In that day, “I will restore David’s fallen shelter; I will repair its broken walls, and restore its ruins—and will rebuild it as it used to be…. “Amos 9:11

A quote likely to be that of St. Augustine is “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed”. This statement teaches us we should always consider the entirely of the Bible to be able to understand what we read. Our Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry made many references to the Old Testament and we need to do the same to understand God’s word fully.

In our Old Testament reading of Sunday 10^th July 2022, we had the story of Amos and his five visions (Greek horasis) or supernatural revelations. Amos (a name meaning burden), was not a Prophet in the professional sense as his father was not a prophet neither did he attend any prophetic school. He was a shepherd and a farmer but God chose him to bring His eight judgements upon the nations of Syria, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel.  The choosing of Amos shows us God can choose anyone of us to do his work as long as we are prepared to follow God’s plan and not our own. One does not have to have a special Prophetic schooling but the innate ability to listen and have to God’s mighty hand upon him or her. Paul says in 1.Corinthians 1: 27-29 “but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him”. 

This Corinthian passage quoted above indicates, we can all be chosen as long as we do not claim ourselves wise in our own human sense or claim to be wise as in the case of “state priest “Amaziah the prophet in Amos’ time, who asked Amos to take all his prophetic teaching and prophecies somewhere else.

In Amos 7, some of the sins Amos levels against Israel were bribery, greed, adultery, immorality, selfishness, ingratitude and drunkenness (even  to the point of forcing the deeply religious group like the Nazarites to drink). These are nearly the same acts of the sinful nature is seen also in Galatians 5:21.  The question is, do we see or find these same sins still present and occurring in our present world? If we do see them then, we better examine our hearts and ourselves very carefully and realise the same judgement that came to Israel in the days of Amos, sent the nation into exile, and separated them from God can befall us as well. We need therefore not be famished but be hungry for the Word of God to deliver us from these sins. By our Christian faith, we can overcome the sins of this world, by trusting our Lord Jesus Christ completely and always; relying on Him through our prayers, reading the Bible, mediating on God’s word and seeking His grace in doing His will in our daily lives.

The story of Amos ends on a victorious note in Amos 9: 11-15, when he gives a revelation (in Greek apokalypsis) or “an opening of the veil” that, we have a promise of future restoration. The Apostle James in Acts 15: 14-18, at first church conference in Jerusalem uses also, the same words of Amos for this future restoration that, God is calling out of the nations a people for His name. People, here refers to you and I, “the church” which when completed at the end of the age, will establish God’s kingdom and do His will forever. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for your Word the Bible. We thank you the inspiration, guidance, counsel, teaching and training that it gives us. May we be always encouraged when we read and study your Word and may its words grow us spiritually and help us in building of your kingdom until you come again. We ask this in the mighty name of Yehsua, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.