“The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. He said: “The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.”” Amos 1:1
“This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not relent.” Amos 1:3
“For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not relent.” Amos 1:6
“For three sins of Tyre, even for four, I will not relent.” Amos 1:9
“For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not relent.” Amos 1:11
“For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not relent.” Amos 1:13
“For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will not relent.” Amos 2:1
““For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent.” Amos 2:4
““For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent.” Amos 2:6
God who speaks into history,
Wow, we need to move quickly Lord God through Your Word so we can reach Revelation by New Year. I thought Jonah had a tough calling but look at Amos’s. He has to deliver judgement not just to Israel, where he lived, but all the other surrounding nations as well. And Amos speaking to the kingdom of Israel reminds them that their prosperity as shepherds comes from You God. And he reminds Your people at the outset of his ministry that Mount Carmel withers. That would sound shocking. A holy place. The place where Elijah called upon Your name and You showed Your power with fire and defeated the prophets of Baal en masse ( 1 Kings 18:16-39).
Amos then repeats the phrase for three sins, even four. Because they were not just doing the odd sin but continually piling one sin upon another. Just as one lie leads to another. And You, God will not, cannot relent from righteous Judgement.
It is easier to share Your love in our testimony, God. How Jesus came and stretched out his arms on the cross to embrace those who would accept Him as their Saviour. But we do not like to speak of hell and judgement as much these days. I know I find it difficult and yet You have not changed. There is still judgement even though You provided the way out. “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14). Help me not to overdo or underdo the whole message.
But you also judge the nations, so we pray for ours that You would raise up godly men and women to speak out about doing the right and turning from what is offensive to You. Help us play our part in some small way.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 8th July 2025
When He rolls up His sleeves, He ain’t just putting on the Ritz
(Our God is an awesome God)
There’s thunder in His footsteps, and lightning in His fists
(Our God is an awesome God)
And the Lord wasn’t joking when He kicked ’em out of Eden
It wasn’t for no reason that He shed His blood
His return is very close and so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
Repeat . . .
And when the sky was starless in the void of the night
(Our God is an awesome God)
He spoke into the and created the light
(Our God is an awesome God)
Judgement and wrath He poured out on Sodom
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross
I hope that we have not too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
Repeat . . . .
Lyrics: Rich Mullins