We’ve been studying the minor prophets this summer at church. They’re not minor because they’re not important, we’re assured, but because they’re short books.
God’s wrath sounds so strong in these Old Testament
passages. I admit, it often still scares me. But our pastor Matt reminds us
that God’s patience went for many, many years with Israel in those times, as
they continually rebelled against him.
This week we studied Amos. The question was: Is God a God of
wrath or a God of love? The answer, as I have known for years, is yes.
Does God care about the injustice that goes on in the world?
Amos 1: 2: He said: “The Lord roars from Zion and
thunders from Jerusalem;”
God tells how he will repay the wrong the nations have done,
including Israel. Yet his desire was always that the people would come back to
him.
Amos 5:4,14-15, 24: This is what the Lord says to
Israel: “Seek me and live; Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the
Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love
good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will
have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing
stream!”
When Amos prayed that God would not bring tragedy on Israel,
God promised to hold back their punishment.
God has always hated pride. He roars when people are treated
with injustice and unfairness. But his great longing is for people to turn back
to him for healing and forgiveness.
Amos 9:11-15: “In that day I will restore David’s
fallen shelter—I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins—and
will rebuild it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and
all the nations that bear my name,” declares the Lord, who will do these
things. “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the reaper will be
overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine
will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, and I will bring
my people Israel back from exile.
“They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in
them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make
gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again
to be uprooted
from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.
Hi Kathy, this really touched my heart this morning! I remember childhood years of quaking in fear at the mention of God! He is just, perfect in all His ways, and His heart is full of love. BTW, haven't read Amos in years, so another reason your blog was so wonderful today!!! (Erma)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Erma.:)
DeleteAbsolutely the correct answer, Kathy. Yes. God is a God of wrath AND of love. He's longsuffering (as we know from Acts 17:30). But there will come a time when He says, "Enough!" I'd rather know His love. And because He's so longsuffering, I've had my sins covered and bask in His love. Doesn't mean I won't mess up again, but He's always there to forgive. Praise God!
ReplyDeleteYes, praise God. Thank you, Sharon.:)
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