Hear and Testify Amos 3:13

Amos the “herdsman” prophet continued to share how Israel was to be judged by God. He employed the example of a “shepherd” taking “two legs or a piece of an ear”” out of the “mouth of the lion” to describe the way the Lord would deliver Israel from their luxurious living in “Samaria” and “Damascus”. In chapter three and verse thirteen of his prophesy, Amos called upon “the house of Jacob” to “hear and testify” where we read:

Hear, and testify in the house of Jacob, says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

The verse begins, “Hear, and testify in the house of Jacob,...” Amos began with the word, “Hear” or “listen to and obey”, “and testify” which means “repeat, go about, do again and surround” “in the house” or “dwelling, shelter and habitation” “of Jacob” which means “heel holder or supplanter” and was “the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham and the father of the patriarchs of the tribes of Israel”. The LORD through Amos desired for the people within “Jacob” to “listen to, obey and repeat” what He was to declare unto them.

The verse continues, “...says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,” Amos added, “says” or “utters, declares and proclaims” “the Lord God” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God”, “the God” or “ruler, judge and divine one” “of host” which means “those who go forth as in war or warfare like an army”. This was no ordinary person to “hear and testify”, but rather the omnipotent, creative and powerful God Almighty.

When we consider these words of Amos, we should be inspired to “listen” to the words Amos was to write. When the Creator of the universe speaks, people should harken unto Him and obey His commands. Oh how often we neglect to simply listen to the LORD, and as we consider how He has spoken to us through His Son Jesus Christ, we should be all the more attentive. May we recognize when the LORD speaks, and obey Him according to His omnipotent words.

Next time Amos tells the people how the LORD, “shall visit the transgressions of Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.