BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday April 28, 2013

____________________________________________________________

LET THE VERDICT BE READ

(Where to turn for confidence about the future)

Amos 8:11-12 & 9:8-15

In Amos chapter 8 the prophet Amos is given a fourth vision from the LORD. It is the vision of a basket of ripe fruit, and it symbolized Israel being ripe for judgment from GOD. In effect, it is the vision of “the end” for a rebellious nation who had grown to love themselves and their idols, more than they loved GOD. The meaning of this vision and its attached oracle are of a more solemn nature than any of Amos’ other visions and messages. In fact, it is terrifying, both in its significance, and, in its delivery.

In verses 3-4 we see presented, a heart-wrenching irony of a celebrating church, singing songs of happiness, no doubt, with empty worship and praise, while just outside its doors, the poor and needy beg desperately for its help. Here the joyful songs generally associated with the harvest time are turned into dirges (funeral songs) and wailing, as this prophesy comes to fruition. GOD is no longer willing to delay HIS punishment upon northern Israel.

Because the poor of a nation are socially without power, it is much easier to defraud them than to defraud those who have. Even in today’s society it is very typical to find that food and other needed commodities are priced, comparatively, much higher in the low-income areas of our cities and towns, than they are in the more affluent suburban areas.

Here in verses 5-6 of this passage, the LORD says, that, one of the guilty counts against Israel was that she “profited off of the poor in immoral ways”, such as using “dishonest scales” to obtain false weights and measures. Dishonest merchants would also mix the wheat they sold to the poor, with the chaff that was swept from the threshing floor, and, to add insult to injury, they would enslave those who couldn’t pay their bills, which sometimes only amounted in value to a piece of silver, or even, a pair of sandals.

In verses 7-10 the LORD swears by HIS OWN name, that, “I will never forget the wicked things you have done! The earth will tremble for your deeds, and everyone will mourn. The land will rise up like the Nile at flood time, toss about, and sink again. At that time, says the Sovereign LORD, I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth while it is still day. I will turn your celebrations into times of mourning, and your songs of joy will be as if your only son had died. How bitter that day will be!” (NLT).

These metaphorical words depict a devastating scene, of a people, who would soon be thrown into panic and dismay, because of their immoral, ungodly “horizontal relationship” with each other, here on earth, and their absence of a true “vertical relationship” with GOD in Heaven. It was now too late to change, or delay GOD’s judgment which had been fixed by a long history of sin and disobedience to HIM. And to make things worse, GOD says, in verses 11-12, that HE will remove HIS Word from the land. There would be no more reading, teaching, or preaching of HIS Word anywhere, even though some people, through the hunger pains of death, would be searching for it, too late. The implication here is that, in that time, people who procrastinated in earlier times, in favor of doing their own wills, would then be left to die for a lack of the Word of the GOD, WHOM, in former times, they chose to ignore.

In chapter 9, we see a fifth and final vision from GOD to the prophet Amos. It is the vision of GOD at the altar in the sanctuary. This seems to remind us Christians of something that we should already know, and that is, that, GOD’s judgment will always begin inside the Church house, and then, it will radiate out from there.

Here in this vision, GOD is standing by the altar. There HE tells Amos that HE will strike the tops of the temple columns so hard that its foundation will shake, and the roof will crash down on the people who are inside. Those who survived the crash would later be killed in battle, but no one who is guilty would escape punishment.

In verses 8-10, a watchful Sovereign GOD says that HE will uproot and scatter the nation of Israel, but HE will not completely destroy the whole populace. Instead, HE would sift the nation like wheat, and would leave only those that are true to the Faith (True Believers). All defiant sinners (for example, homosexuals who refuse to change their lifestyle), and all those who are indifferent towards GOD, those who say, “Nothing bad will happen to us in the end”, these are people who don’t believe there is a GOD, or satan, or heaven, or hell. They don’t realize that there is only two choices, nor do they understand that, they’ve already unwittingly chosen satan over GOD, by taking the position of being neutral, and I’m sure, to that, satan says thank you.

 The often gloomy book of Amos now ends on a somewhat abrupt and cheerful note. In verses 11-15 we see such a remarkable shift in message and tone, that some scholars even question whether or not this passage in authentic, or really belongs here. In fact, it is even seen by some as a postscript from a later period in Jewish history. However, the promise of GOD’s ultimate restoration of HIS people is one that is universally agreed upon throughout all the annals of biblical history, and so it stands to reason that this promise from the LORD also fits perfectly as an end to this prophecy.

In this book of Amos, a verdict has been read, and it has been preserved to warn readers of every generation since, of the dangers of pursuing ungodly paths to prosperity, that ultimately always leads to disaster. 

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website



BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday April 21, 2013

____________________________________________________________

CAN I GET A WITNESS

(Being a witness to the Gospel of CHRIST through our behavior)

Amos 7

Throughout biblical history GOD has used spiritual visions through HIS prophets, as both, an encouragement to HIS people, and, also as an indication of their moral deficiencies. The prophet Amos’s ministry is centered, in particular, on the streets outside the luxurious homes of the rich and famous in northern Israel, whom, GOD called him to condemn.

Inside those homes the residents reclined on their ivory laden beds and couches feasting on meat and exotic wines while listening to and singing the latest popular secular (idle) music, from artist who, talent-wise, often compared themselves to King David (Amos 6:4-6). In Amos chapters 3-6, we saw the prophet listing a myriad of reasons why GOD must punish HIS wayward people. Among those reasons were pride, social injustice, religious hypocrisy, and economic disparity.

Here in chapter 7, Israel has already been charged and found guilty by GOD for their falling away, and their covenant violations. In this passage, Amos begins to relate to us, a series of five visions that he received from GOD. These visions foretell the results of a coming judgment from the LORD. We see here in chapter 7, the revelation of the first three visions, with the final two being revealed in chapters 8-9.  

The first vision is that of a vast swarm of locust that cast a dark cloud over the land and began devouring all of the green vegetation. The “locust” was a well-known instrument of punishment used by GOD in Old Testament times, and whenever this type of punishment was handed down, the people could expect that it would be followed by famine and sickness also.

Amos says that this would occur after the king’s share had been harvested, and just as the main crop was blooming (v.1). The first crop in Israel was taken by King Jeroboam to feed his vast army and its animals that were used in war, and so, the remainder of the people would have to wait a whole year for food, an impossible undertaking for mere humans and animal life.

After seeing this first vision, Amos prayed a “prayer of intercession” for the people of northern Israel, that, GOD would relent from HIS anger against them. Amos knew that no one could survive such a devastating blow. And so, because of Amos’ earnest petition, the LORD decided not to fulfill the first vision (Vs. 2-3).

The second vision that the LORD showed Amos was one of HIM preparing a great fire. It was a fire that had already burned up the depths of the sea and all of the land. Again Amos interceded in prayer for Israel, and again, GOD postponed HIS punishment upon the people (Vs.4-6). And even though the prayers of the righteous does prevail most of time, eventually, those who are interceded for must at some point began to “line up” and turn their lives towards GOD. If we can glean anything from Scripture, surely we’ve learned that there is a limit to how long GOD will put up with our foolishness before HE will exact punishment upon us, and, on the land where we stand.

The “Plumb Line” was a basic and simple tool used in building and construction in biblical times. It consisted of a small “weight” that was tied to the end of a cord or string. It was held up against a wall to detect its vertical “trueness”. We can liken GOD’s test or measurement of our morally to the use of this instrument in construction. GOD wants us to see how “true” we are in regards to our “vertical relationship” with HIM.

In verses 7-9 we see the third vision of Amos. It is a vision of a “Plumb Line” test. In this vision Amos sees the LORD standing by a wall that has been built using a Plumb Line. GOD is holding the Plumb Line against the wall to check its vertical straightness. The LORD then asked Amos what did he see, and he replied, “A Plumb Line”. Then the LORD said to Amos, “I will test MY people with this Plumb Line. I will no longer ignore all their sins. The pagan shrines of your ancestors and the temples of Israel will be destroyed, and I will bring the dynasty of King Jeroboam to a sudden end”.

Apparently, when the LORD administered this Plumb Line test, the people failed miserably. In fact, they were shown to be quite far off in their “vertical relationship” with GOD. And so the whole construction of their “perverted horizontal relationship” with paganism and immorality had to be torn down so Israel could be “rebuilt”, or “restored” into a “right relationship” with GOD.  

In verses 10-17, an idolatrous priest in Bethel, by the name of Amaziah is told about the visions and prophesies of Amos. He hurriedly gets a message to King Jeroboam informing him of the dim forecast for himself and for northern Israel. Amaziah, perceiving the visions to be a plot against the king, sent orders to Amos, commanding him to leave and go back to Judah and preach his message there. However, Amos spoke boldly to Amaziah telling him that he was not one of his “paid prophets”, nor was he ever “trained” to be one. He went on to tell the misinformed priest that he was just a shepherd who also took care of fig trees. The LORD called him away from his earthly duties so that he might attend to and obey the divine commands of GOD.

Even here in the twenty-first century our churches are filled with preachers and church leaders whose only desire is to kiss up to the pastors they sit under, while ignoring the Word of GOD altogether. In verse 13 we see the phrase “the king’s sanctuary”. This phrase reveals the heart and allegiance of the chief priest, Amaziah, to the king, Jeroboam, and not to GOD.

In our modern Christian Churches, with all the money being made and offered to pastor’s, assistants, and other church workers, it becomes easy to become confused as to where one’s allegiance should lie, and oftentimes, we let our loyalty to an “ungodly”, or, “out-of-focused” pastor pull us out of the will of GOD also. The danger always exists, that, in our zeal to please and protect our “human leaders”, we lose track of the fact that our ultimate loyalty must be to JESUS CHRIST, the HEAD of the Church, and not towards man (Psalm 118:8). We don’t want to follow, nor let any man lead us to Hell, by reason of our desire to obtain or maintain a position in the Church, nor, for how much of Caesar’s money it pays.

It is absolutely critical that all church leaders have a personal, experiential relationship with CHRIST, the HEAD of the church, so that they will be able to help each other when one is leaning towards going astray, or is in error of Scripture and needs correcting.

When we align our thinking with CHRIST and GOD’s Word, we will automatically, be able to detect that which is right, from that which is wrong, even though, as humans, we will still error from time to time. But remember, it is just as much ungodly to let the errors of a pastor or other Church leader go unchecked, as it is to intentionally commit the error yourself. After all, we are our brother’s keeper, and no man, is right all the time. Everyone in the Church needs to be undergirded.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday April 14, 2013

____________________________________________________________

COURT IS IN SESSION

(Empty worship doesn’t please GOD)

Amos 5:1- 6:14

In the book of Amos, chapters 5:1 - 6:14, we find the third, fourth, and fifth messages of the prophet Amos, who prophesied in the eighth century along with Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah. In the opening words of chapter 5, verses 1-2, we see a “dirge” or “funeral song” that was probably designed by GOD to provoke a great lament from the wayward children of Israel because of their sins. Here the stench of death seems to cast a pall over Israel as it moves ever closer to destruction at the hands of the Assyrians in 722 B.C.

In verse 3 one can sense that the blessings of GOD to “increase the offspring”, which, had been promised to Abraham (blessings that could only be experienced by an obedient generation), has now been temporarily interrupted by the sins of a disobedient generation. Instead of having a tenfold increase, they will experience a tenfold decrease.

Israel is told not to “seek” GOD within their defiled houses of worship, but rather they should look to find HIM among the poor and oppressed. Here the Hebrew word used for “seek” is “daras” and it means “to turn to GOD in trust and confidence”. If we are to continue to mix the holy with the profane in our places of worship, i.e. in our music and other unGODly church activities, we can expect to do it without the presence of GOD. Here in verses 4-5, GOD says, if we really want to respond to HIM, we can find HIM among the poor, and the oppressed, and the way to express our faith in HIM, is by standing against oppression, or being “just” in all of our ways at all times.   

In verses 10-13, we see a continued denunciation, by GOD, through the prophet Amos, of the legal injustice that was being perpetrated by the “Dayyaneh Gezeloths” (Robber Judges) who sold their court decisions to the highest bidder in those days. Here GOD also rebukes the Government workers, who overtaxed the poor, and the landlords, who overcharged the poor for rent in sub-par housing while all the time claiming to be children, or followers of GOD.

In verses 14-15, we see that the possibility still exists for the people of Israel to separate themselves from these evil practices, as GOD urges them to repent, and begin to do that which is good and just, and flee from evil. In verses 16-17, Amos concludes his third message of this prophesy, by returning to his opening plea, and reminding Israel of the severe death penalty involved, if they failed to heed GOD’s warnings.

In the Greek, the word used to describe those involved in religious pretense and public show is “hupokrites” (hoop-ok-ree-tace). It is from that word that we derive our English word “hypocrite”. In verses 21-24, Amos reminds the Israelites of yet another of their fatal flaws. It was their tendency to live in “religious hypocrisy”. GOD’s anger is always directed largely at those involved in “religious hypocrisy”. It was then, and it still is today. It is a kind of “empty worship” that GOD simply will not tolerate, especially from the church leaders. Here GOD gives a stern warning to those involved in religious hypocrisy. HE makes it quite clear that HE detests their showing off in public and then living an unGODly life in private. HE will not accept their tithes or offerings, and their hymns of praise are only noise to HIS ears, and so, HE will not listen to them. GOD tells us, that, instead, HE wants to see “a mighty stream of justice”, flowing from among us, and “a river of righteous living” that will never run dry (v.23-24).

In Amos chapter 6, verses 1-14, we find the prophet’s fifth and final message. It is a message and chapter that is totally dedicated as a warning to the rich and powerful, who wield power in Israel, by way of their worldly success and prosperity. Those who have become prideful and complacent in their own luxury will suffer the same fate as the powerful surrounding nations whom they strive to imitate. Their “pride” will be crushed into “humility” by an enemy that GOD would raise up against them (Assyria), and there will be no safe place of refuge that can be obtained by their wealth. In fact, GOD says they will be the first to feel the effects of HIS wrath (v.7). 

Riches are not intrinsically evil, but, too often, wealth promotes self-indulgence and makes us indifferent towards others. Remember, no one ever saw the dangers of prosperity and material things as clearly as JESUS did (Mark 10:17-31), and that is why, the more we gain in life, the more we need GOD, and not, the opposite.

When the Israelites were poor, they were humble and full of worship. However, the fuller their pockets became, the emptier their worship became. To go with everything in life, we need GOD, and with wealth and prosperity we need HIM all the more.  It is very possible to be wealthy and also have a heart for GOD, but history tells us that most people refuse to pursue both, and indeed, most choose “empty worship and prosperity”, over GOD.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday April 7, 2013

____________________________________________________________

VALUE ALL HUMAN LIFE

(Building a community that values all human life)

Genesis 1:26-31, Exodus 1:15-17, Psalm 139:13-16 & Matthew 18:2-6

The life of CHRIST is the embodiment of the statement that, “We must live like GOD, in order to reveal GOD to others, here on this earth”. In Genesis chapter 1, we learn how, from day one, GOD uses “divisions” and “distinctions” in order to fulfill HIS divine purpose for the world.

For example, on day one, GOD separated the “light” from the “darkness”. On day two, HE separated the “celestial waters” of the heavens above, from the “terrestrial waters” of the earth beneath. On the third day, GOD separated the “land” from the “seas”. On the fourth day, GOD further distinguished the night from the day, by appointing the sun to preside over the daylight hours, and the moon and stars to govern the night.

On the fifth day, GOD distinguished between the animal life HE created for the water (fish), and, the animal life HE created for the air (birds). And finally, on the sixth day, we see GOD making HIS greatest distinction of all. On this day, GOD even makes a distinction in HIS creation method. Here we see that, after GOD had created, all manner of livestock and wildlife, which were to dwell on dry land, in dramatic fashion, HE changed HIS creation method when HE created man.

Instead of speaking man into existence, or just forming him from the dust of the earth and leaving him without spirit, as HE had done with all of HIS other animal creation, HE decided that after HE fashioned man from the dust of the earth, HE would then make him in HIS OWN spiritual image by breathing into him, HIS breath of the spirit of life, embodying him with “HIS OWN nature”. This is what Scripture means when it says we are “made in the image of GOD”. It is a “spiritual image”, not a physical one. JESUS says GOD is SPIRIT (John 4:24) and therefore GOD does not have a physical image for us to look like. GOD made us in HIS image, sharing with us, HIS communicable spiritual attributes, which are “HIS nature”. And after we failed to take advantage of HIS wonderful gift, trading it in for satan’s “sin nature”, GOD then sent JESUS to us, “in human form” (Romans 8:1-4), to save us from ourselves. GOD’s nature consists of seven “Communicable Attributes”. Those attributes make human life the most valuable of all GOD’s creation, and they include;

·         Life

·         Personality

·         Wisdom

·         Love

·         Justice

·         Truth  

·         Holiness

These communicable attributes provide us with the spiritual capacity we need, in order for us to fellowship with, and worship GOD. They are also the qualities we need in order for us to reflect HIS image to others, in the same way that the coming CHRIST would do. These attributes also equip us with the capacity to care for ourselves and GOD’s other creation, similarly to the way GOD cares for us.

GOD blessed us and instructed us to multiply ourselves, through the miracle of the wonderful reproductive system that HE has also provided us with, and, we were to subdue all of HIS other creation, and maintain the responsibility of dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28). And so we are to produce and be responsible for maintaining all human life, not kill and destroy it through murder, abortion, etc. To destroy human life is to destroy that which is made in the image of GOD.

In Psalm 139, verses 13-18, King David ponders aloud on GOD’s breathe-taking, life-giving power to create the human existence, and then, allow it to be procreated and duplicated, through the miracle of childbirth. In addition to that, GOD already has each life planned out in intricate detail, minute by minute, even before we are conceived in the womb. And, through GOD’s wonderful abounding grace and love, HE remains with us, and sustains us all through the life HE has given us, from the beginning, to the end. That’s how important human life is to GOD.

In Exodus 1:15-17 we see the Pharaoh of Egypt issuing a decree to the Hebrew midwives to kill all the Hebrew male children at the time of birth in order to control or stop the population growth of the captive Jews. But because the Hebrew midwives feared GOD more than they feared man, they did not buckle under to the order of the Pharaoh. That is the same kind of attitude that we here in the twenty-first must share. We must have a GOD-fearing respect for human life, because that’s what GOD expects from us.

If we are to be like CHRIST we must value all human life, but in a special way, we must value the lives of our children, who are the weakest and most dependent of our society. In Mark 10:13-16, Matthew 18:2-6, and Luke 9:46-48 JESUS likens “humility” and “faith” to the “innocence of a child”. If we are to be pronounced by GOD as “innocent of sin” in the Kingdom of Heaven, we must first acquire “the humility and faith of a child” here on earth. Like JESUS, we too must develop a certain kind of “goodness” in our hearts, through faith and humility, and, through our personal earthly relationship with GOD in Heaven. I’m talking about the kind of good that can meet the gaze of a little child’s eyes, and can withstand the test of a child’s simplicity. And JESUS says that, unless we can bring ourselves to do that (turn from our sins, and become like little children), we can’t possibly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven at all (Matthew 18:3).

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

 

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday March 31, 2013

____________________________________________________________

UNSEAL THE INDICTMENT

(What your relationship with others reveals about your relationship with GOD)

Amos 1:1-2, 2:6-8, & 3:6-15

The prophet Amos was a contemporary of the prophets Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah. His message, not unlike Hosea’s, was directed at the northern Kingdom of Israel, even though he himself, lived in the southern Kingdom of Judah. He begins his prophesy by announcing judgment on the surrounding nations (Amos 1:3-2:3), before later changing his focus to northern Israel itself (Amos 2:4-9:10).

In this scathing condemnation of GOD’s chosen people, Amos severely denounces, in particular, the social sins of the nation, such as injustice, government and judicial corruption, greed, and the worship of false gods. A series of five stern messages unfold, and still we find this important book coming to an end with little hope that Israel was interested in changing their wayward behavior towards the indigent and weak sector of their society, nor their intolerable disrespect towards the GOD WHO sees them.      

The events in the Book of Amos take place during one the most prosperous times in northern Israel’s history. Their dynamic king Jeroboam II had led them in war to successful victories over their hostile neighbors, and, as a result, had won control of the lucrative trade routes that now poured wealth into Samaria, Israel’s northern capital. It was a golden age for the wealthy that built grand homes and proud public facilities, near the popular worship centers of Bethel and Dan. Even the fertile land of northern Israel presented bumper crops year after year, in those days.

Unfortunately, beneath the glitter, glamour, and prosperity of this golden society, lay the dark tragedy of social injustice and economic disparity. The rich had little regard for their, less fortunate, Jewish brothers, or, for that matter, had little regard even for GOD HIMSELF, or HIS sacred Laws. The poor were mercilessly oppressed by merchants, who used unjust weights of measure in the marketplace, and by judges whose justice was for sell to the highest bidder.

And so, it is against this backdrop of prosperity and wickedness that we find the prophet Amos, a farmer and shepherd from the town of Tekoa in nearby Judah, being called by GOD to deliver a resounding message to his wayward kinsman in northern Israel. In this deeply penetrating prophesy, Amos exposes the very underbelly of this seemingly upright society.

In Amos 1:1-2, he writes of the reception of his prophesy from GOD, just two years before the earthquake that occurred during the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah. Here he describes what he had seen and heard, as the LORD’s roar of judgment vividly places an “imaginary noose” around the necks of Judah and northern Israel. He first, reveals how GOD would serve justice on Israel’s surrounding neighbors (Vs. 3-2:3), and then later, he reveals just how GOD would tighten that noose to choke off the sins of Israel.

In chapter 2, verses 6-8, Amos’ message focuses on northern Israel (namely Ephraim), who would be the first of GOD’s chosen nation to fall (in 722 B.C.). Ephraim, the most influential of Israel’s twelve tribes, during that period, had used that influence to lead the whole nation into sin. They had perverted justice by selling poor and honest people into slavery in exchange for silver, gold, and, in some cases, as little as a pair of sandals. They committed incest (father and son sleeping with the same woman), oppressed the poor even further, held festivals to their idol gods and sacrificed to them, money, and things that they had stolen from others.

In chapter 3 we see the prophet Amos unveiling the first of his five messages to the nation of Israel. The word “known” (v.2) is translated from the original Hebrew word “yada” in the KJV version of Scriptures, and it describes “a close and intimate relationship”. There GOD tells Israel that, “You only have I “known” of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities”. This tells us that GOD takes it personal when we put other things and people before HIM.

The ensuing verses, verses 3-6, are foundational in setting up the impact of the list of disasters that are mentioned later on in chapter 4, verses 6-11. Here in these verses, Amos gives us a vivid example of “cause and effect”, by asking a series of questions that calls loudly for “common sense” answers. For example, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” The common sense answer is, “No, two people can only walk together if they agree on one direction. And again he poses a question, “Does a bird ever get caught in a trap that has no bait? And the logical answer would be, “Not likely. A bird will likely only be ensnared by a trap that is first baited.

Following this logic, one can safely say that a disaster is always preceded by an action that makes it inevitable. This is not to say that every natural disaster, for example, is a direct result of GOD spanking us about something that we did (but, it might be). No, seriously I think that certainly when we are faced with disaster we need to examine ourselves and try to find out IF it is something that we did, or, are doing, that is so far out of the Will of GOD, that, HE becomes moved to act against us.  After all, we are living in a time where it seems that the people who call themselves by GOD’s name (Christians), are rapidly forgetting how to do what is “right” by GOD’s standards (vs. 10).

Amos closes out this first message from GOD with a warning that even we here in the twenty-first century can relate to. In fact, it can be seen as a valid warning to all generations, especially those who have come into great wealth and prosperity, as northern Israel had, and, who have fallen into love and worship of the things of this world. In verse 15, this is what the LORD says; “And I will destroy the beautiful homes of the wealthy, their winter mansions and their summer houses too, all their palaces filled with ivory. I the LORD have spoken”.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday March 24, 2013

____________________________________________________________

RESTORING THE REPENTANT

(Repentance is important to GOD)

Hosea 13 & 14

The tribe of Ephraim had gained a very prominent position among the twelve tribes of Israel following GOD’s breakup of the “United Kingdom” (northern Israel and Judah combined) as a result of Solomon’s sins against HIM. Solomon’s fall from grace, came after he got involved with his many wives in the worship of the idol gods, that they had brought with them, from their respective pagan homelands.

Jeroboam I, who became the leader of northern Israel after the breakup, was himself, an Ephraimite. Students of the bible can probably remember when Jeroboam was chosen by the people to lead the ten tribes that GOD stripped away from the “Davidic Line” of kings. GOD did, however, allow Solomon to complete his reign over the United Kingdom because of HIS promise to HIS faithful servant David. But after Solomon’s death, GOD took those ten tribes away from Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, and gave them to Jeroboam I, and as a result, the geographical area that became known as the “northern kingdom of Israel” was formed (1 Kings 11:26-42).

In Hosea 13:1a, we see how, even 350 years after the secession, all the other tribes of Israel , still feared and looked up to the tribe of Ephraim. Unfortunately for Ephraim, however, the GOD WHO allowed them to succeed with the secession was never really pleased with them for wanting to choose another king outside the Davidic Line (Vs.9-10). And, GOD was especially angered because they had used their influence to lead the whole nation of Israel back into sin, by way of their practice of Baal worship. They had clearly showed GOD, through their behavior, that they were no longer happy with HIM, or HIS choices. It was this rebellion and rejection of GOD in this manner that ultimately sealed their fate of destruction by Assyria, in 722 B.C.

In verses 2-3 Hosea gives us a vivid description of the crimes and punishment of GOD’s fallen people. Here we see that the people had continued, over a long period of time, to sin against GOD by way of their skillful making and worshiping of hand-carved images of silver calves. This brought “spiritual death” upon Israel, and would soon bring physical death as well. 

Even though GOD had shown HIMSELF in grace to HIS beloved nation of Israel (Vs. 4-5), in return, they had only shown HIM pride and arrogance (v.6). And whenever we become prideful and unresponsive to GOD, we can rest assure that a spanking is near at hand (Vs. 7-8). GOD will speedily forgive “confessed sins” that are followed by “earnest repent”. HE may even delay punishment of “unrepentant sin” for a season. However, for those who continue to reject HIS grace, or assume that HE doesn’t care what they do, are in for a rude awakening in the end (v.12).

We have all been offered a “New Birth” through the salvation made available to us through JESUS’ vicarious sacrifice on the cross, by Roman method. However, most of us are like a child (Ephraim) who chooses to resist this “New Birth” and instead, prefers to wallow around in the filth that is offered up by the world (v.13). And even though Ephraim was the most fruitful of all the Israelite tribes in those days, GOD’s wrath would blow heavier against her because she had the most potential to do right, but instead, chose to use her influence to lead the less fortunate tribes into doing that which was wrong in the eyes of GOD (Vs.14-16).

In Hosea 14, the prophet reminds us that there is healing for those who earnestly repent. He tells the people that Assyria will not be able to save them (in fact, GOD would use Assyria to destroy them) (Vs.1-3). GOD’s message to Israel is that HE will heal them of their idolatry and lack of faith, and that HIS love for them would have no bounds. HIS anger against them would be gone forever, and HE would be like the dew in the morning to them, fresh from Heaven (Vs.4-5).

When GOD heals and restores us from the “spiritual and physical injuries of sin”, HE does it by replacing HIS “anger” with HIS “love and compassion”. HE chooses to love us freely and unconditionally, and HE no longer holds our past against us (Justification). Then we as “repentant sinners” can begin to prosper, bloom, and grow spiritually, physically, and materially in the newness of life, that is, CHRIST JESUS (Vs.5-7).

In Hosea 14:8-9 the LORD leaves us with this final warning and wisdom; “….Stay away from idols! I AM the ONE WHO looks after you and cares for you. I AM like a tree that is always green, giving my fruit to you all through the year. Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them”…. (NLT).  

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website