Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12
When God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, He revealed His plan to Abraham. Today, in the excerpts from the Book of Amos, we hear that "the Lord does nothing without revealing His purpose to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). This is why Amos, "a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs" (Amos 7:14) from Tekoa, a town near Jerusalem, was called to preach a message of repentance to his brothers and sisters living in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. "The Lord God has spoken - who will not prophesy" (Amos 3:8)?
The message of Amos is indeed shocking. We might expect that a nation chosen by the Lord out of all the families of the earth to become God's treasured possession would be treated leniently like parents often treat their only child. But instead of being pampered and getting away with its sins, Israel would be held accountable for all its iniquities (Amos 3:2). The severity of the punishment is highlighted by mentioning Sodom and Gomorrah (Amos 4:11), the two ancient cities known for their immoral living, arrogance, materialistic lifestyle, and lack of concern for the poor (see Genesis 19:4-5; Ezekiel 16:49). From this perspective, the fact that so many of our cities are still standing should surprise us.
Amos's shocking statement indicates that God has already overthrown Israel, just as He overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. In this case, we can ask: was there anything left in Israel after that destruction? We must take this statement as a hyperbole, a prophetic exaggeration aiming at repentance. The problem was that despite the severity of their punishment, the people were still unwilling to return to the Lord (see Amos 4:11). Thus, comes the last chance that God offered to His people: a personal encounter with God - "prepare to meet your God, O Israel" (Amos 4:12).
In his book, "The God Chasers: My Soul Follows Hard After Thee," Tommy Tenney shares what happens when we have a personal encounter with God: preaching and music cease, sinners want to get right with God, and those who already did are on their knees, continually praying. He compares such an experience to that of Moses on the day when the Tabernacle was completed. When the Presence of God filled it, Moses could not enter (see Exodus 40:33-35). When punishment does not work, a personal encounter with God should lead to repentance and restoration.
"Prepare to meet your God, O Israel" (Amos 4:12). In their encounter with God, the people should realize God's incomparable greatness. Amos says: "Behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals His thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth - the Lord God Almighty is His name" (Amos 4:13). The apostle of Jesus Christ would highlight another characteristic of God - His unlimited love for us. Amos describes the Lord as the God of hosts, while John tells us that God is love (see 1 John 4:8).
We do not know how Israel responded to Amos' call, "Prepare to meet your God." But we must ask whether we - the Church - are ready to meet our God. Do our hearts follow hard after the Lord, or, as Tommy Tenney sharply criticizes American Christianity, are we only after God's gifts, blessings, and rewards? Are we willing to prepare ourselves to meet the Lord of the universe and history who loves us so much that He was willing to die for our sins?