| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| @November 12, 2023 | ESV (2016) | ESV Prophets Plan 2023 |
Pericopes
- Israel’s Guilt and Punishment
- Israel Has Not Returned to the Lord
Notes/Application
God specifically addresses the wealthy women of Samaria who were guilty of oppressing the poor and luxurious living. He ironically invites the people to carry on their idolatrous worship and bring sacrifices to Bethel. They had suffered lack of bread (Amos 4:6), drought (Amos 4:7-8), blight, mildew, a plague of locusts (Amos 4:9), pestilence, warfare, slaughter (Amos 4:10), and catastrophes (Amos 4:11), but none of these things brought them back to Him. Therefore they must now prepare to meet their God and ready themselves for His judgment.
How terrifying it must have been to hear the words of Amos 4:12b, “prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”. All of the warnings the people were given amounted to nothing. They had ample reason, time and opportunity, and yet they did not turn to Him. This is such a poignant picture of our modern day. God has been immensely patient in His giving us the last ~2,000 years to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior. In that time, we have experienced all manner of worldly brokenness that should point us to our great need for salvation. And yet, many continue in their resistance and denial.
We should all be prepared to meet our God, an eventuality of every human soul. The question is whether this preparation will be in joyful anticipation of being forever in His presence or in terrifying fear of an eternal existence apart from Him.
Commentaries & Resources Used
- ESV Study Bible. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (Guardian Press, 1976)
- The Bible: A Reader’s Guide (Sterling Publishing, 2011)
- The Infographic Bible (Zondervan, 2018)
- ESV Digital Scripture Journal (Crossway, 2019)