Thursday, July 12 2012
Amos 9
Verse of the Day: V8 “Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.”
1. The Lord Stands (V1-2)
V1 “I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.”
Amos saw God standing before the altar of the people of Israel pronouncing judgment on them. Instead of worshipping the true God, they worshipped false gods. The people were so proud and sinful that they even built structures to climb up to heaven to be gods only to find God bringing them down. No one can ever reach heaven except God saves them.
V2 “Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:”
2. The Lord Searches (V3-7)
V3 “And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:”
The people of Israel thought they could run away, and hide themselves, from God, but they failed or refused to know that the Lord is omnipresent. Indeed, God is everywhere, and His eyes are searching and judging the people for their evil deeds and wickedness.
V4 “And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.”
3. The Lord Saves (V8-15)
V8 “Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.”
Though the eyes of the Lord are upon the sinful kingdom or people, yet He shall save those who trust and obey Him, and bless them with abundant land and everlasting life.
V15 “And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for saving me from the pits of hell to the portals of heaven.
