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Explore the Bible Lesson for February 10: Let the Verdict Be Read!
Matt Capps, associate pastor for adult ministries, Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem
January 29, 2013
2 MIN READ TIME

Explore the Bible Lesson for February 10: Let the Verdict Be Read!

Explore the Bible Lesson for February 10: Let the Verdict Be Read!
Matt Capps, associate pastor for adult ministries, Calvary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem
January 29, 2013

Focal Passages: Amos 8:11-12; 9:8-15

At this point in the Book of Amos “the long summer” of God’s patience had come to an end. There was no harvest of repentance from Israel, only silence. Ironically, Israel had become so hardened by their sin that their consciousnesses had been easily appeased by empty ritual. In other words, God’s people still saw themselves as devoutly religious while at the same time trampling and killing the needy – people who are close to God’s own heart.

Amos stands and declares that because of their hypocrisy, destruction would rush in over Israel like flooding from the Nile. What a horrible picture! But the people had continually rejected God’s Word and ignored His warnings. In fact, the Israelites had actually attempted to manipulate God with their sacrifices. At this point judgment was inescapable.

Yet there is pause, because God declares that He will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob (Amos 9:8). And, again we are reminded that God had committed Himself to bless His people and eventually the world through the family of David (2 Samuel 7:15-16). This promise sees its fulfillment in Jesus Christ – who is from the line of David and is the eternal King of Kings (Matthew 1:1, Hebrews 1:1-5).

As Christians we can look back at this Old Testament passage and see its fulfillment in Jesus Christ whose reign is inaugurated in His resurrection, or to use the words of Amos, “when David’s fallen tent is raised” (9:11). Moreover, 9:12 points us to see that when Jesus is raised, the nations become included in God’s blessings, in fulfillment of the promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:3).

For now we wait for the consummation of His kingdom where we experience abundant blessings much like those described in Amos 9:13-15. But for those who do not turn from their sin, there waits an eternal judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). As the “summer ends” proclaim the Good News because the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.