Virtual Bible Study: Amos 1

Welcome to the this week's Virtual Bible Study!

This week we're starting in on the book of Amos. This ancient prophetic book written almost 3000 years ago was penned by a shepherd in anciety Israel. Though the words are themselves the message it brings from God speaks to us today. It is just as offensive and just as critical of our society as it was back in Amos' day.

So... are you ready to see what Amos says? Ready or not...here he comes!

First Step: Read the Text. (This doesn't take too long). This Week’s Reading is Amos 1. You can read it here.

Second Step: Lesson/Focus Text

“The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds dry up and the top of Carmel withers.”

God Takes Sides!

“God bless America! My home sweet home!”

We just finished celebrating the most sacred of all American holidays: the 4th of July! An awesome day to come together, grill outdoors, and celebrate the freedom we all so enjoy! To remember those who gave their lives to secure that freedom. And to celebrate all that we are as a nation! And what’s not to enjoy! We have parades down main street. Carnivals in the park. Not to mention fireworks! My dogs might not like them...but my kids sure do!

Despite all our separation of church and state talk, there is a deep seated connection in America between the blessings of God and our own nation. When our nation prospers, we call ourselves blessed by God. When tragedy happens, we turn to God again for answers. We have always believed we were special somehow. Set apart from the rest of the world. Years ago this notion, called “Manifest Destiny”, led many in our nation to commit terrible actions against the native tribes and the land because they believed God blessed their actions.

So whose side is God on? Our side? Is God a good American? Or does God take another nation’s side? Is God an Israelie? Or a German? Or a good Scandinavian? And if he’s not on our side, then whose side is God on? Does God take one side or another?

Our lesson from Amos answers this question. Amos, that shepherd-turned-prophet from ancient Israel, comes to us to say: Yes! God does take sides! Only...not the sides that you think God should be taking. God is taking the side... of the outcast, the transient, the homeless woman in the park, the abused woman and her children, the orphan, the abandoned one, the widow, the developmentally disabled, the starving. God is standing with the poorest of the poor, the AIDS victim in South Africa and Chicago, the jobless in Los Angeles and Mexico, the migrant, the illegal and the legal immigrant, and those at the bottom of society.

God is taking their side! And there’s more. God is fighting with them against their oppressors whomever they may be. The Book of Amos begins with a litany of curses and plagues sent from God on the various nations and regions around Israel. We might think God is cruel and mean in this chapter. How could God say such things and do such things to people... But we must read closer.

God is calling the nations to account for their sins. Only its not the sins we think of...

God punishes Damascus... “Because she theshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth.”
God punishes Gaza... “Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom...”
God punishes Tyre... “Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding the treaty of brotherhood.”
God punishes Edom... “Because he pursued his brother with a sword, stifling all compassion, because his angfer raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked.”
And God punishes Ammon... “Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders.”

Do you notice something here? God is handing out justice to those who hurt the less fortunate. In fact, as we will see next week, God deals justly even with his own people when they ignore the people that God loves and cares for. God deals harshly with those who do not show compassion on the helpless and the needy.

So where do we fit in? Where do we stand with God? We are too individualistic not to disassociate ourselves with the nation, but we too are a part of the problem and the solution. How we govern ourselves in our daily lives reflects how the nation governs itself. What we do with our time reflects what the nation does with it’s time.

Matthew’s parable from Matthew 25 speaks here I believe. In it, the Son of Man judges between the NATIONS on his right and the NATIONS on his left. And the judgement comes down on how the INDIVIDUALS in those nations acted. “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat...I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink...I was a stranger and you invited me in...” And if you notice, all the actions the nation is punished for or commended on are actions of the individual. Think on this the next time you pass by the homeless shelter, the food bank, or your on your next big expensive vacation. How does your life reflect your commitment, and God’s, to the less fortunate in our midst? Or does it?

Third Step: Questions to Ponder...

1. Imagine that you are a refugee, thrown out of your homeland, or a homeless person who feels abandoned by the country that you served. How might these words from Amos bring you hope?

2. In what ways can you as an individual or family influence just one person and change one less fortunate person’s life?

3. What is God calling you to give up in order to follow him?

Fourth Step: Email(if you like) your responses. You can just reply to this email or email it to craznluv@msn.com.

Fifth Step: Close with prayer...

God of the poor, we do not understand the depth to which humanity can fall. We do not know the pain of hunger or the want for decent housing and clean water. But others do. Unbind our hearts that we might reach out in love and compassion to those in need, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Next week: Amos Chapter 2. Are you excited??