“The words of Amos, who was among the sheep breeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 And he said: “The Lord roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers.” For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment . . . ” Amos 1:1-3 NKJV
“But I will send a fire . . . ” Amos 1:4,7,10,14 and 2:2,5 NKJV
God who speaks,
Amos is given credibility as a prophet. He said you would speak and his listeners noted that there was an earthquake. They would have believed that that was You God getting their attention. Amos says that Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel are all to be judged. A large circle of all the nations surrounding Israel and lastly Israel, the one in the centre, who should have known better. It is as if they have been weighed in scales and when it got to three sins they teetered in the balance but the forth was just to much and tipped them over into Your judgement God.
And then each one is promised fire that will burn away all their security and life as they know it. But with Israel, You speak of more terrible things to come upon them. It has to be read to be believed. Then, when we think it cannot get any worse, not fire but to be taken into captivity. To lose everything land, security, identity, freedom.
Jesus does not give us room to sin 4 times. The early church sold indulgences but Martin Luther countered it with scripture, that grace could not be sold. We still face judgement for sin and then fire. Jesus warned us (Matthew 18:9). To cut ourselves off from the cause of sin. Not to actually cut of parts of us!. I’d have nothing left! Thank You, we did not get Amos but Jesus who brought not just condemnation but the answer. Not captivity or fire, but the choice of freedom in His Kingdom and a secure future (Galatians 5:1).
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 5th June 2026
Jesus we celebrate Your victory
Jesus we revel in Your love
Jesus we rejoice You’ve set us free
Jesus Your death has brought us life
It was for freedom that Christ has set us free
No longer to be subject to a yoke of slavery
So we’re rejoicing in God’s victory
Our hearts responding to His love
His Spirit in us releases us from fear
The way to Him is open, with boldness we draw near
And in His presence our problems disappear
Our hearts responding to His love
Lyrics: John Gibson