The fall and rise of Israel

• 1^st – A famine in the Land… vs. 1-14
  • 1^st – The vision of summer fruit… vs. 1-3
    • God showed Amos a 4^th vision – a basket full of summer fruit…
      • When God asked Amos about the basket – He told him the end had come for Israel…
      • Summer fruit was the last fruit of the year to be gathered – no more crops afterwards…
      • It was also fruit that could not be preserved – it had to be eaten as soon as it ripened…
      • The though being Israel was done producing good fruit – and was ripe for judgment!
      • This wealthy prosperous nation would be brought to its knees – broken!
      • If you are like me – there are times you wonder why God does not judged us yet…
      • God is VERY patient when it comes to sin – He wants everyone to be save – II Peter 3:9
      • But also in spite of all the wickedness – is there are still fruits of righteousness…
      • There are still Godly men and women who are living for and serving Jesus…
      • But that does not mean judgment will not come – God is not mocked – judgment is coming!
    • God would not pass by the sin of Israel anymore…
      • The songs (happy days) in their Temple were gone – to be replaced by mourning…
      • Dead bodies would be everywhere – thrown out in silence because there were so many…
      • There would be no ceremony – no funeral – there would be more dead than living!
      • Speaking of the absolute devastation that was about to befall the nation!
      • When the black plague hit London in 1348 – nearly half of the city died in 18 months…
      • The result of so much death was people just thrown into pits often stacked 5 people deep!
  • 2^nd – Hear this – the charges against Israel… vs. 4-6
    • God gives Amos a breakdown of the moral flaws of the people…
      • They take advantage of those in need – ignore the plight of the poor…
      • If someone is hungry and we say – God bless you – what good does that do – James 2:16
        
      • We are called as believers to practically reach out in love / help out those in need…
      • How can we say we represent Jesus – we Love someone – and not be willing to help!
    • They are greedy – only think about money…
      • They despise the ‘new moon’– a monthly day to celebrate the Lord – Numbers 10:10
      • They cannot wait for the Sabbath to be over – because work was forbidden – Exodus 20:10
      • Many years ago it used to be that all the businesses closed on Sunday…
      • They did so because it was important to set aside a day to worship the Lord…
      • But slowly that began to erode as people realized Sunday was another day to make money!
      • People thought it was a better to open the malls – and close the churches!
    • They use dishonest weights (ephah was a measurement of weight / shekel money)…
      • This might seem a minor offense – just a little bit of cheating to get an extra buck…
      • But the Lord calls it an abomination – Deuteronomy 25:13 / Proverbs 11:1 / 20:23
      • We tend to think taking paperclip from the company is not a big deal…
      • But the guy who stole millions from his company – probably started with a paperclip!
      • Sometimes the minor offenses are the most important – because they reveal the heart…
      • People start out small because they are afraid of getting caught…
      • But if we check our heart in the little things – it will keep us from greater sin!
    • They buy the poor for silver / needy for a pair of sandals – see people only as a tool!
      • This is speaking of slavery – seeing people as a commodity to be traded for gain…
      • There has been some speculation about what the Bible teaches about slavery…
      • While the Bible does acknowledge slavery – does God view it as right or wrong…
      • The simple answer is – God views it as a great evil – a sign of the wickedness of the heart…
      • He created all men to be equal – Galatians 3:26 – and will judge those who mistreat others!
    • They sell the bad wheat – perhaps wheat mixed with chaff…
      • In the Philippines bad merchants often mix the rice with very small pebbles…
      • The purpose is to increase the weight of the rice so they can charge more!
      • It forces people to sift out their rice before cooking it – or end up with broken teeth!
  • 3^rd – Hear this – the consequences for Israel… vs. 7-10
    • The Lord had sworn – He would not forget any of the ‘works’ (sin) of Jacob…
      • Because the people did not mourn their sin – there was no regret for their wickedness…
      • The suggestion is that if the people had repented – there was still hope…
      • It was their indifference to their sin – that would ultimately be their undoing!
      • It is not sin that keeps people from the Lord – Jesus took care of that on the Cross…
      • It is their unwillingness to repent of their sin – and ask for forgiveness!
    • As a result the people would be wiped away…
      • Amos paints a vivid picture using familiar Biblical images of sorrow and devastation:
      • The flooding of the Nile Egypt – rises as much as 20’ every year during the seasonal floods!
      • The sun would go dark at noon – perhaps referring to an eclipse…
      • Feasts would turn to mourning / songs into weeping / all would end up in sackcloth…
      • All would shave their heads in sorrow – as if they had lost their only son!
      • All of this simply because Israel had too much pride to turn back to the Lord!
      • Did you ever wonder why so many people reject the Gospel message…
      • They have LOTS of excuses – they blame science / evolution / other religions…
      • But the truth is all of these excuses are paper thin – easily debunked…
      • The real reason is they do not want to give up the sin in their life…
      • They would rather have their sin – than eternal life with God in Heaven!
        
  • 4^th – A famine of the Word… vs. 11-14
    • The days were coming – when God would send a famine…
      • Not a famine of food or water – but a famine of the Word of the LORD (Yahweh)…
      • Speaking of the 400 years of silence – between Malachi and Matthew…
      • When there were no prophets in Israel or Judah – no one declaring the Word of the LORD!
      • They did not want to hear the Word of the LORD – so God gave them what they wanted!
    • People would wander from sea to sea – from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea…
      • They would run to and fro – from north to east (notice not south to Jerusalem)…
      • But the Word of the LORD would be nowhere to be found – because they did not want it!
      • As a result the young women and men would faint from thirst – a thirst for the Lord!
      • Psalm 63:1 – “My soul thirsts for You… In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.”
      • And all those who swore by the gods of Dan (golden calf) – would fall and not get up again!  
    • It is sad that you can still search from sea to sea today and not find the Word…
      • And for the same reasons – people do not want to hear the truth…
      • They want their ears tickled – tell them what they want to hear – II Timothy 4:3
      • As a result too many pastors today spend too little time teaching the Word…
      • Instead they tell funny stories to entertain – sprinkled with the occasional Bible verse!
      • They are more interested in filling pews – than creating saints!
      • But it is not our words / or funny stories – people need to hear…
      • They need to know about the hope of Heaven / or the horror of hell!
      • But the ones who should be teaching them – the pastors – do not!
      • The biggest problem in the church today – there is a famine in the Land!

• 2^nd – The destruction of Israel… vs. 1-10
  • 1^st – No where to run… vs. 1-4
    • God showed Amos a 5^th and final vision – the Lord standing by the golden calves (altar)…
      • People thought they were safe in the temple of the golden calves – but God was there…
      • And He commanded the columns of the temple to be hit – cause the foundations to shake…
      • The temple would collapse and killing those who were worshiping inside!
    • God would then hunt down anyone who survived…
      • Those who escaped the sword (war with Assyria) – would not get very far…
      • If they tired to hide in a cemetery (dig into sheol) – the Hand of God would find them…
      • If they tried to climb up to heaven (mountain top – Carmel) – God would bring them down…
      • If they tried to hide from His sight in the bottom of the sea – the serpent would bit them…
      • Even once they went into captivity – the sword would find and kill them…
      • Because the Lord had set His eye to harm and not help them!
    • There is no place we can go to escape from the Lord…
      • Hebrews 4:13 – “There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
      • I am sure just like in Israel – people think there are ‘safe places’ from the Lord…
      • Perhaps they run to the bar / or to the ‘safe places’ on the college campus…
      • Thinking surely God would never come to a place like this – but He is there!
      • That can either be a VERY unsettling thought – if we are trying hide from the Lord…
      • Or it can be a VERY comforting thought – to know the Lord is always with us!
      • Psalm 139:7-12 – “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.”
  • 2^nd – The diaspora of Israel… vs. 5-10
    • Just in case there was any doubt that God was capable of executing His Judgments…
      • He is the Lord GOD of Hosts – Adonai / Yahweh / Tsabaw (military commander) 
      • A title used 33 times in the Old Testament (this is the last time) to declare His power! 
      • He is the one who touches the earth and it melts (volcanoes)…
      • He causes the ground to rise like the Nile River – then sink again (earthquake)…
      • He built his house in Heaven (sky) / He constructed the plates (strata) of the earth…
      • He calls for the waters from the sea – and pours them down on the land (water cycle)…
      • The LORD is His name – distinguishing Him from all other ‘gods’ on the earth!
    • Did Israel think they were better than others (Ethiopians)…
      • Yes God brought them out of bondage of Egypt – but they were not alone…
      • God rescued the Philistines from Caphtor (Crete) / and Syrians from Kir (Mesopotamia)!
      • Now the eyes of God were on this sinful nation – but He would not completely destroy it…
      • God would sift them among the nations – diaspora – but the righteous would not be lost…
      • But all the sinners WOULD perish – those who doubted the judgment of God!
    • Too many Christians get the impression they are untouchable…
      • Once saved always saved – they have nothing to fear from His judgment…
      • But Israel – the chosen people of God – were broken off cause of unbelief – Romans 11:20
      • How much more will he also be willing to break us off if we do not continue to live by faith!
      • John 15:2 – “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away…”
      • A branch apart from a tree dies – just as apart from Jesus we die spiritually…
      • There is no middle ground in the Christian walk – we are either growing in Jesus…
      • Or we are slowly dying – caught up in the care of this world!
      • If you plug a light into a cinder block – nothing happens – only a socket has power…
      • In the same way we often try and plug our lives into the world…
      • Then we wonder why we have no power – why we are always in the dark
      • It is only when we plug into Jesus – that the light comes on!

• 3^rd – The resoration of Israel… vs. 11-15
  • 1^st – The tabernacle of David… vs. 11-12
    • On that Day – God would raise up the Tabernacle of David that had fallen down…
      • That day is not speaking of rebuilding the Temple – either Zerubbabel or Herod…
      • Is it talking about the promise God made to King David – II Samuel 7:16
      • The Lord promised the House of David would stand forever – referring to the Messiah!
      • The tabernacle Amos is talking about – is Jesus Christ – John 1:14 (tabernacled)!
      • Jesus would repair the damage done by sin – restore men to God as in the ‘days of old’!
    • But this promise was not just for the Jews…
      • Jesus would take possession of Edom (LXX – mankind) – all the gentiles called by His name!
      • In Acts 15 the church faced a challenge – did gentiles have to become Jews to be saved…
      • Paul and Barnabus made a special trip to Jerusalem just to resolve this issue…
      • After hearing about the work they did on the 1^st missionary journey…
      • James (brother of Jesus) – head of the church in Jerusalem – addressed the counsel…
      • God always meant for the Gospel to go to the Gentiles – and he quoted Amos 9:12!
  • 2^nd – The rebirth of Israel… vs. 13-15
    • The days were coming – after the 1^st advent of the Messiah – when Israel would be reborn…
      • The land would once again flourish – when grain will grow faster than it can be harvested…
      • When Israel would return again to their land – rebuild their cities / plant their crops…
      • God would plant Israel in their land – and they will never again be removed!