December 18, 2017

Today you should read: Amos 9

As we continue in Amos, we see the Lord’s judgment coming to Israel once again. This was due to disobedience and a consistent rejection of God’s will. The Lord gave sufficient warning, but now it was clear that it was time to act. This was a vision, or prophecy, of things to come, and it is one in which we can look to history and find its fulfillment.

As I read this passage, I reflected mostly on the tough side of it. God’s justice is hard if you’re on the receiving end. The flip side is, though, that this is a huge part of sanctification in the life a believer. If we look at this through the lens of Christ, we see that He’s the one who would bear the full weight of God’s justice on our behalf, so no matter what we might discern as discipline, we know that Jesus endured much to ensure that it is only temporary discipline for those found in Him.

For a quick study help on this chapter, check this out. It was helpful for me today:

This vision has two parts, one negative (vv. 1–10) and the other positive (vv. 11–15). The negative aspect is the culmination of the previous oracles and visions. God renders as worthless all the sacrifices that the Israelites had given in an attempt to manipulate God on their behalf while they brought reproach to his name with their sinful lives. God would shatter (v. 1) their pagan temples and demand their own lives as sacrifices (vv. 9–10). But God’s ultimate purpose in judgment is never destruction (v. 8); it is always restoration. So vv. 11–15 depict a day on the other side of judgment when Israel, again recognizing David (v. 11), would be restored to its land. — ESV STUDY BIBLE

By: Todd Thomas — Worship & College Pastor

Author: Center Point Church

A multi-campus church in central Kentucky. Our mission is to take everyone we meet one step closer to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ. View all posts by Center Point Church