Amos the
“herdsman” prophet shared various ways the LORD brought
judgment upon Israel. They had to search for water, their crops were
affected by “blasting and mildew” and palmerworms ate
their olive and fig tree fruit. Pestilence and killing of their young
men and horses came upon them as well. In chapter four and verse
twelve of his prophesy, Amos reaffirmed God's judgment upon the
people of Israel and warned them to “prepare to meet” their
God where we read:
Therefore
thus will I do unto you, O Israel:
and
because I will do this unto you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.
The
verse begins,
“Therefore thus will I do unto you, O Israel:” Amos
began with the word, “Therefore”
or “because, since, on account of and consequently” “thus
will I do”
or “fashion, accomplish, make and produce” “unto
you” which
refers to the people of Israel “O
Israel”
which means “God prevails” and was “the name of
the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”.
The LORD reasserted and affirmed that He would bring the previous
judgment upon Israel.
The
verse goes on to say, “and
because I will do this unto you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.”
Amos
continued, “and
because”
or “consequently, since and on account that” “I
will do this”
which means “fashion, accomplish, make and produce” “unto
you”
which refers to Israel, “prepare” or “be set up, established,
fixed, determined and secure” “to
meet” which
means “” “your
God” which
refers to “their ruler, judge and Divine One”, “O
Israel”
which means “God prevails” and was “the
name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob ”.
Since the LORD was to bring the punishment upon Israel, they would be
wise to “be established and set” to meet their God.
When we meditate upon these words of Amos, we hear God's
warning to “be ready and determined” to meet Him. What an ominous
warning this is, and those who are wise will take heed. Jesus Christ
came into the world to warn people about meeting with God, and
without a relationship with Him, no one will enter into the kingdom
of Heaven. May all who read these words “prepare” before
they see God face to face and know the only way to do so is to repent
of their sins, turn fully toward God and receive His Son Jesus Christ
as Savior and Lord.
Next
time Amos reminds
Israel of the magnitude of our Creator God,
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.
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