Amos, a shepherd, and sycamore tree farmer from Tekoa, was called by God in visions to be the prophet to the Northern tribes of Israel. Not an easy task if one considers the people of Israel had split from Judah. Also, Amos was a simple farmer with no major credentials. Certainly, his credentials were sufficient in that God called him; but those to whom he was sent did not realize that and chose not to believe. Indeed, we see in Amos 7:10-13 that Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam II reporting Amos as a conspiracist against the King. Yet Amos stood strong and told them that the Lord God Almighty Roars from heaven with one question, “Are you ready to meet the Lord?”
Time was running out. Judgement already determined and on its way. Therefore Amos and Hosea are the final call to the people. God had sent droughts, famines, prophets, and miracles, all in an attempt to awaken the people. He had displayed His power and His might on top of Mount Carmel when he defeated the priests of Baal with the prayerful acts of one prophet, Elijah. No one listened for long. A few would worship Him briefly then return to their idolatrous living. He had most recently sent prosperity to the Northern Kingdom. Perhaps, if all was well, the people would follow God. Peace had even ensued, most likely due to the revival in Nineveh after Jonah had gone there. But alas, the people honored God with phony worship that bore no heartfelt sincerity. And the wealthy oppressed the poor relentlessly.
Let us be reminded that Amos is as relevant today as his message was then.
The Lord God Almighty Roars—He is the Lion of Judah
We read in Revelation that only the Lion of Judah is worthy to open the seals of judgement. Yet, it is the deed to earth wrapped inside those seven seals. That is how deeds were in Roman times, they were sealed with seven seals. As it is here, the deed is to the earth—where Jesus Christ promises, and covenant is to reign in Majesty one day over all of the earth. The final promise to Israel is yet to be fulfilled.
I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5: (NASB)
Whom of us do not weep as we look around us? Do you not cry looking for the one who can bring judgement against the evils surrounding us?
The Lion is the Lamb
6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they *sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10 You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
Think of this: The Lord God Almighty Roars in His judgement against all evil; yet, willingly humbled Himself as a lamb for slaughter to pay the just price each one of us deserved to pay. Thereby, He is able to open the seven seals of judgement yet to be poured out against the world. As shown in Revelations 6 and 7, each seal unleashes a new demonstration of God’s judgement on the earth yet to come during the tribulation period. Only Jesus can unseal the final destiny of this world and His redeemed.
The Importance of Prayer
At one point, as God reveals to Amos a severe invasion of Locust leading to devastating starvation and then of severe draught with fire to destroy all the fields. Each of these are followed by Amos’ prayer.
5 Then I said,
“Lord God, please stop!
How can Jacob stand?
For he is small.”
6 The Lord relented of this.
“This too shall not be,” said the Lord God. Amos 6 (NASB)
There are those moments as I look around at all that is happening in the world. My response at times is, “God is Sovereign, so let it be. Who am I to change or transform anything.” I look in despair and long for His return, saying little in response. Yet, God’s word says,
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5 (NKJV)
My understanding that God is Sovereign, knowing all that will happen does not negate my responsibility to pray for our nation, the world and the people around me. Throughout Scripture we are called to pray, to repent, and to plead for revival. Do I have to understand why God commands such if He is omniscient? No, it is not mine to fully understand, but it is my duty to obey. Perhaps it is as C.S.Lewis wrote:
“I pray because I can’t help myself. (And) I pray because I’m helpless. (Ultimately) I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”[1]
C.S.Lewis
The Lord God Almighty Roars Judgement Will Come
Only after Amos had prayed to save them, did he come to understand why judgement must come.
8 And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,
“Behold I am about to put a plumb line
In the midst of My people Israel.
I will not spare them any longer.
9 The high places of Isaac will become deserted,
And the sanctuaries of Israel will be in ruins.
Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” Amos 7: (NASB)
They had been weighed, measured, and found wanting. Time was running out; but God would save His remnant. If judgement did not occur there would be none left as evil overtook and overran everything. Sometimes it feels that way now. So hard to know what is true anymore. That is why, I must cling to His word and plead He open my eyes to truth every day.
The Lord God Almighty Roars: Judgement is at Hand
9 I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and He said:
“Strike the doorposts, that the thresholds may shake,
And break them on the heads of them all.
I will slay the last of them with the sword.
He who flees from them shall not get away,
And he who escapes from them shall not be delivered.
2 “Though they dig into hell,
From there My hand shall take them;
Though they climb up to heaven,
From there I will bring them down;
3 And though they hide themselves on top of Carmel,
From there I will search and take them;
Though they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea,
From there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them;
4 Though they go into captivity before their enemies,
From there I will command the sword,
And it shall slay them.
I will set My eyes on them for harm and not for good.”
5 The Lord God of hosts,
He who touches the earth and it melts,
And all who dwell there mourn;
All of it shall swell like the River,
And subside like the River of Egypt.
6 He who builds His layers in the sky,
And has founded His strata in the earth;
Who calls for the waters of the sea,
And pours them out on the face of the earth—
The Lord is His name. Amos 9 (NKJV)
But As the Lord God Almighty Roars, Hope Remains Eternal
How sad it would be if judgement is the end of the story for Israel or for us. After all that is what we deserve.
“Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom,
And I will destroy it from the face of the earth;
Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”
Says the Lord.
9 “For surely I will command,
And will sift the house of Israel among all nations,
As grain is sifted in a sieve;
Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.
10 All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword,
Who say, ‘The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.’ Amos 9 (NKJV)
Furthermore, One Day, the Biggest Revival Ever will Come
11 “On that day I will raise up
The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,
And repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins,
And rebuild it as in the days of old;
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,”
Says the Lord who does this thing.
13 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,
“When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
And the treader of grapes him who sows seed;
The mountains shall drip with sweet wine,
And all the hills shall flow with it.
14 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;
They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;
Also, they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.
15 I will plant them in their land,
And no longer shall they be pulled up
From the land I have given them,”
Says the Lord your God. Amos 9 (NKJV)
For all the days until then, let us pray for revival. A revival in which the plowman overtakes the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed, let the mountains drip with sweet wine and all the hills flow with it. Until then let us be inspired by some of the revivals in our own history and not lose heart. Revival transformed hearts that transformed America as well.
A History to Remember as the Lord God Almighty Roars
I do not know what day or hour Jesus will return, but until that day we are called to proclaim the truth of the Gospel to the nations.
Three major revivals are particularly noted in US history. One was the Great Awakening that began with Johnathan Edwards began in December 1734 through 1943 spreading like wildfire. But after it died down, people returned to drawing away from God until the second great awakening which came in 1800 at which time only about 1 in 15 of Americans belonged to an evangelical church. Then James McGready began frontier camp meetings and revivals began to spread across America. Along with these revivals came many moral and philanthropic reforms, including addressing the problems of alcoholism, the emancipation of women, and the founding of numerous colleges, seminaries, and missions.
As is the nature of humanity, the people again in the next generation began to walk away from God. Then a businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier began a noonday prayer meeting in New York which led eventually to a worldwide revival. In the US alone there were an estimated 1 million new coverts added to the church rolls and another 1,000,000 so called church who then came to personally know Christ as Savior. This began in 1857 during the great Bank Panic of 1857 and lasted through 1858. Shortly after this revival. It was then in 1861 that the Civil War broke out as the nation fought to free the slaves.
If we want to change the direction of this nation, we must get serious about prayer for revival. Then we must be ready to go where God says go and do what God says do.
More lessons in Amos can be found at:
When the World Seems So Dark
In the Dark of the Night
My heart filled with fright.
My one hope of light
Is Jesus
In a World filled with Lies
With Evil’s disguise
Truth is our prize.
In Jesus
When you feel all alone
When Sadness has grown
Come Bow at the Throne
Of Jesus
He is the light, the truth, the way.
The One who yearns to save you today.
He died on the cross, then rose from the grave.
Only He has the strength and the power to save.
He is our Hope when all hope is gone.
From the darkest of night, He brings a new dawn.
Jesus, our Savior, the King of all Kings
All honor and Glory to Him my heart sings
So, let us all rise His Praise to impart.
To Him whose love will never depart
When the world seems so dark, we can’t see our way.
He is the light to guide us each day.
So, in the dark of the night
When my heart fills with fright
I’ll trust in the Light.
Of Jesus
So, I’ll fall on my knees.
Pour forth all my pleas.
Until all my heart sees
Is Jesus
Effie Darlene Barba
[1] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1005539-i-pray-because-i-can-t-help-myself-i-pray-because
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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