10/12/11 Amos 4:6-13

⁶ “I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town,
yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
⁷ “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another.
One field had rain; another had none and dried up.
⁸ People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink,
yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
⁹ “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
¹⁰ “I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword,
along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps,
yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.
¹¹ “I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire,  yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the LORD.
¹² “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel,
prepare to meet your God.” ¹³ He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind,
and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads on the heights of the earth— the LORD God Almighty is his name.

(Texas drought 2011)

Thoughts: Amos points out that God has tried to stir people up so that they would return to Him.  God is the One who forms the mountains who makes the winds (and rain) gave them famine, drought, mildew, plagues so that they would cry out for help to God.  But they did not.  God would have saved them, but they refused to come- even though they were a burning stick.  God would have snatched his people from the fire. 
     In the past, when there has been an economic recession or depression, people call out to God for help, and the leaders look to God for help as well.  Today, people refuse to call to God.  But help is not found in politicians, or other countries, or from the wealthy.  Our help is in the name of the Lord who made the heavens and the earth. 

Prayer: Help me to always come back to you, O Lord.  For you are my help and strength.

10/11/11 Condemning the Rich for Ignoring the Poor

1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on Mount Samaria,  who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their husbands, "Bring something to drink!" 2 The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness: The time is surely coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks,
even the last of you with fishhooks.  3 Through breaches in the wall you shall leave, each one straight ahead; and you shall be flung out into Harmon, says the LORD.

(Occupy Wallstreet Protesters)

Thoughts: This is a condemnation of the women of Israel.  Amos speaks derogatively of them- calling them cows.  This was not a compliment, as the cow was seen as big, clumsy and uncaring. In our day women's drinking is readily accepted, and we see it daily on TV.  But in those days, leading women did not overindulge in drinking.  They were apathetic to the poor.  They focused only on their own needs and overindulgence.  Perhaps the protests on Wallstreet are wake up calls to the very rich to care about the needy and the jobless. Both the Teaparty and Occupy Wallstreet are trying to send a message.  If the gap is too wide between the rich and the poor, then the poor will rise up.  But the Lord cares for the poor when others ignore them.  Scripture reminds us that we did not get everything we have simply by our own strength- by ourselves.  God gives us life, time, talents, brain/braun, doors open, so that we are blessed when we are successful.  To ignore the poor, congratulating ourselves, is also to ignore what God has done for those who have much.  We are called to be generous to those in need- ideally not because we are forced to do so. 

Prayer: Help me, O Lord to be generous, considerate, kind- much more than I would be if I were alone- apart from you.