ESOCS Devotional 26 February 2021
TEXT: AMOS 5:1-15
MEMORY VERSE: “Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.” Amos 5:6
Amos begins his next message with startling words. Amos takes up a lament over the house of Israel. Do not forget that at the time Amos was preaching, the nation of Israel was experiencing prosperity, wealth, and power. Israel had not had this kind of wealth and power since the reign of Solomon, two hundred years before this time. However, Amos took up a funeral song. The Hebrew word translated “lamentation” in the ESV in verse 1 was a song or poem mourning the death of a relative, friend, or national hero (Expositor’s Bible Commentary).
The NLT and NET properly translate this as a “funeral song.” The HCSB captures this meaning with the translation of verse 1, “Listen to this message that I am singing for you, a lament, house of Israel.” Israel was at the height of its power and Amos was singing a funeral song for the nation. The song was being sung as if the nation was already extinguished. It was over for the nation. The nation had fallen and will never rise again. Israel is described as a virgin, which implies that she is like a young girl in the prime of life. The once vibrant woman now lies totally helpless on the ground with no one to help. Verse 3 depicts the armies of Israel being decimated. Though the nation thinks everything is great, in actuality they were enjoying their final few days.
It is important for us to be able to see our true status before God. We should not be deceived by prosperity and power. Just because things are going well in life does not mean that we are in right standing before God. The nation of Israel is back at its pinnacle of wealth and prosperity; yet, Amos is singing a funeral song for the nation. We must carefully evaluate ourselves always during our times of prosperity. We must make sure that we are not blinded from seeing our spiritual flaws when we are experiencing God’s blessings in our life.
The requirements of God are very simple. Seek the Lord and you will live. But we need to seek the Lord properly. There is a right way to seek the Lord: not in false worship (Amos 5:5-7); in humility (Amos 5:8-13); in goodness (Amos 5:14-15).
Seek the Lord in righteousness and humility. Do not seek the Lord in false worship. Religious activity is not seeking the Lord. Truly desire to know God and pursue Him in all you do. This pursuit will lead to desiring what is good and hating what is evil.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
CHALLENGES
How diligently do you seek God?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord, grant me the steadfast spirit to remain focused on you alone.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 49:1-6; 1 Corinthians 10:14-22; Galatians 1:11-24
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ESOCS Devotional 26 February 2021
