Amos began his prophecy during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah and Jehoash of Israel. Chapter one begins his vision from Jehovah with condemnation of some of their enemies. Damascus, the Philistines, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon will all suffer His wrath because of the ways they have treated others. This should serve as an example for us. As Jesus has taught us, we are to be servants of others, not of ourselves.

Moab is condemned in Amos 2. Judah is also falling under the wrath of the Lord. Rejecting the law and serving other gods are two of the crimes. Israel will also be destroyed for their many sins. Sexual sin and idolatry are just two types of offenses of which they are guilty. The strength they think they have will not protect them from Jehovah’s punishment.

Israel was the chosen children of Yahweh as is repeated in Amos 3. He has been warning them through many prophets and messengers, and He will not change His mind. Another accusation is that they refuse to do right. Many people today fall into the same trap. They know what should be done for others and they will not follow what they know is the Lord’s will.

The country will be devastated as they destroyed the lives of the innocent. Time is running out and there will be no more forgiveness. We should learn from the children of Israel. Eventually we must be punished unless we accept the redemption of Jesus Christ.

Jehovah’s fury will fall on those that were once saved from Egyptian domination told in Amos chapter four. Even though they perform meaningless worship, it means nothing. Famine and drought are used to draw the attention of God’s people, without any result. All the evil that is present in our day is ignored. We have been told what to look for. It is happening, but most people see it as of no consequence. Others blame the corruption in their world on Yahweh. Our judgment will be on an individual basis.

Israel’s fall is prophesied in Amos 5. For this destruction to be avoided, Jehovah’s chosen people must turn from following other gods and choose to worship the true God. Justice and righteousness must be sought. The one who demands this is the creator of the universe.
Yahweh knows our sins and will punish us for them. The day of judgment will come, and the Jews will not receive what they believe they will. The only way to avoid this is to forsake sacrifices that mean nothing. Justice and righteousness must be sought. That is true today as it was in Israel.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

The analogy of a vineyard is given in Isaiah 5. The vineyard is Jerusalem and her inhabitants. The one that produces bad fruit will be destroyed by the one who created them. Once again, the Lord calls for justice and righteousness. Drunkenness is condemned. So is calling evil good and good evil, and other cases of misrepresentation. Arrogance is also despised by Yahweh. These actions have brought the destruction of Israel and Judah.  

The call of Isaiah is a commonly read passage that is recorded in chapter 6. The time is recorded as “in the year King Uzziah died.” The Prophet was in the Temple when he saw the Lord. He volunteered to be Jehovah’s voice. Would you want a job where people won’t listen to you? Would you want to be told ahead of time that in the end the city will be destroyed? Neither would I.

We are still in the time of Ahaz, King of Judah and Pekah was King of Israel in Isaiah 7. The Aramaeans and Israel attacked Judah but was pushed back. The destruction of both countries is predicted within sixty-five years. The capitals of Samaria and Damascus will fall. Assyria is the nation that will conquer them.

This seems like an odd place for the prophet to predict the birth of a child to a virgin. This baby will be the actual presence of God himself. We are often confused by our triune God and His nature. He has chosen to show Himself as a father, a son, and a spirit. The amazing part of Jehovah is that He created us in His image and we, therefore, have a soul, a body, and a spirit.

Would you name your child “Quick to the spoil.” Isaiah does in chapter eight. Verse eight has another reference to Immanuel, “God who lives with us.” Jehovah is the Lord Almighty and is different from others, that is what is meant by being holy. The fear and the dread is better thought of as respect and admiration. We, modern westerners, view fear differently than the Hebrew thought.

Jesus quoted verse fourteen when He spoke of being a stumbling block to the Pharisees. We also see the difference between the darkness and the light. Being spiritual does not mean being Godly. Communicating with evil spirits is not the same as speaking with God. If you want to talk to your boss at work, why would you speak to a drug dealer that hangs out on the corner down the street?

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger