The Greatest Gift is Love
Amos 2:4-8
June 7, 2015
Commentary
by
Jed Greenough
Just when I thought we were leaving our former theme behind, meaning how we have been concentrating on loving one another, I see we are not. God “directed” the committee who choose our 6 year plan of scriptures to take us to Amos. In today’s scripture we see what results from doing the opposite of what we have been looking at in taking care of and loving one another.
We spend a few weeks here in Amos and since we start in the second chapter you know you really gotta read from chapter 1 verse 1 to today’s 2:4. In the not included and the included you see the historical perspective of the prophet Amos and that we can pinpoint his work to the mention of who the kings were at the time.
NIV scholars say this time was when Israel was “politically secure and spiritually smug.” I find this very key and what we should keep in the forefront of our mind as we look at the scripture in Amos and see this prophesy of her coming downfall.
Amos says, “the Lord roars” “and thunders”. This is how the prophesy begins so we see right from the get go He isn’t pleased. His wrath will not be turned back and it isn’t just against Israel but against her neighbors as well. This makes me sad because she is lumped right in their with the unchosen. No different and not acting any different.
They had His law but they rejected it we read in verse 4. We also see they rejected His decrees and followed after false gods. They favored riches over justice for the righteous, the poor and the oppressed.
Clearly the example of the previous weeks about how to behave towards one another continues with this week as we see how God reacts when we are smug and feeling secure and fail to do just that.
For Discussion:
1. Discuss how you think God feels when His people act like the world.
2. Discuss how to overcome the “trap” that so many fall into when things are going well.
3. Discuss what you think is meant by, “For three sins…even for four I will not turn back my wrath.”
4. Show other scriptures where how God wants the poor, the righteous and the oppressed to be treated.
5. Discuss the hypocrisy shown in verse 8.
6. Discuss the ease we often have in looking at Israel clinically rather than applying these messages to ourselves.
Upcoming Lessons
June 14 God is not Fooled Amos 5:14-15, 18-27
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
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