FEAST OR FAMINE/AMOS 8:1-14
Amos in our text is telling his original audience that one of
God’s judgments, and maybe the most severe of all judgments for
their sin, was a famine to come upon the land. As we will see, the
famine was caused by a removal of God’s Word from the hearing of His
people. When it is removed, then they will feel the devastating
effects of the loss. So, I wonder, if we are in danger of such a
famine in our day? And, how might such a famine manifest itself? And,
how might we avoid such a danger? Let’s consider what Amos has to
say in this chapter, and see what we can glean that will protect us
from the tendency to take God’s good gift of His Word for granted.
We begin with ...
I) AMOS’ VISION OF THE SUMMER FRUIT
A) Amos is shown another vision–a basket of summer fruit (v.1).
As before, God asks Amos what he sees, and Amos replies (v.2a-b).
The point of the vision is now stated clearly (v.2c). As summer
fruit ripens, so too has God’s judgment upon Israel. Israel has
become ripe for judgment through habitual sin against God by ignoring
or rebelling against God’s Word. Then Amos reveals what the end of
God’s patience will look like in verse 3.
B) Again, Amos reminds all–then and now–of the reason
for God’s judgment in verse 4. In verses 5 & 6,
Amos details the activities of those bound for judgment. Note that
they were committed to being in worship, but couldn’t wait for the
service to be over to get back at making a profit, and they were
profiting from dishonest gain and treatment of the poor–all of which
violated stipulations of God’s covenant with them. And, because of
their disobedience to God’s covenant, the majority of them were cut
off from it. This meant that their sins would never be forgotten (v.7).
Though they had a privileged position, that position was forfeited
due to disobedience, and that meant that their sins remained. Verses
8 & 9 speak of some of what God was going to do. God was
making His point–I will deal with sin in My time and in My way. This
will lead to mourning (v.10). In verses 11-13, we are
told of a famine, a famine "for hearing the words of the
Lord." They did not realize until this time how very important
God’s Word was to them personally and nationally. Deuteronomy 8:3
is instructive here. They did not know what they had till it was
gone. And, finally, Amos tells them that their pursuits of other gods
will bring them to fall and rise no more (v.14). So, what are
we to learn from all this?
II) LESSONS TO LEARN
A) Let me remind us what Paul says in 1 Corinthians
10:11-12. Here are three lessons to learn:
1) The patience of God will come to an end some day. Just as
Israel was ripe for judgment, so too may some of us be. We dare not
presume upon God’s love, grace, and mercy if we continue to live
life on our own terms. In other words, if we are, primarily, living
for what we get out of life, and that is what we are pursuing, though
we give God an hour a week, then we may be bringing judgment upon
ourselves one day at a time. The consequences of living for the wrong
things are damning and eternal. To help us better understand this,
let’s turn to 2 Peter 3:3-9; Romans 9:22-24. Here’s the
point: While God continues to exercise patience with us, now is the
time to repent of our sins and trust Jesus Christ to save us. Some of
us are ripe for repentance and salvation, while some are ripe for
judgment and damnation. Call out to Jesus today! This is your only
hope!
2) Related to that, without Jesus Christ’s righteousness
credited to our account, our sins/evil deeds will ever be before God
as verses 7 of Amos 8 says. Here’s some good news, in
the New Covenant Jesus inaugurates in His blood (1 Corinthians
11:25), there is the promise that God will forgive our iniquities,
and remember our sins no more (Jeremiah 31:34). So, the
question then is how does one become a partaker of the New Covenant,
and its blessings? By being united to Christ by faith. This means that
we have come to understand, basically, that we have sinned against a
Holy God, and that the payment for sin is death, but this Holy God has
provided a remedy for our sinful condition, and that remedy is the
death of His Son as a payment for our sins. This is a transaction
whereby Jesus takes our sins, and then gives us His righteousness (2
Corinthians 5:21). And, by simple trust, we call out to, and cling
to, Jesus Christ alone to save us. Do so today if you hear His call!
3) We would be well-served to give heed to God’s Word
today, as it is our only source of knowledge about salvation, peace,
mercy, and grace. As in Amos’ day, God could take away the testimony
of His Word from our hearing. Dear friends, we now have the Word of
God, and let us treat such a gift with thanksgiving. It is not just
that we hold it as some good luck charm, but we hold it for what it is
... God’s life-giving and sustaining Word! Our culture, and many
churches–The Episcopal Church for one–are abandoning God’s Word
with great consequences to individuals, families, churches, and
nations. I conclude with a consideration of Hebrews 1:3. Note
all things are upheld by the word of Jesus Christ’s power. We would
do well to come to Him today by faith. He will keep us forever!
