DO YOU MEASURE UP?/AMOS 7

For many of us, we have spent an inordinate amount of time and energy in trying to measure up, measure up to other’s standards and expectations. What really matters is what God thinks of us. His standard and expectations should be what consume our thinking, time, and energy. And, His standard and expectations are higher than anyone else’s could possibly be. Let’s see what this means to us as we consider ...

I) AMOS’ VISIONS–VV.1-9

A) Amos 7 presents us with three visions Amos saw. Verse 1 says that the Sovereign Yahweh (God) revealed these visions to him. And, in verses 1-2a, Amos tells us that he saw God forming a locust-swarm that would devour the crops. This vision led Amos to plead with God to pardon the northern tribe–Jacob, because against God’s wrath Jacob was "small" (v.2b). In verse 3, we find God honoring Amos’ prayer, and He relents. The next vision is of a consuming fire (v.4). Again, Amos pleads with God to "stop" because Jacob was "small" (v.5a). And, again, God answers Amos’ prayer positively, and He relents (v.5b). But then, God brings out a plumb line in verse 7. God asks Amos what he sees (v.8a), and Amos responds that he sees a plumb line (v.8b). God then explains to Amos that He is going to judge His people according to a standard, and in light of this there will be no relenting (v.8c), and so Amos does not pray for relief. The visions do not give us any indication of how much time elapsed between the times God relents, and the time He brings judgment. It could be that there was some time given for the people to repent in light of God’s relenting, but since they did not, then Amos knew not to ask God again on this matter–the plumb line was now in God’s hand. Finally, verse 9 explains what will come as a judgment–desolation, waste, and sword.

B) What are we to learn from this? God is sovereign and free to do as He pleases in this world–in the affairs of nations, families, and individuals. We come face to face with the truth that God answers to no one for His actions in this world. His perfect plan will come to pass, even against the best laid plans of man. Does this comfort you? It should! But, it should also lead to some measure of discomfort. Discomfort for those who are not sure of their relationship with this sovereign God. This same God is a God who reveals Himself to those with eyes to see Him. God reveals Himself to those with eyes to see Him as the God who rules the universe, as the God who is holy, righteous, merciful, as the God who answers prayer, and as the God who holds eternally secure all who are His by faith in Jesus Christ. With all this said, I want to focus upon God as the One who rules and judges by a standard. As I mentioned earlier, God’s standard and expectations are higher than the most exacting of people we may know. God’s plumb line by which He is measuring us, to see if we measure up, is God’s own holiness/perfection. God’s standard remains His Holy character. We see that character reflected in the Ten Commandments. As the Apostle James tells us in James 2:10: "For whoever keeps the whole Law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." So, here’s the point, we all fall short of the standard, and the only thing to look forward to, apart from God intervening, is judgment–just judgment. So, is there any hope? Thankfully, there is, and it comes in Jesus Christ who kept the whole Law. He did for us, those who come to Him by faith, what we could not do, and that is keep the Law. Now, let’s consider ...

II) AMOS’ CHALLENGE–VV.10-17

A) Amos’ message did not go without challenge. Some just ignored, but one religious leader named Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, confronted Amos. He accused Amos of conspiring against the king, Jeroboam (v.10). The accusation had some truth in it, but it was not completely true (v.11). Amaziah instructs Amos to go back to his own home–Judah, the southern kingdom, and there proclaim his message of judgment (vv.12-13). Amos, respectfully, answers–"this is not my doing, but God’s" (vv.14-15). Because of Amaziah’s resistance to God’s message, Amos pronounces God’s judgment upon Amaziah personally (vv.16-17).

B) Let me give some brief points of application here. First, there is a danger of being unmoved by the hearing of God’s Word, as was Amaziah and the people he was responsible for. It is often true that we have some trouble with enduring all that we hear in God’s Word. The people of Amos’ time had trouble enduring the message he preached, but they were about to be more troubled than they could have imagined–God’s righteous judgment upon their high-handed sin. Second, we need to learn from Amos, that it is better to speak the truth of God’s Word regardless of opposition. Often our message of God’s truth will be opposed, yet we must not concern ourselves with the opposition. We must instead be more concerned with being faithful to proclaiming God’s Word. God is always responsible for the results of our sharing His truth–salvation, judgment, reconciliation, or comfort. What a God we serve! Let’s remain faithful to Him!