Explore the Bible: September 25

Hope in God • Amos 9:5-15

By Don Hicks

Our only hope is in “The Lord, God of Armies.” Peter preaching to Ananias and other members of the high priest’s family said this truth this way, “Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12 NIV).

Eight hundred-plus years before Peter explained the foundation for our understanding this truth, Amos told Israel: “However, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob — this is the LORD’s declaration“ (Amos 9:8b CSB).  God’s planning is not limited by time or human understanding.

God had promised Abram, “I will make you into a great nation and will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, …and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3 NIV).

God’s blessing through Abraham was given through Jesus the Christ.  This is a reason God did not totally destroy the house of Jacob (Israel) even though it had greatly rebelled against Him repeatedly.

God had also made a promise to King David that is involved in God‘s not totally destroying Israel (the house of Jacob). It is recorded in 2 Chronicles 21 along with other relevant details: When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father’s kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the princes of Israel. …He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter Ahab.  He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.

NOTE: Jesus is the descendant who maintains the lamp forever.

Amos warns the people of the Northern Kingdom that they were wrong if they said, “Disaster will never overtake us” (Amos 9:10 CSB). Amos gave this warning to the people of Israel who he identified as, “All the sinners among my people who say, “Disaster will never overtake us” (Amos 9:10 CSB).

Earlier in his book the prophet had warned the people of Israel that meaningless ritual, even properly executed, is of no value. Amos had tried to help the people of the prosperous Northern Kingdom understand God’s clear warning:

“I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-falling stream!” (Amos 5:21-24 NIV).  

This famous verse may sound more familiar to you in the King James Version: “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteous as a mighty stream.’”

This verse is one that H.I. Hester uses in his classic Old Testament textbook, Heart of Hebrew History, to demonstrate why he teaches that one of the values of the book of Amos is its fine literary quality. Hester also says the book has two other distinctive values:

— “It is an authentic picture of internal conditions in Israel in one of its most important periods.”

— “It has value also as an illustration of the message of a great prophet and the manner in which he worked.”

The book of Amos closes with an exciting description of God’s planned victory for His chosen people: “In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be” (Amos 9:11 NIV).

Many people dream of the good old days, and we all know that’s not always right or desirable. Amos here is talking about returning to the days when God’s people were actively following and doing that which was right in God’s sight. That type of returning to the good old days following God’s teaching is really good.

Here are God’s blessings that close the prophet’s book. This is the LORD’s declaration:

— Plowman will overtake the reaper, the mountains will drip sweet wine.

— God will restore the fortunes of His people Israel.

— God will plant them on their land, and they will never again be uprooted. Yahweh your God has spoken.

Hicks is missions director for Jasper Association in Bay Springs. He may be contacted at donaldwhicks@gmail.com.