10/10/11 Violence and Selfishness

10 They do not know how to do right, says the LORD, those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds. 11 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: An adversary shall surround the land,
and strip you of your defense;  and your strongholds shall be plundered...2 Thus says the LORD: As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.  13 Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob, says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts: 14 On the day I punish Israel for its transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel,
and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.  15 I will tear down the winter house as well as the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end, says the LORD.

(Marie Antoinette's Ivory colored Palace in Versailles)

Thoughts: The problem in Amos's day- as it is in our day was violence and selifishness.  Violence and robbery were common. The rich lived in many large hosues while unable to see the need to care for the needy at all.  Teh rich had Marie Antoinette's attitude of "let them eat cake."  All the houses and symbols of power would be destroyed.  There will be a remnant, but it will be like only portions of a lamb torn apart by a lion (Amos shows his shepherd experience).  People loved luxury, pleasure and things more than they began to love their neighbor or their God. 

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to be less selfish, more giving, more peaceful in my life.

10/9/11 A Signal Given when trapped Amos 3:1-8

1 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.  3 Do two walk together unless they have made an appointment? 4 Does a lion roar in the forest, when it has no prey?  Does a young lion cry out from its den, if it has caught nothing?  5 Does a bird fall into a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it?  Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing?  6 Is a trumpet blown in a city,  and the people are not afraid? Does disaster befall a city,  unless the LORD has done it? 7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. 8 The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but  prophesy? (Amos 3:1-8)

(Skunk in a trap)

Thoughts: Basically two questions are asked: 1) Do two walk together without an appointment?  2) Isn't there a signal when something is caught?  Let's look a little closer: 1. The Lord has walked with the people of Israel.  He has a relationship with them. He called them into existence, shepherded them, cared for their wounds, helped them through disaster, but they rejected His care, His love, His Law and His covenant.  2. A hunter knows, when soemthing is caught, there is some kind of signal. A lion roars when they have prey; a bird falls as a signal that it is caught; a trap snaps when something is in it; a trumpet is blown when there is an enemy about to attack; The prophets are signaling that the people are trapped by their own sin- their own rejection of the Lord.
We may think we are freeing ourselves when we try to escape from God's law, but we are entrapping ourselves.  Freedom comes from living the way we were made to live- from listening to the directions of the Maker- loving Him and neighbor.

Prayer: May I walk with you all the way on my journey of life, Lord.