11 “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, 12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the LORD, who will do these things. 13 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes.
New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, 14 and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. “They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; They will make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant Israel in their own land,
never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God.
(Crops in Israel today)
Thoughts: The tent of Israel was falling. It had already fallen spiritually- by the people turning to other gods. It had already fallen morally- neglecting the poor, neglecting the Sabbath (rest- yes that was a moral not just a religious problem), neglecting holiness. It had been shrinking in physical power, but Amos foresaw that it would fall physically as well. But Amos does not end with the fall of Israel, or even the hope of heaven. But Amos ends with hope- hope for this life. God will one day restore Israel, just about like popping back up a tent that had been collapsed. Amos gives them a vision of fruitfulness- when the harvest grows so quickly that it overtakes the one planting seeds at the other end of the field. In some ways it sounds like "The Big Rock Candy Mountain" sung in the Great Depression (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6kv_eGSGZ4). One would almost have to be blind to think that Israel today isn't a partial fulfillment of this.
Nations rise and fall, but God is in charge. God blesses and withholds blessing. We can trust and rely on Him.
Prayer: Help me to trust in you, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
and will rebuild it as it used to be, 12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the LORD, who will do these things. 13 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes.
New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, 14 and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. “They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; They will make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant Israel in their own land,
never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God.
(Crops in Israel today)Thoughts: The tent of Israel was falling. It had already fallen spiritually- by the people turning to other gods. It had already fallen morally- neglecting the poor, neglecting the Sabbath (rest- yes that was a moral not just a religious problem), neglecting holiness. It had been shrinking in physical power, but Amos foresaw that it would fall physically as well. But Amos does not end with the fall of Israel, or even the hope of heaven. But Amos ends with hope- hope for this life. God will one day restore Israel, just about like popping back up a tent that had been collapsed. Amos gives them a vision of fruitfulness- when the harvest grows so quickly that it overtakes the one planting seeds at the other end of the field. In some ways it sounds like "The Big Rock Candy Mountain" sung in the Great Depression (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6kv_eGSGZ4). One would almost have to be blind to think that Israel today isn't a partial fulfillment of this.
Nations rise and fall, but God is in charge. God blesses and withholds blessing. We can trust and rely on Him.
Prayer: Help me to trust in you, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
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