we are
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 those nations
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 as well,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 as Australians.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 We enjoy
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 being part
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 of God's
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 restored
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 people who
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 have received
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 mercy and
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 grace with
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 Jesus as
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 our promised
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 king on
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 the throne.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 And if
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 that is what
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 we enjoy
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 now as
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 believers,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 for indeed
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 we are
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 those other
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 nations,
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 verses 13
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 and 15
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 then are
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 what we
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 are to
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 anticipate
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 for the
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 future.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 This
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 agricultural
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 picture of
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 fruitfulness,
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 dwelling in
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 God's kingdom
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 as bountiful,
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 perfect,
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 wonderful,
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 a site for
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 sore eyes,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 a place that
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 is untainted
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 from the
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 corruption of
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 sin,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 where everything
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 is growing,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 a place
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 where we
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 will never
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 again be
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 uprooted
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 and taken
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 away.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 That is the
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 glorious plan
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 of restoration
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 God has in
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 store for
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 his people
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 in the book
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 of Amos.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 Though whilst
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 there is
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 judgment
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 coming,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 this is
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 going to
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 be the
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 result.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 What are
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 the people
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 of Israel
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 to do
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 with this
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 prophecy?
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 For nine
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 and a half
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 chapters,
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 all they
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 have heard
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 is judgment.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 Judgment.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 And now
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 towards the
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 end there
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 is hope.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 Why does
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 Amos finish
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 with hope
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 when judgment
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 is still
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 to come?
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 I think
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 Amos wants
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 to leave
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 his hearers,
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 his Israelite
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 people,
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 with a bigger
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 picture in
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 mind.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 God's
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 judgment
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 is not
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 capricious
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 or vindictive,
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 but an
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 extension of
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 his love
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 and jealousy
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 for his
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 people to
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 obey him,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 to be his,
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 and to
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 live with
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 him and
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 for him.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 The role
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 of judgment
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 then plays
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 a part
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 for the
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 sake of
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 restoration,
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 for the
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 sake of
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 bringing back
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 his people
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 into alignment
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 with his
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 way of
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 living.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 And so
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 here Amos
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 wants to
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 remind him
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 that judgment
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 is not
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 the goal,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 but restoration
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 is.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 And God
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 will restore
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 those who
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 seek him.
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 The heart
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 of the book's
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 message to
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 Israel and
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 to us
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 here this
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 morning is
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 literally in
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 the heart
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 of the book,
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 in the middle,
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 in chapter 5
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 from verse 4.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 This is what
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 the Lord says
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 to Israel.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 Seek me
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 and live.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 Do not
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 seek Bethel,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 do not
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 go to
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 Gilgal,
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 do not
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 journey to
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 Beersheba,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 for Gilgal
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 will surely
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 go into
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 exile and
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 Bethel
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 will be
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 reduced to
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 nothing.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 Seek the
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 Lord and
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 live.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 Seek good,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 not evil,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 that you
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 may live.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 Then the
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 Lord God
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 Almighty
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 will be
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 with you,
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 just as
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 you say
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 he is.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 Hate
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 evil,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 love
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 good.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 maintain
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 justice
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 in the
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 courts.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 Perhaps
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 the Lord
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 God
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 Almighty
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 will have
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 mercy
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 on the
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 remnant
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 of
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 Joseph.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 The book
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 of Amos can be
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 summed up as
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 a judgment
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 is coming,
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 seek the
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 Lord and
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 live.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 With all
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 negativity
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 and devastation
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 prophesied,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 it would be
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 easy for the
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 Israelites to
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 lose sight of
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 the bigger
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 picture here,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 to think that
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 promises have
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 failed.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 God has
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 forgotten us.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 Judgment
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 is the
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 end.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 The promise
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 of the end
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 of Amos 9
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 shows that
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 judgment is
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 not the
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 end.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 God will
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 restore his
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 people.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 He will
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 do good
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 on his
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 promises,
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 that if
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 you seek
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 him,
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 you will
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 live.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 Even though
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 you face
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 the pain
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 of judgment,
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 the devastation
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 of your
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 homeland,
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 the suffering
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 and death
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 of loved
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 ones,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 the loss
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 of your
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 livelihood,
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 even though
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 you see
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 all these
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 things happen
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 before you
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 now,
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 foreign
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 occupation,
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 exile,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 do not
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 take your
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 eyes off
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 the Lord.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 Continue
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 to seek
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 him.
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 He will
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 make good
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 on his
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 promise as
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 he did
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 to Abraham
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 and to
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 David.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 He will
00:25:02 --> 00:25:04 restore the
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 kingdom.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 The end
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 of chapter 9
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 is to
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 encourage them
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 to keep
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 going.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 Despite
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 what is
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 coming for
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 them,
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 seek God
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 and they
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 will live.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 In the
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 same way,
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 the message
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 is for
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 us as
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 well.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 Judgment
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 is coming.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 Seek the
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 Lord and
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 live.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 Do not
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 presume upon
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 his love
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 and mercy.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 Do not
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 be so
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 smug and
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 proud of
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 who you
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 might think
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 you are
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 in God's
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 sight.
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 Instead,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 be humble
00:25:31 --> 00:25:34 thankful for
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 the salvation
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 that God
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 has worked
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 in you
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 through
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 Christ,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 through
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 his death
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 and resurrection
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 on the
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 cross,
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 in light
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 of his
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 work to
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 save you
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 from God's
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 judgment.
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 Continue to
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 live in
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 faith and
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 repentance
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 in these
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 dark days.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 For these
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 are dark
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 days where
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 the impact
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 of sin in
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 our lives
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 makes living
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 for God,
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 seeking him
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 very difficult
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 and tough.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 Some of us
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 here live
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 day-to-day
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 with pain
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 in our
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 bodies.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 Some of us
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 live day-to-day
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 struggling
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 with depression
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 and anxiety.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 Some of us
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 live day-to-day
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 with uncertainty
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 about our
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 jobs or
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 our health,
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 about our
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 future.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 Some of us
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 live day-to-day
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 with the pain
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 of broken
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 relationships.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 There is
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 increase in
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 pressure on
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 Christians to
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 conform to
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 the status
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 quo of
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 secularism.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 Increased
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 pressure for
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 us to give
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 up the
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 faith that
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 has been
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 declared by
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 the public
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 as archaic
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 and useless,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 as a threat
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 to modernity
00:26:43 --> 00:26:45 and progression.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 Vitriol and
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 hate towards
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 Christians is
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 increasing,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 and slowly
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 but steadily
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 we are losing
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 our influence
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 in the general
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 public,
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 shunned from
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 them,
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 considered by
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 some as a
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 plight on
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 society,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 as those who
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 cause wars
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 and conflict.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 There's a
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 great struggle
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 ahead for
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 Christians in
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 this growing
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 secular age,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 a struggle for
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 us to seek
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 the Lord.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 But the great
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 hope that Amos
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 reminds of is
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 that God is
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 going to make
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 good on his
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 promise to
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 those who
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 seek him,
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 to those who
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 are humble
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 themselves
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 before the
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 Lord,
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 who acknowledge
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 their sin,
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 that they
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 don't measure
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 up,
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 to seek
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 him,
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 and you
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 will live.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 In him,
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 in Christ,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 we place
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 our trust
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 and hope.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 It is in him
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 we seek,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 and when we
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 do,
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 we will live,
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 for he has
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 come to give
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 life,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 and life to
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 the full,
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 life eternally.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 For those
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 who doubt
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 God will
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 make good
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 on his
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 promise,
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 Amos 9
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 says he
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 will and
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 he always
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 has,
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 and so you
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 can be
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 sure of
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 that.
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 In fact,
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 the coming
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 of the
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 Son,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 the coming
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 of Jesus
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 shows that
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 he has
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 done so,
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 and so we
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 can look
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 forward to
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 that future
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 that's been
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 talked about
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 in verses
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 13 to
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 15.
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 For those
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 who fear
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 that they
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 will face
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 the judgment
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 of God,
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 that like
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 the Israelites,
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 they have
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 presumed for
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 far too
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 long upon
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 God's love
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 without
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 recognizing
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 their sin,
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 Amos 9
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 says there
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 is still
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 time.
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 Seek the
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 Lord and
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 you will
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 live.
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 But judgment
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 is coming,
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 so seek
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 the Lord,
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 seek Jesus
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 and you
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 will live.
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 God promises
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 us, for
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 those who do
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 seek him,
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 they will
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 live.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 The message
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 we might
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 take away
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 from Amos
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 from this
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 series is
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 this,
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 never presume
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 upon the love
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 of God
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 based on
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 who you
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 are,
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 for those
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 to be
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 complacent
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 and foolish.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 Instead,
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 humble yourselves
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 before God
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 and repent
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 of your
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 sin.
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 Give
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 thanks to
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 God who
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 in Christ
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 Jesus has
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 made a
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 way for
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 you to
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 know God's
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 love and
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 mercy.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 Seek
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 Jesus
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 and you
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 will live.
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 I pray
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 that you
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 would continue
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 to seek
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 God,
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 St.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 Paul,
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 that you
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 would not
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 presume
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 he ever
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 arrived
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 before God,
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 but you
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 would continue
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 to seek
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 him in
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 repentance
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 and in
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 faith,
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 for by
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 doing so
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 you will
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 live.
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 Amen.