Have you ever gotten into argument over who would win in a fight? Kids often debate over which super hero would win in a duel—Superman or the Incredible Hulk—Bat Man or Spiderman—Iron Man or Thor—or the proverbial “My dad can beat up your dad!” 

            Sports fans often get into the same types of arguments. Who would win in a bout between two boxers in their prime—Mike Tyson or Mohammed Ali? Who would win in a one-on-one basketball game—Michael Jordan or Lebron James? Who would win in a NASCAR race—Richard Petty or Jeff Gordon? Who would win in a wrestling match—Hulk Hogan or “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair? Whooo! 

            Other people like to debate food brands! For instance, who would win the battle of the burgers—the Burger King Whopper or the McDonald’s Big Mac? Or how about the clash of colas—Pepsi or Coca Cola Classic? How about a match between cake mixes: Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines? 

            I once owned a tee shirt with the Pillsbury Dough Boy and the Green Giant standing beside each other. The caption said, “Best friends.” But I always wondered, if they became worst enemies. which one would win in a fight! Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know who would win any these match ups, but they sure are fun to debate. 

            I wonder if any of you have ever gotten into a religious debate. Who loves Jesus more? Lutherans or Baptists? Presbyterians or Pentecostals? Have you ever argued with any of your Roman Catholic friends about who’s a better preacher—Their priest or your pastor? I sure hope you would all go to the mat for me on this one! 

            In all seriousness, most of us don’t really engage in religious debates like this—or at least, I hope you don’t! But in this morning’s biblical text, we have a theological showdown between two heavyweight clergy contenders. Right here in Amos 7:10-17, we have a religious rumble between opposing representatives of God. So, lets step into the ring and let me introduce them to you! 

The Hollow Priest
            First, preaching out of the red corner is Amaziah, the hollow priest of Bethel. He is the mouthpiece of King Jeroboam, the puppet priest of the northern kingdom of Israel. Although he was born into a priestly family and bore the responsibility of leading the people in the worship of the one true God, he sold his soul to political power and became chief protector of the status quo. Rather than promoting the eternal glory of God, his motivation was self-preservation. As long as he was taking payment from the king, he went through the meaningless motions of religious rituals and sacrilegious sacrifices. He abandoned the authority of God’s Word and embraced the ethic of cultural accommodation. He preached watered down sermons to placate the politicians rather than speaking truth to power. He was a weak, cowardly, yellow-bellied, gutless, spineless, and spiritless man. In short, Amaziah was hollow at the core! He was a pitiful and pathetic excuse for a high priest! 

The Holy Prophet 
          And now, preaching out of the blue corner is Amos, the holy prophet from Tekoa. He is the mouthpiece of the King of Kings, the herdsman turned herald from the southern kingdom of Judah. Although he was not born into a prophetic family and had not received any formal prophetic training, God called him out of the obscurity of a rural village and a blue-collar job to go to the urban centers in the northern kingdom preach against the social, economic, and spiritual abuses of King Jeroboam and his allies. Although he didn’t have any prophetic credentials, he spoke with divine authority because he was committed to hearing and proclaiming the Word of God. He had no interest in placating politicians or preserving power structures. His primary concern was promoting the glory of the one true God and devotion to his eternal kingdom. Amos was a bold and brave, audacious and courageous, fearless and faithful man. In short, Amos was the holy prophet of God! 

A Religious Rumble 
           Now that you have met our clergy contenders, let me set the stage for this religious royal rumble. The bout is only scheduled for two rounds. In round one, verses 10-13, the puppet priest Amaziah will take his best shot at silencing Amos and knocking him out of the northern kingdom once and for all. But in round two, verses 14-17, the holy prophet Amos will have his chance to counterpunch Amaziah and deliver a TKO all the way from Tekoa! Therefore, as ring announcer Michael Buffer says, “Take you Bible’s and let’s get ready to rummmble!” 

Round One: Amaziah’s Accusation(10-13) 
          Round one begins in verse 10 with Amaziah sending word to King Jeroboam that Amos was conspiring against him and his government. Amaziah is surely looking back to Amos’ prophecy back in verse 9 when he predicts that God will rise against unjust Jeroboam and his corrupt cronies and bring them down with the sword. But notice how Amaziah twists Amos’ words. Amos had no intention of conspiring against the king or raising up a rebellion against him. Amos simply spoke the Word of God and hoped that the people would repent from their sins. But Amaziah felt threatened by Amos’ divine authority, so he lodges false accusations against him. He wants Amos to appear like a political threat—a dangerous dissident who might stir up support from the poor people and the political rivals of the king. His exaggeration is a fear tactic to quiet any opposition to the king or himself. (Smith 369)

            Also, notice how Amaziah undercuts (or should I say “uppercuts”) Amos by omitting anything about what “God” is going to do to Israel or that these are God’s own words. By this, shows that he rejects Amos, but more importantly, he rejects God’s Word. Amaziah’s actions are symptomatic of the whole nation of Israel; they didn’t want to hear God’s Word; they just wanted to be left alone to do whatever they desired. 

            But rather than risking a public confrontation, Amaziah tries to dismiss Amos quietly with some back-door jabs. In verses 12-13, the pouty priest resorts to petty name calling before telling Amos that he isn’t welcome to play in Israel anymore. He addresses Amos with the pejorative term, “O seer” to distinguish him from a true prophet. In the ancient world, seers were like fortune-tellers; they offered prophetic utterances for money. Unlike true prophets, their words did not carry divine authority. After this, Amaziah tells Amos to go back home to Judah and prophecy in his own land. He accentuates his own religious authority by stating that the temple in Bethel is controlled by the king. 

            Amaziah’s accusations represent a religion that is based on human rather than divine authority. Unfortunately, there are still religious leaders in our world today who ignore, twist, and reject God’s Word. It seems odd that anyone would go into pastoral ministry if they didn’t believe the Bible, but I have met some pastors and priests who actively undermine the authority of God’s Word and promote humanistic philosophies. They strip the Bible of all of its supernatural content and say things like, “Now we know that Jesus didn’t really feed 5000 people with two fish and five loaves; the human author is obviously exaggerating the number for effect,” or “Since we know that it’s scientifically impossible to change water into wine, the human author is trying to portray a Jesus who is really nice and likes to help people who are in need.” I have also heard some preachers accuse the Apostle Paul of justifying slavery and being a misogynist; neither of which are true! Therefore, some clergy, like Amaziah refuse to preach God’s Word because they reject God’s Word.

            Even more common than outright rejecting God’s Word, some clergy simply ignore God’s Word. These are the ones, like Amaziah, who don’t want to upset the status quo. They just want to go through the motions of religious ritual and collect their paycheck at the end of the month. There is no real conviction in anything they say or do because they ignore God’s Word.

            I’ll never forget the experience I had a few years ago when Jennifer and I attended the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City. Even though it is the largest church building in the United States (the fifth largest in the world), it is the place where I heard the most dismal sermon in my life. After walking through the nave and viewing the majestic art and architecture, Jennifer and I decided to attend the 11a.m. eucharist service. But after the priest read a portion from the Gospel of Luke, he preached his sermon and never even referenced the text. He babbled on for fifteen minutes and didn’t even mention Jesus in his message.He could barely string two coherent sentences together. His sermon was empty and hollow, just like the church building because he ignored the Word of God.  

            We must be careful to not fall into the trap of rejecting or ignoring the Word of God. True Christianity is never about going through the motions of religious rituals; it’s never about protecting political power; it’s never about the pragmatism of self-preservation. True Christianity is about the God of the universe revealing himself to us through his Word. It is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls. It is about us showing our gratitude to God by conforming our lives to the will of God which is revealed in the Word of God! 

Round Two: Amos’ Response(14-17)  
        In round one, Amaziah, the high priest of Bethel, landed a few body-blows against Amos, the holy prophet from Tekoa! But now as the bell rings to begin round two, let’s watch how Amos counterpunches with a deadly combination of confirming his own call to ministry and by reiterating God’s judgment on Israel. In verse 14, Amos defends himself against Amaziah’s accusation that he was merely a seer who was prophesying for personal profit. To the contrary, Amos verifies that he was not born into a prophetic family or trained in a prophetic school. He was a herdsman and dresser of sycamore fig trees. But God called him out of his agricultural occupation and commissioned him to preach to his people in the northern kingdom of Israel.  

            After Amos sets Amaziah by confirming his true call to ministry in verses 14-15, he drops Amaziah and the nation of Israel to the mat with a pummeling prophecy in verses 16-17. He basically says, “Who are you to tell me not to preach against Israel…I take my orders from Almighty God, not the puny priest Amaziah.” Then Amos commands Amaziah to hear the word of the Lord.  

            Amos’ prophecy contains five brutal body blows: his wife will become a prostitute for a foreign army, his children will be killed, his personal property will be given to others, he will die in a pagan land, and the nation will go into exile. These prophecies were meant for Amaziah and the whole nation of Israel because they refused to listen to God’s Word.

            Amos’ life and ministry stands in stark contrast to that of Amaziah. Even though Amos did not have a prophetic background, he believed God’s Word and boldly proclaimed it! He was a fearless and faithful preacher who refused to back down from political pressure or physical threats. He carried out his calling to confront a people who turned their backs on the Lord and his commandments. 

            Amos is a wonderful model of a life and ministry that is pleasing to the Lord. Like Amos, sometimes God calls us out of the shadows of obscurity and calls to go to places that we don’t necessarily want to go. Sometimes God calls us away from a vocation or job we like and calls us to a different career. Sometimes God calls us to preach an unpopular message to people who don’t want to hear it. Sometimes God calls us to confront other people’s sins and challenge the currents of our culture. If and when God calls you to one of these difficult deeds, what will you say? How will you respond? 

So, let me ask you: who do you think would win in a fight: The Hollow Priest or the Holy Prophet? Now we have all seen the end result of this great theological showdown between clergy contenders. Victory always belongs to the one who follows the Word of God! As we continue to live out our faith in the days to come, may we learn from the mistakes of the hollow priest Amaziah and follow the model of the holy prophet Amos.  

            Do you remember when you were in elementary school—when the teacher made the whole class walk in a single file line? Whether it was a bathroom break, a trip to the cafeteria for lunch, or a walk to the playground for recess, elementary teachers make their students walk in single file lines to maintain order and safety through the narrow hallways. The teacher also had a rule that if someone tried to push or cut to the front of the line, they would get sent to the end of the line. 

            I’m ashamed to admit that I broke this rule on multiple occasions. Even after all these years, I can still hear my teacher’s voices echoing in my ears, “Mr. McConnell, no cutting! Get to the back of the line! You can get your lunch last today!” And I still remember their pulpit pounding voices preaching, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” At the time, I had no idea that they were quoting Jesus!

            Even though Jesus’ point was those who have every privilege here on earth are often the last to realize their need for a Savior, while those with little or nothing in the way of material possessions are often among the first, many school teachers (and parents) have used Jesus’ words to literally help them “keep their children in line.”  Have you ever used the famous phrase for your personal advantage?

            But many years before Jesus coined this phrase, the prophet Amos introduced the principle in an inverted way. In chapter 6 of his book, Amos employs the principle that “the first shall be first.” By this, he means that those who push their way to the front of the line in this life will be the first in the judgment line. For those who arrogantly cut in front of others to gain or maintain wealth and power, God will send them to the front of the line to face judgment. For the leaders of the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel who became spiritually complacent and conceited, they would indeed be the first to be taken into exile.

            As we have seen in earlier chapters,Amos continues to rebuke the pursuit of wealth, abuse of power, rampant materialism, and misplaced priorities that are so common in his day. Amos’ prophecy, which was delivered some 2700 years ago, still has much to say to modern America and the contemporary Christian church. In this passage, Amos addresses the issues of conceit and complacency. 

The First in Conceit(1-3, 8) 
Like other prophets of his time, Amos was inspired by God to speak words of warning against the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The “woe” in verse 1 is directed to Zion (Jerusalem) and Samaria, the capital cities of each respective kingdom. As these cites grew in importance, they became cities of conspicuous wealth and substantial political power. This caused the “notable men” (i.e. political leaders) to become conceited. Instead of putting their faith in God, they placed their trust in themselves, especially in their wealth and power. These distinguished people had a false confidence about being the elite of “the first of the nations.” They took pride in their high position on top of the world, but God was about to bring them down. They pushed and cut their way to the front on the line, but Amos reminds them that the first would be first to face God’s judgment. (Stuart 358)

            The notable people in Zion and Samaria may have thought of themselves as important, but Amos’ prophecy reminds them that they were no better or no worse than the nearby nations that they had subjugated. Calneh and Hameth were Aramean cities and Gath was one of the five great Philistine cities. Israel ruled over all of them at the time, but they were not better off. Amos is making the point that Israel had no right to think that they were “the first among nations.” 

            If you skip down to verse 8, Amos calls out Judah’s conceit explicitly. He quotes God as saying, “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.” The kingdom of Judah had become arrogant. They thought they were the greatest nation in the world; they believed that they were invincible. They placed their trust in their national defenses rather than their true Protector, but all of this was about to change. Their conceit would be the catalyst of their destruction; their pride would lead to their demise. Those who pushed to be first would be the first to face God’s judgment.  

            Similar to ancient Israel, over the past 200 years, America has grown in economic wealth, political influence, and military might. Since the Cold War, America has been ranked as world’s number one super-power. But as America has gained strength in all of these areas, I wonder if our nation has fallen into the same trap as Judah and Israel? I wonder if we have become conceited? I wonder if our national success has led to pride and arrogance? I wonder if we think our country is invincible? I wonder if our faith has shifted away from God as our Creator, Sustainer, and Protector and has been replaced by faith in ourselves. After all, America’s motto is no longer “In God We Trust.” It has been replaced by “Believe in Yourself!”, “Follow Your Heart!”, and “You Can Do Anything You Want!” 

             One of the best television series I’ve watched in the last few years is Aaron Sorkin’s Amazon Prime series titled “The Newsroom.” In the inaugural episode, cable news anchor Will McAvoy (played by Jeff Daniels) is participating in a political panel discussion at an American university. A college girl asks the three panelists the question:“Can you say why America is the greatest country in the world?

            After the token liberal and conservative panelists give their pat answers, McAvoy stuns the capacity crowd when he responds: “It’s not the greatest country in the world. That’s my answer.” Then he launches into a solemn soliloquy:

You’re gonna tell students that America is so star-spangled awesome that we’re the only ones in the world who have freedom? Canada has freedom. Japan has freedom. The UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, Belgium has freedom! So, 207 sovereign states in the world, like 180 of them have freedom. And yeah, you… sorority girl. Just in case you accidentally wander into a voting booth one day, there’s some things you should know. One of them is: there’s absolutely no evidence to support the statement that we’re the greatest country in the world. We’re 7th in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, 178th in infant mortality, 3rd in median household income, number 4 in labor force and number 4 in exports. We lead the world in only three categories: number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe angels are real and defense spending, where we spend more than the next 26 countries combined, 25 of whom are allies. Now, none of this is the fault of a 20-year-old college student, but you, nonetheless, are, without a doubt, a member of the worst period generation period ever period, so when you ask what makes us the greatest country in the world, I don’t know what… you’re talking about! Yosemite?!

[Silence]

It sure used to be… We stood up for what was right. We fought for moral reason. We passed laws, struck down laws, for moral reason. We waged wars on poverty, not on poor people. We sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our mouths were and we never beat our chest. We built great, big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases and we cultivated the world’s greatest artists AND the world’s greatest economy. We reached for the stars, acted like men. We aspired to intelligence, we didn’t belittle it. It didn’t make us feel inferior. We didn’t identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election and we didn’t scare so easy. We were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed… by great men, men who were revered. First step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one. America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.”

            When I read Amos’ words to Judah and Israel here, I can’t help but wonder about the future of America. When I hear people today proudly proclaim that “America is the greatest country in the world,” I can’t help but hear Amos’ question in verse 2: “Are you better than these kingdoms?” The first in conceit shall be the first to face God’s judgment! 

The First in Complacency(4-7)
           Amos issues his second “Woe” in verse 4 when he takes aim at Judah and Israel’s complacency. He lambasts those who lay around on their comfortable couches and elaborate wooden beds inlayed with ivory. He lampoons those who gorge themselves on luxurious foods like roasted rack of lamb and veal parmesan. This may not seem so extravagant to us today, but many Israelites probably only ate meat a few times a year. By contrast, the wealthy could demand choice meats whenever they wanted. 

            In verse 5 Amos lobs a bomb of divine judgment on those “who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music.” This is his way of accusing the rich of living like royalty—those who had enough time on their hands to make music. The average Israelite would never have time to indulge in such leisurely pursuits. 

            In verse 6 Amos condemns the affluent Israelites “who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils.” These are images of decadence and debauchery. Instead of drinking wine from a cup, they were drinking straight from the storage basins. All the while they paid no attention to the prophetic warnings of ensuing disaster. 

            Notice the ironic pronouncement of judgment in verse 7! Since these “notable men” were “first among the nations”, they would also “be the first to go into exile.” Those who were living the high life would be brought down. Those who pushed themselves to the front of the line so they could indulge themselves in feasting, drinking, and leisure at the expense of the poor, were about to be pushed to the front of God’s judgment line.

            This passage presents a helpful checkup for each for our sinful souls. Amos forces us to ask ourselves some tough questions about the habits of our hearts—questions like:

• How do I use the money God has entrusted to my stewardship? Do I ever exploit or neglect the poor for my own selfish purposes? 
• How do I use the precious time God has given me? How much time do I spend in prayer and worship compared to leisurely pursuits?  
• Am I truly content with what God has given me or do I secretly hungering for more?
• How have my physical comforts led to spiritual complacency?
• Am I really living my life to please the Lord or am I living to please myself?
• Do I ever try to push or cut my way to the front of the lines of life?

            These are all good questions for us to consider in light of Amos’ prophecy. We would also do well to review Jesus’ words:

• Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 
• Matthew 16:25-26: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

The first in complacency shall be the first to face God’s judgment!

            As I conclude today’s sermon today, let me briefly allude to verses 9-14 where Amos once again describes the great destruction that will befall both kingdoms if they don’t repent from their conceit and complacency. Amos uses the analogy of a great house that is struck down and obliterated into bits and pieces. The house obviously represents the nation of Israel!

            Friends, Amos is calling our nation and each one of us to humble ourselves before the Lord! He is calling us to repent from our conceit and complacency—our materialism and our misplaced priorities! He is compelling us to realign our lives with the one who would one day send his own son to die on the cross for our sins. He is reminding us that the first shall be first God’s judgment! 

A long, long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people danceAnd maybe they’d be happy for a while

But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died

So bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey ‘n rye
Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die

            Most of you recognize the words of Don McLean’s 1972 hit song “American Pie.” The melodious tune and clever lyrics have caused millions of music fans to sing along with this classic for almost fifty years. I remember singing and dancing to this song with my seventh-grade class in my in my junior high gym. But don’t let the song’s upbeat tempo fool you. This is a song of sorrow—a lyric of lamentation—a funeral dirge to mourn “The Day the Music Died.”  

            McLean coined this phrase to refer to the February 3, 1959 plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson—three rising rock and roll stars who had just started performing together. To this day, fans are left wondering how these talented young men would have shaped the American music scene. 

            On a side note, the band’s bass player, Waylon Jennings rode on the tour bus that night. If Jennings had boarded the plane, he would have perished and we never would have had country and western ballads like “Luckenbach, Texas” with “Willie and Waylon and the Boys.” And the Dukes of Hazzard just wouldn’t have been the same without Jennings’ narration and the iconic theme song, “Just the Good O’ Boys.”

            Now, every time we hear “American Pie,” and contemplate the events that inspired the song, we continue to lament “the day the music died.” 

            Likewise, the prophet Amos composed and recorded some lyrics of lamentation about the day the kingdom of Israel died. In Amos 5:1-17, we find the prophet singing a song of sorrow that mourns the loss of a nation. The dirge depicts the destruction of Israel’s cities and its people carted into exile. Amos billows his ballad of God’s impending judgment that will befall Israel. 

            But it is interesting to see the prophet singing this funeral dirge before the death even occurred. The day of Israel’s destruction wouldn’t come for another twenty years, but Amos was already articulating his anguish. 

            This is similar to the experience of being a caretaker for a loved one who is dying. When you sit by their bedside day after day and watch their mind and body fade away, your soul begins to grieve their passing long before they die. 

            This is precisely what Amos was feeling when he reflected on Israel’s fate. In the early chapters of this book, he began his prophecy with stern words of warning, but apparently, they didn’t soften any hearts or hasten any signs of repentance. But perhaps his wailing cries will cause some to listen with a sympathetic ear. Maybe this somber song will motivate them to humble their hearts and turn from their wicked ways. After all, this tearful tune does contain a ray of hope—a promise that if Israel repents from their sin and seeks the one true God, that they could yet live.

            Before we dive into the actual words of this lamentation for a nation, you should know that the song is composed with a chiastic structure, which means that it follows a step-like pattern into a theme and then follows the same pattern back out. In this case, Amos begins his song with dirges of death (1-3), then contrasts with lyrics of life (4-7) and culminates with a hymn of praise that highlights God’s sovereignty (8-9). Then he returns to lyrics of life (10-15) and concludes right where he started with a final dirge of death (16-17). Let’s take a closer look!

Dirges of Death (1-3, 16-17)

            After Amos announces his lamentation for the nation in verse 1, he begins with some dirges of death in verses 2-3. In verse 2, he calls out with the evocative “Fallen, no more to rise, is virgin Israel; forsaken on her land, with none to raise her up.” He pictures Israel as a virgin, which implies that she is like a young girl in the prime of her life. But tragedy strikes in the form of an untimely death that wastes her youthful potential. This once vibrant virgin now lies totally helpless without hope of revival. Like dead troops laid out on a battlefield, she is left alone without anyone to even bury her lifeless body. Verse 3 points out why the nation has no hope: Israel’s army has been decimated (90 percent of the troops have been killed). This is, indeed, a grim picture of Israel’s death!

            After the army is defeated, Amos tells us in verses 16-17 that the nation will gather in the city streets and town squares to weep and wail. The farmers will mourn their fields and the winemakers will wail in their vineyards. They will all lament for their nation together!

            Since the kingdom of Israel turned their backs on the one true God and ran after idols, God would no longer sustain their national prosperity. Since they did not listen to the prophet’s warnings, God would not protect them from a foreign invasion that would lead to their death.

            As we have seen throughout the Book of Amos, God promises judgment for those nations and individuals who forsake him. God will not continue to protect or prosper people who follow the path of wickedness. When nations want to live according to their own rules and desires, he will let them reap the consequences of their conceit! When individuals insist on making up their own morality rather than honoring God’s Word, God lets them taste the misery that comes from a life apart from his hand of blessing. Since God is a God of holiness and justice, he must punish unrepentant sinners. And what is the appropriate punishment for sin against and eternally holy God? Death and destruction!

            Can you see Satan laughing with delight? Can you hear Amos singing dirges in the dark? If your life is spiraling toward spiritual death, break out of the sinful cycles. Humble yourself! Listen to God’s voice! Confess your sin to God and make it right with the people you’ve hurt! Repent from your sin and avoid the dirges of death! 

Lyrics of Life(4-7, 10-15)

            Even while Amos is lamenting the destruction of Israel, hope had not vanished! God shows his incredible love and grace by offering Israel one more chance to repent from their sins and return to a right relationship with him. In verses 4-7 and 10-15, Amos moves to second stanza of his lamentation where he offers lyrics of life. Look at his words in verse 4-5: Seek me and live; but do not seek Bethel and do not enter Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.” The kingdom of Israel had erected shrines and sanctuaries in each of these cities and they worshipped at them regularly. Even though all three were sites of great religious-historical significance from Israel’s past, they represented man-made religious replacements for the proper place of worship—the temple in Jerusalem. 

            God was not interested in Israel’s fake religiosity! God wanted Israel to return to true worship through a right relationship with himself. They trusted in their own religion and lives according to their own rules rather than honoring God. In verse 7, Amos points out Israel’s duplicity—yes, they worshipped at the shrines, but they were perpetually guilty of turning justice into wormwood, which is a bitter fruit. In verses 10-13, he highlights their hypocrisy by pointing out their practices that God despised—they wouldn’t listen to their elders who reproved them at the gate, they trampled on the poor and stole their food, they extorted the lowly to build lavish houses and plant pleasant vineyards, and they accepted bribes and turned away the needy.    

            But even then, God offers them another chance. In verses 6, 7, and 14, we see the words “Seek me and live…Seek the Lord and live…Seek good, and not evil, that you may live…If Israel truly repented from its sins and honestly sought the Lord, God would forgive them and spare them from judgment and death. 

            Amos’ call to Israel for true worship still has ramifications for us today. So many modern Americans have fallen into the same mode as ancient Israel. Instead of worshipping God on his terms and according to his word, people create their own shrines and religious practices. When worship becomes “all about me” and “my needs, my desires, and “my preferences”, we are in deep trouble! When morality is defined by “what makes me feel good in the moment,” we are walking on thin ice. When we sing praise songs to Jesus on Sunday and then treat people like dirt on Monday, we are in grave danger!

            But if we genuinely humble ourselves before the Lord, repent from our sins, and do what is right, God will forgive us and restore us to a right relationship with him. He will extend grace and mercy and give us life. This is why, even in Amos’ day, God was planning to send his own son to suffer and die on the cross—to offer abundant and eternal life to sinners like Israel and like us!

            If you are descending into the dirges of death, hear these lyrics of life! If you have turned your back on God in any way, turn around and come home! Seek God and live!   

Hymn of Praise(8-9)

            As Amos delivers his dirges of death and offers lyrics of life in this lamentation for the nation of Israel, he employs a fragment of a hymn to praise God for his sovereignty of all things. This hymn of praise is the centerpiece of the lamentation; for only God has the power to change the course of nature and history. 

            Through the hymn, Amos reminds his hearers that God created the star constellations called Pleiades and Orion and he has the power to turn the darkness of night into the light of day. God has the power to summon the waters of the sea and pour them over the surface of the earth as he did in Noah’s day. God has power and prerogative to bring destruction on the strong and secure. God has power over life and death, and death will soon bring mourning and wailing to Israel if they don’t repent and return to the Lord. 

            As we listen to Amos’ lamentation for a nation, may we always remember that God is on his throne. He has power over the sun and moon, the wind and the waves, and life and death itself! As our Maker and Creator, he has power over every human being. So, instead of running after false gods with fake power, let us worship the one true God who is sovereign over everything in the universe! 

Conclusion

            As I mentioned at the beginning of this sermon, Amos’ stern warnings about God’s judgment on Israel fell on deaf ears. So, he tried to persuade the people to repent through this lamentation for a nation. Are you wondering if it worked? The unfortunate answer is “No!” Even these dirges of death, lyrics of life, and hymn of praise for God’s sovereignty were neither heard nor heeded! Israel remained obstinate in their sin and the Assyrians conquered them in 722B.C.

            Amos is still singing his song 2700 years later! He’s singing to you and me and our nation today! Will you sing the dirges of death or the lyrics of life?

            At a country church in Kentucky, two elderly women were sitting together in the front pew listening to a fiery guest preacher. When the well-dressed parson started lambasting the use of liquor, the two ladies cried out at the tops of their lungs, “Amen brother! Come on now!” For they knew that about a third of their congregation worked at the Jim Beam bourbon distillery.

            A few minutes later, the preacher moved on the topic of tobacco. As he attacked the ills of chewing and smoking, the little ladies shouted again, “Preach it, Reverend! Uhm, uhm, uhm, tell us that truth!” For they knew that about a third of the congregation were tobacco farmers.

            When the preacher got on the sin of gambling, the ladies jumped up on their feet and yelled again, “Woohoo! Go on preacher! Ground them horses! Give it to ‘em good!” For they knew that about a third of the congregation raised race horses.

            But when the preacher condemned the sin of gossip, the two ladies sat down and got very quiet. One turned to the other and said, “He’s quit preachn’ and now he’s meddlin’.”

            Isn’t that just the way it goes? When the preacher is railing on someone else’s trespasses, we call that “preachin’,” but when he takes aim at one of our sins, we call that “meddlin’.” Moreover, I wish I had a dollar for every time someone came up to me after church and said, “That was a great sermon pastor, I wish my husband had been here to hear it!” Sermons are great—as long as they directed toward someone else.  Do you remember the question Jesus asked his disciples during his Sermon on the Mount, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matt. 7:3)

            But long before Jesus preached these words, the prophet Amos dealt with this dynamic. If you happened to be here last week, you may recall that Amos began his sermon by directing his prophecy by judgment toward Israel’s six neighboring nations. From Amos 1:3 to 2:3, he pronounced divine judgment on Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab. While Amos confronted these nations for the horrendous atrocities they committed against human beings, the Israelites, God’s covenant people, sat back and cheered for Amos to unleash fire from heaven.

            Can you hear them shouting? “Come on now preacher! Amen, Amos! Devour Damascus! Burn the gates of Gaza! Make mayhem in Moab! Give it to ‘em good!”

            Now in the rest of chapter 2, Amos shifts his focus from these foreign nations and sets his sights on Judah and Israel. He moves from preachin’ to meddlin’ as he confronts the sins of his kinsmen. As God’s prophet to people of Judah and Israel, he’s about to upset their sense of security by looking them square in the eye and saying, “Now it’s your turn!” Amos is about to do the unthinkable—pronounce God’s judgment on God’s people. He is about to teach them the important lesson that, “When you turn your back on God, God puts a bullseye on you back!”

Judah’s Rejection of Divine Revelation (4-5)

            In verses 4-5, Amos takes his first shot at the people of Judah. During this period of history, we must remember God’s people were divided into the northern kingdom or Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Amos was born and raised in Judah, so he is speaking to his own people.  

            Judah’s sin was different from the sins of their neighboring nations. They did not commit atrocious acts against other human beings, like genocide or human trafficking. Judah’s primary failure was a rejection of divine revelation. They refusal to obey the stipulations and instructions outlined in God’s Law. They turned their backs on God.

            Moses had warned the people not to forget what God had done for them in the past and what God said to them on Mount Sinai. If they did forget, they might soon become proud and self-sufficient, thinking that they really didn’t need God. (Deut. 8:1-20). This presents a high standard for Judah, for they were given the full revealed truth of what God wanted them to do.  But in spite of such privileged knowledge of God’s Word, Judah bought into lies that led them astray from God. Like their ancestors before them, they abandoned God’s moral and ethical standards, and instead adopted social, economic, political, sexual, and spiritual principles from their neighboring pagan cultures.

            Amos doesn’t identify Judah’s specific sins here, but if you read the I and II Kings, you will see many examples. Instead of worshipping the one true God who created the heavens and earth, they began worshipping false gods whom they thought would satisfy their immediate desires. They bought into the lie that the grass is greener on the other side.

            The people of Judah turned their backs on God, so God put a bullseye on their backs. Look at God’s promise of judgment in verse 5, “I will send fire upon Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.” No special mercy will come, and no second chance is mentioned. Their secure fortresses will be destroyed, and their capital city of Jerusalem would be devoured in flames. The political and spiritual leaders living in Jerusalem will be punished for leading the nation astray. (Smith 255)

            The same is true for us today—when we turn our backs on God, he puts a bullseye on our backs. In many ways, American Christians are like the people of Judah. We have tremendous access to God’s Word—we have printed Bible’s in our homes, we can attend church and Bible studies without fear of persecution, and our culture still holds a general knowledge of God’s ethical standards.

            But many Christians today have bought into the same lies that Judah believed. We are more interested in being like our pagan neighbors that conforming our lives to God’s Word. Like our non-Christian neighbors, we are prone to worship at the altars of work & wealth, power and popularity, success & sexual licentiousness.   

            But when we turn our backs on God, God puts a bullseye on our backs! I know many people who once walked close with God and enjoyed all of the blessings that come from an intimate relationship with him. But then, for whatever reason, they decided that they didn’t need God anymore. They stopped coming to church and they quit listening to God’s Word. They have pursued idolatry and immorality rather than following God’s path. But this path is always a dead end. It leads to emptiness and misery! When you turn your back on God, God puts a bullseye on your back!

            Listen to Amos’ prophecy! Learn from Judah’s mistakes rather than repeating them. Don’t buy into the lies that you can live without the Lord! Obey his Word and follow his path! Don’t go through life with a bullseye on your back!

Israel’s Abuse of their Kinsmen (6-16)

            After Amos fires his prophecy against Judah, he then marches toward Samaria, the capital city of the kingdom of Israel, where he takes a prophetic aim toward Israel’s sins. He levels Israel with a litany of abusive actions against the weak. In verse 6, the issue is financial abuse. Merciless moneylenders were taking advantage of the poor by foreclosing on insignificant loans. If the poor debtors couldn’t pay on demand, the financer would confiscate their land and add to their own wealth. They were literally selling the poor over a measly pair of sandals.

            You don’t have to look very hard to see this same financial abuse in modern American culture. Even after our financial collapse in 2008, Wall Street sharks, predatory lenders, the subprime mortgage brokers are on the prowl again. Be financially gracious toward people or you will find a bullseye on your back!

            In verse 7, Amos emphasizes physical abuse against the weak and helpless. “Trample the head of the poor into dust” is a metaphor of power for how someone treats someone else like dirt. “Turn aside the way of the afflicted” is a figure of speech for actively turning a blind eye toward justice and not sticking up for the oppressed. As a whole, this verse is referring to powerful people manipulate the weak and afflicted, pushing them around, controlling their lives, and depriving them of the rights that every human being deserves.

            Again, we see how the wealthy and powerful manipulate the poor and powerless all the time. If you are in a position of authority over someone else, be careful how you treat your subordinates. Treat all people with dignity and respect or you will find a bullseye on your back!   

            In the last line of verse 7, Amos shines the spotlight on Israel’s sexual abuse. The shocking phrase “a man and his father go in to the same girl” refers to sexual mistreatment of household employees. God’s law prohibited a father and son from having sex with the same women, but female employees were often vulnerable to multiple men in a household. Powerful men would often threaten women with severe financial consequences if they did not cooperate with their deviant desires. These despicable deeds profane God’s holy name. (Smith 258)

            Amos’ indictment of sexual abuse is certainly pertinent in light of the recent #MeToo movement in America. If you didn’t already know it, sexual violence is still a pervasive problem that plagues our nation. If you perpetrate sexual abuse, God will place a bullseye on your back!

            In verse 8, Amos highlight’s the Israelite’s spiritual abuse. They would wear garments that they repossessed from the poor to a worship event. A similar irony is seen in the way the wealthy and powerful Israelites would impose fines on the poor people and then use the money to buy wine and get drunk in the name of worship. This was blatant spiritual abuse!

            Can you even imagine? This would be like stealing a coat from a homeless person and then showing it off to your friends at church. When clergy and church leaders or anyone spiritually abuses the weak and defenseless, you better believe God will put a bullseye of judgement on your back!

            In verses 9-12, God uses Amos to remind the Israelites what he had done for them in the past. He delivered their nation from the clutches of the Amorites and Egyptians. Although the Amorites were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks, God cut them down and liberated them from oppression. Likewise, God brought the Israelites up out of Egypt and led them and fed them for 40 years in the wilderness.

            God even raised up prophets to preach his word and Nazarites, holy men who dedicated their lives to the Lord’s service, to be examples of faithfulness. But Israel even abused them—“they forced the Nazarites to drink wine and they would not let the prophets preach. The people who were once abused had now become the abusers. The oppressed were now the oppressors.

            And make sure you don’t miss the end of Amos’ prophecy. He gives us a vivid view of the bullseye he put on Israel’s back. Notice the graphic images of judgment in verses 13-16—even the strongest, fastest, and bravest warriors won’t be able to escape God’s judgment. They would be crushed like a cart under a heavy load of grain.

            When we turn our backs on God, when we manipulate and abuse other human beings, when we forget what the Lord has done for us, when we take advantage of God’s grace, he puts a bullseye on our backs!

            As we reflect on Amos’ prophecy together today, I don’t want to hear anyone say, “Great sermon pastor, this would have been perfect for my brother-in-law!” The Holy Spirit is using Amos’ prophecy to speak to us! All of us!

            So, let’s admit that it is “me” who is standing in the need of prayer.

Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord,
Not the preacher, not the deacon, but it’s me, O Lord,
Not my father, not my mother, but it’s me, O Lord,
Not the stranger, not my neighbor, but it’s me, O Lord,
It’s me, it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer;
It’s me, it’s me, O Lord,
Standin’ in the need of prayer.

            Some of you may remember Rob Reiner’s 1992 film “A Few Good Men.” It contains one of the most iconic scenes in American cinematic history, when Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (played by Tom Cruise) cross-examines Colonel Nathan Jessup (played by Jack Nicholson) about his involvement in a “Code-Red,” a term for harsh, unsanctioned physical punishment that unintentionally caused the death of a marine and led to a military trial. During intense questioning by Kaffee, Jessep ultimately admits he ordered the Code Red, but not before giving a riveting speech about the need for tough military personnel who are willing to do what’s needed to protect American civilians. Here’s an excerpt of the exchange:   

Jessep (Jack Nicholson): You want answers?   
Kaffee (Tom Cruise): I think I’m entitled to them.   
Jessep: You want answers?   
Kaffee: I want the truth!
Jessup: You can’t handle the truth!

            This last line has become one of the most memorable phrases in film. Apart from Jack Nicholson’s brilliant acting, I suspect the reason this line resonates with us is because it affirms our own experience of truth—that is, truth can be hard to handle. Do you know people who would rather live in a land of fiction and fairy tale rather than face the cold hard facts of life? Do you have any family members who habitually to avoid their problems rather than make the necessary changes to overcome them? Do you have any friends who are stuck in life because they can’t face their fears or failures? Unfortunately, in my work as a pastor, I see this all the time. Even though Jesus once said, “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free,” we live in a culture where many people just can’t handle the truth. And they don’t like it when someone tries to tell them the truth!

            The Old Testament prophets force us to reckon with the truth! Perhaps this is the reason why they are some of the most unpopular and neglected books in the Bible. God raised up these preachers to proclaim the truth to people who didn’t want to hear it. They confronted the kingdoms of Israel and Judah about their problems of political corruption, economic exploitation, military aggression, social injustice, moral manipulation, and counterfeit spirituality. The people wanted to live in their illusion of outward success rather than be face the truth about their internal failures. But these prophets were called by God to challenge the nation’s collective consciences so that they might repent from their sins and avoid God’s judgment.  

            Even today, thousands of years after they were written, the prophetic books are still echoing truth to our reluctant souls. They are still convicting us of our national pride and personal depravity! They are still holding us accountable for our attitudes and actions. No one likes to be confronted about their beliefs or behaviors, but the Old Testament prophets are still forcing us to handle the truth!

            So, for the next few months we are going to hear from the prophet Amos. He’s going to use the plumb line to square our crooked souls with God’s truth!

Amos, an Unlikely Prophet (1)

            In the eighth century B.C., God called a man named Amos to be the first writing prophet. We know virtually nothing about his background except for his vocation, his hometown, and a rough timeline of when he preached. In verse 1, we learn that he was a shepherd (or perhaps a sheep-breeder) from the town of Tekoa, a small rural village about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. In chapter 7:14, we will also learn that he was a cultivator of sycamore fig trees. Both jobs could have required extensive travel as an agricultural specialist, but we don’t know this for sure.

            Amos says that he wrote during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam of Israel “two years before the earthquake.” Although it was a period of peace and prosperity when Israel flourished physically, it was also a time when Israel turned their backs on God spiritually. Both kingdoms looked healthy and happy on the outside, but they were rotting on the inside. They were in jeopardy of receiving God’s judgment, which they would eventually endure in the forms of earthquake and then exile.

            It is ironic that God would call a small-town southern Judean shepherd to become a prophet to King Jeroboam and the upper crust of the northern Kingdom of Israel. It’s difficult enough to receive rebuke from someone that you deeply respect, let alone from someone who has no credibility at all. As a country bumkin from the “wrong side of the tracks,” a man who had no formal education or experience as a prophet, the cards were stacked against him to get a hearing before Israel’s elite.

            This would be like someone from Franklin County going to Montpelier or Washington D.C. and saying, “Listen up folks! God sent me here with a message for you!” We all know how this turns out! You’d have better luck preaching to a brick wall! 

            Even though Amos was an unlikely candidate for this special prophetic mission, sometimes God chooses improbable people with unconventional qualifications to carry out his providential purposes.

            Amos’ unlikely calling reminds me of the life of the great evangelist D.L. Moody. Moody was born in the rural town of Northfield, MA, but when his father died when he was just four years old, his widowed mother couldn’t afford to feed her nine children, so she had to send some off to work for their room and board. Dwight too was sent off, where he received cornmeal, porridge, and milk three times a day.

            When Moody turned 17, he moved to Boston to work (after receiving many job rejections locally) in an uncle’s shoe store. One of the uncle’s requirements was that Moody attend the Congregational Church of Mount Vernon. In April 1855 Moody was converted to Christianity when his Sunday school teacher, Edward Kimball, talked to him about how much God loved him. His conversion sparked the start of his career as an evangelist.

            Moody went on to become a makeshift military chaplain during the Civil War, he started a church in Chicago, and he traveled the world as the most prolific evangelist of the 19^th century. Although he never received any formal education, he regularly preached to crowds of 15,000-30,000 people all over the world, published multiple books, and founded three schools, one of which is my alma mater, the Moody Bible Institute, which was established in Chicago in 1886. As an uneducated man from a poor family in a rural village, D.L. Moody didn’t fit the profile of an influential evangelist, but God called him to preach to the likes of President Ulysses S. Grant, the British royalty, and anyone else who needed to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

            Like the prophet Amos and Moody, the evangelist, sometimes God calls unqualified people to declare his Word to an unlikely constituency. Sometimes God calls farmers and carpenters and teachers and athletes and truck drivers and business people to be preachers! Sometimes following God’s call requires leaving the comfort of our hometown or the security of a stable career. Sometimes answering God’s call means that we must proclaim his Word to people who don’t really want to hear it! Sometimes following God’s call entails speaking truth to people who can’t handle the truth! If God calls you to any of these tasks, will you be ready?

The Lion in Zion (2)

            In verse 2, Amos begins his prophecy with an announcement that “the Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem.” The Israelites in the north no longer recognized God’s voice; they worshiped their own version of God on their own holy hills. They needed to return to worship at the place God had chosen, not the place they wanted. They set up their own cult shrines in the cities of Bethel, Gilgal, Dan, and their capital, Samaria. Unrepentant and continued sin would lead to God’s judgment—judgment that would turn the fertile fields below Mount Carmel into a dry and withered wasteland.

            Have you ever heard a lion roar? The sound is terrifying and sends chills up and down your spine, even when you know that the beast is behind bars at the zoo. Amos compares God’s voice of judgment to a lion’s roar. When we turn a deaf ear to the one true God—when we try to worship God on their own terms rather than his—when we run after created things rather than revere the Creator, God roars like a lion! It is the fearsome sound of ensuing judgement. As Amos did with Israel, he is warning us to listen to God’s Word and repent from our sin before it is too late!

God’s Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors (1:3-2:3)

            After Amos begins with this brief warning for Israel, he quickly shifts his focus toward God’s judgment on Israel’s neighbors. He cleverly structures his prophecy to set Israel up for a fall. From chapter 1:3 to 2:3, he pronounces oracles of judgment on six of Israel’s long-standing enemies. As Amos announces God’s judgment on these nations for their wickedness, he lulls Israel into a sense of safety and security. Then in chapter 2:4-16, he is going to blast the kingdoms of Judah and Israel by declaring that they are just as bad, if not worse, than their wicked neighbors. (Stay tuned for that story next week.)

            But for now, lets take a look at the prophecy of judgment on Israel’s enemies. Notice how each oracle follows the same pattern. They all begin with the divine declaration, “Thus says the Lord.” Amos was simply the messenger; God is the one who composed the message. Then there is a formal charge, “For three transgressions of ______, and for four, I will not revoke punishment…” This shows that every nation was guilty of multiple sins. Then comes the specific atrocity for which each nation was guilty. And finally, there is a pronouncement of punishment on the guilty nation. The punishments include breaking down national defenses, destroying royal dynasties, and devastating whole groups of people.

            The one common denominator of the oracles against Syria, Philistia, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab is that each involves a sin against basic human decency. Doom is declared on Damascus for their genocide against Gilead! Punishment is pronounced on the Philistines for their commerce of captives! Trouble is brewing for Tyre because they broke their treaty of brotherhood! Indictment eclipses Edom when family faithfulness fails! Anguish will arise in Ammon for its atrocities against the pregnant women of Gilead! And finally, mourning would be heard in Moab for blaspheming the bone of Edom’s king! These are all violations of the basic code of human behavior written the hearts of all people. God holds even pagan nations responsible for respecting human life; the life that he created.

            As we consider God’s judgment against these nations, notice that America does not appear on the list. Of course, not—this prophecy was given long before America was a nation! But what if God raised up a prophet like Amos to preach against the sins of America and her people? I wonder what he would say? I wonder if he would mention America’s military aggression and political power plays against other nations? I wonder if he would mention the political hardness of heart that has gridlocked our nation’s capital? I wonder if he would mention the rampant racism, economic exploitation, and social injustice that continues to plague our communities? I wonder if he would mention the 320,000 sexual assaults that occur in America every year? I wonder if he would mention the 45 million babies that have been aborted over the past fifty years? I wonder if he would say anything about the clergy and churches that have abandoned the Bible and its authority? I don’t know; I’m not a prophet! But I wonder what God’s prophet would say to America today! And I wonder if we could handle the truth?

            Yes, God’s prophet Amos reminds us that God is a God of justice and he will only tolerate injustice for so long. The day of reckoning was upon all these foreign nations. Judgment Day would soon come for those nations who sinned against the Lord by plundering the pinnacle of his creation: human life! And this day of judgment would be a mere foreshadowing of the great Judgment Day that will take place when Jesus returns to the earth—the day when we will all answer for our actions and attitudes toward our fellow human beings!

            Will we be ready for that day? The only way we will be able to endure Judgment Day is if we’ve been washed in the blood of the lamb. You see, the lion that roars from Judah became the lamb that was led to the slaughter. God’s own son, our Lord Jesus Christ, died on the cross to offer us forgiveness for all of our sins, even our sins against humanity. Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ? For he is the only one who could fully handle the truth!