SEEK ME AND LIVE
Amos 5:1-13
Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; (6a)
chapter 5
1. Hear this word, Israel, this lament I take up concerning you:
2. "Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up."
3. This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel: "Your city that marches out a thousand strong will have only a hundred left; your town that marches out a hundred strong will have only ten left."
4. This is what the LORD says to Israel: "Seek me and live;
5. do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing."
6. Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.
7. There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground.
8. He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land - the LORD is his name.
9. With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin.
10. There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth.
11. You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine.
12. For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
13. Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. Amos took up a lament for Israel. His lament sounds as if the judgment had already happened. God’s judgment against Israel would be sure and it would be complete. The carnage would be so great, only ten percent of Israel’s military might would survive. Ninety percent would be destroyed. But instead of repenting to try and avert the judgment, Israel would seek out places of sanctuary and refuge (5). It would do them no good. The Lord would punish idolatry wherever it was practiced. The only way to survive is to seek the Lord.
2. Justice and righteousness had become perverted. The wealthy burdened and oppressed the poor while they themselves lived in mansions. Those who spoke out for justice and truth were silenced. The Lord knew all their sins. And he who turns midnight into dawn; he who calls up the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the land—the Lord is his name-- he would judge them severely. The Lord sees all our sins. Unless we repent and seek him, we too will be judged.
Prayer: Father, we seek many things in this life to help us to live. Help us to know the only thing we need seek is you. Help us to seek you and live.
One Word: Seek the Lord and live