Our Daily Scripture – 1/9/24 (Thursday)

SCRIPTURE: AMOS 2

Judah had rejected the law of the lord and have not kept His decrees.  They have been led astray by false gods.  Therefore, God will send fire upon Judah to consume the fortress of Jerusalem.

SINS OF ISRAEL

  1.  They sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals. (v. 6)
  2.  They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground. (v. 7a)
  3.  They deny justice to the oppressed. (v. 7b)
  4.  Father and son use the same girl. (v. 7c)
  5.  They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. (v. 8a)
  6.  The drink wine taken as fines in the house of their god. (v. 8b)
  7.  They made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy. (v. 12)

WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ISRAEL:

  1.  He destroyed the Amorite before them. (v. 9a)
  2.  He destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. (v. 9b)
  3.  He brought them up out of Egypt and led them 40 years in the desert to give the land of the Amorites. (v. 10)
  4.  They raised up prophets from among their sons and Nazirites from among their young men. (v. 11)
  5.  He will crush them as a cart crushes when loaded with grain. (v. 13)
  6.  The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength and the warrior will not save his life. (v. 14)
  7.  The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life. (v. 15)
  8.  Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day. (v. 16)

THOUGHTS:

Israel and Judah also sinned against God because they violated all the Ten Commandments.  Amos was sent by God to denounce the social and religious corruptions of Israel.  The sins Israelites committed were:  (1) selling the poor as slaves, (2)-exploiting the poor, (3)-engaging in perverse sexual sins, (4)-taking illegal collateral for loans and worshiping false gods.

The people of Israel is composed of many rich and many poor.  The rich observed religious rituals and gave extra tithes.  They went to worship God and offer sacrifices.  But they were greedy and unjust, taking advantage of the helpless.  As we fulfill our religious obligation, let us also not neglect the needs of the poor.

The prophets were constantly challenging people to remember what God had done for them.  God’s past faithfulness should have reminded them to obey Him.  Likewise, we should not forget what God has done for us.  We must have a thankful heart and live for Him.