Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Ammon, Moab, and Judah have all been pointed out for sinful actions and rebelling against God. Now, Israel stands in the sights of God, and He has a list of grievances.
For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. Amos 2:6 (NIV)
I know I asked about this verse in the last post on Amos but now I want to throw my own two cents into the discussion. God is a forgiving God. But when we spend all our time asking for forgiveness about the same sin and we do not show any change in lifestyle, eventually we lose the trust of God.
For example, you take your lunch to work everyday, and everyday one of your co-workers steals and eats your lunch. Everyday that person comes to you on their hands and knees, tears streaming, and begging for forgiveness. Everyday they say they will change, yet you never see them make the effort to change. How long would you put up with it? When would their “sincere” act of repentance finally wear thin on you? After the third or fourth time? Now you know what verse 6 is saying.
Listen to these charges against a once righteous nation:
They sell the righteous for silver – they take bribes or take rewards at the expense of others (kind of like imminent domain so a bigger business can move in…)
The sell the needy for a pair of sandals – Charity and giving are passé. Instead they leave it up to others to care for those in need (kind of like trusting the government to help)
They trample the heads of the poor – This sounds like they are stepping on people just for the sake of their own comfort (sort like walking by a man dying of a stab wound after he helped rescue a defenseless woman and not attempting to help or call for an ambulance…)
They deny justice to the oppressed – Exploitation was a way of life
Father and son use the same girl – Sexual immorality was rampant (kind of like how easily pornography enters into homes and offices…)
All of these profaned the name of God. How? God had placed His name on the people of Israel just as today He places His name upon all who call upon His Son, Jesus, to be their Lord and Savior. As Christians, we bear the name of God, and when we sin, we profane His name! No wonder God was angry with the nation of Israel.
The people of Israel had created new gods to follow, gods that allowed them to swim in their lustful pleasures. They used the government to endorse their lifestyles thus pushing God out of the public arena. Sound familiar?
God had destroyed their enemies. God had rescued them from disaster. God had taken the chains of tyranny off their necks. God gave them fertile land upon which to live.
God sent prophets to keep them in check. God choose Nazirites (people dedicated solely to God) to live among the peoples. But the people of Israel corrupted the Nazirites, and they silenced the prophets (just like using the tax code to silence pastors and preachers of today).
The people of Israel refused to listen to God who had protected them and given them fruitful lives. Now they would have to face the judgment without God’s hand of mercy. In fact, God’s hand would be used to crush the people of Israel. The brave would flee, the strong would run for their own sake, and the rest would be overcome by God’s wrath.
We cannot run from judgment. If we as a nation are to listen, then we must be prepared to make real changes. One of those changes needs to be a return to God. Can we really do it?
- Are there similarities between the judgment against Israel and the way our nation is facing trouble after trouble?
- Is God trying to get our attention and is He being silenced in the public arenas?
- Does your life have sin (secret or public) that needs to be confessed and turned away?
No comments:
Post a Comment