Sermon Tone Analysis

*Amos 3**.*

S*omething Needs Saying (v.1-8) **[OHP1] –* What is this message that burns?

Amos had seen it!

- only a tiny remnant would be left.

Those who sit back in luxury have it coming.

The reason?

Their idolatry and affluence.

There always is a reason!

*Read [1] V.1,2 - *יהוה Himself /brought up /out of Egypt to be His own nation.

The word was "/against/" them - a word of judgement (עַל 2x) – How wonderful to be chosen of God! but responsibility יהוה had singled this family out to be His own, His chosen, His special possession.

This is the only one He /knew /out of them all - i.e. was in personal close relationship with.

Because they were His own, therefore He held them accountable for their iniquities - they had been given His Torah, they knew what יהוה required, they were without excuse.

They couldn’t claim ignorance of יהוה’s standards, as could other nations.

Their relationship meant that they would be punished, disciplined for their waywardness (cf.

Heb 12:5-13; Rom 5:13).

יהוה expects and requires a different standard of behaviour from His own sons than from the rest.

Judgement because He loves us.

\\ *v.3** [OHP2] - *Questions to which the answers are obvious - arrange to walk bridle path - only if both turn up at 1000am Saturday will we go together.

Israel had agreed to walk in fellowship with God.

conditions weren't imposed on them, they agreed - Israel was in relationship with יהוה - not by happenstance, they had entered an agreement, a covenant.

They were in relationship, walking together but only because they had /mutually agreed/ to do so (*Exodus 24:6-8*/Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!”

So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”/).

Israel couldn’t back out or claim they were as other nations - this relationship that required this standard they themselves had agreed to and voluntarily entered into.

This relationship was by their consent.

The question is rhetorical - the very fact of the special relationship proves that they had agreed to the terms of the covenant.

How can they now walk in fellowship with יהוה now that they have gone their own way?

\\ *v.4** *- lion quiet while hunting otherwise will scare off prey.

It roars, it's caught something.

יהוה had roared (v.8; 1:2) He had caught his victim.

A lion has roared (cf.1:2) - there has to be a cause.

יהוה’s fearful cry of judgement proved that He had found something that merited such a roar - it wasn’t an empty threat.

Indeed He had found iniquity in Israel.

The lion’s roar is terrifying to it’s foes but comforting to its cubs.

Likewise יהוה’s roar is only terrifying if we are guilty.

Adam and Eve fled from יהוה’s voice in the garden of Eden but Mary wanted to cling to Him at the garden tomb when she heard His voice calling her name.

How do I respond to the voice of יהוה calling my name?

It indicates where I am in fellowship with Him But יהוה had caught His prey, Israel had broken her covenant \\ *v.5** *- יהוה had roared in judgement because He had indeed caught His people in iniquity.

They had been trapped, taken as prey.

But they had not been caught for no reason – always there is a reason, God is not capricious.

The trap had sprung because they had triggered it by their iniquity.

The bait, the temptation, had been fallen for - the lure of material luxury (cf.

2:6; 4:1; 3:15; 6:1, 4-6).

The trap only springs when it has caught something - and Israel had been caught, the lure of wealth and comfort had led them into sin, oppressing the poor, injustice, abandoning God.

The trap could only spring because of the iniquity in their heart.

It revealed their heart, their love for this world, for things, was greater than their love for יהוה hence they were trapped (cf.

*1 Tim 6:9**,10* /But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs./).

Death and destruction now awaited them.

יהוה tested their heart.

Trap had been set and sprung- materialism proved their heart wasn't with God.

\\ *v.6** *- Trumpet sounds to signal war - so when it sounded people knew the enemy was upon them and they trembled with fear.

The army of God's punishment was near and Amos was the trumpet cry.

He didn't speak for no reason.

Disaster was coming on the city - it was self evident that the LORD caused it.

He is in control of all - Israel was ensnared by her iniquities, she’d fallen for the bait of the attractions of this world - material pleasures - just as has the western church.

Now caught as prey, destruction awaited - judgement from יהוה, and it would come in the form of war - an enemy would attack them.

Israel was to understand the signs of the times - realise the significance of events around her.

They aren’t random actions - all the questions point out that there is always a reason, a consequence, a meaning.

Not random events, but a God who is sovereign, in control, at work behind all that happens, directing events.

Events have significance - through יהוה’s interaction in history we learn His ways - this is the method the Old Testament uses to teach.

We would be wise to consider the import and significance of what is taking place around us.

If the war trumpet sounds the people do indeed tremble - because it doesn’t sound without cause, it indicates that war is imminent.

Thus the prophetic trumpet call of Amos indicates that war, attack, was imminent, inevitable.

They shouldn’t be settled back in their luxurious homes but trembling over the impending disaster.

Calamity was coming!

It was not senseless, irrational - there was a reason, there is a cause.

Calamity comes to the city because יהוה has done it!

It is the LORD’s doing, He has decreed it.

It is judgement from יהוה.

The conclusion is just as obvious as the other rhetorical questions.

If it is from יהוה we should be asking, "What is He saying?" "Why has He done this?" "Why is He getting our attention?"

"Why is He punishing us?" "What have we done wrong?" "How can we turn from our evil that has merited this punishment, this judgement?"

"What is He requiring of us?" "What is He teaching us?" יהוה has acted, we ought to be seeking the reason why, seeking to understand the significance, turning from the wrong that has caused His displeasure and turn back to seeking Him.

We have got to the stage where God cannot warn us - we attribute all bad to the enemy, rather than looking to see יהוה's warning.

Obviously things have deteriorated to a remarkable degree if He resorts to such strong action.

For יהוה doesn’t act capriciously, answers can be found, for He has spoken.

Indeed He doesn’t act without first speaking - telling His prophets.

*[2] v.7 *- just as sure as the answers to the previous questions is the fact that God warns before He acts. he always announces through His prophets before He acts - If we see יהוה’s hand at work we must look back for the prophecy that spoke about it - for He does nothing without revealing His counsel, His secret, to His prophets (cf.

Gen 18:17).

There will have been a word of prophecy that warned, that explained the reason, that pointed out the error for which the present calamity is the consequence.

If we want to understand the true significance of events we should be looking into what the prophets have said, not what the expert analysts say.

Prophets are יהוה’s servants - they merely do what He tells them to, say what He tells them to.

It is a secret to those who it befalls but not to those in relationship with יהוה, those who are hearing His voice (cf. 1 Thess 5:1-6).

It is imperative that we are alert and hearing the Master’s voice.

There is always prophetic warning.

Do you want to know the significance of events?

- look to prophecy.

\\ *v.8** *- the lion had roared this implies that prey has been caught.

The lion is יהוה!

He has roared, spoken, prophesied - His voice is heard through His prophets - indeed a lion has roared!

Indeed prey (Israel) has been taken.

The other consequences all follow, judgement and calamity must inevitably follow.

יהוה must act, therefore He will speak to His prophets.

And when יהוה Himself speaks! - how can you but prophecy?!

It must come out!

This is vital!

These are words from יהוה Himself!

Precious!

Valuable!

Holy! Awesome!