Seek the Lord and live - Amos 5:1-15

 The northern kingdom of Israel was enjoying a time of relative peace and prosperity under King Jeroboam II, but as is often the case in such times, hearts had grown cold.

Amos was an ordinary man, but God chose him to deliver a message. (Amos 7:14-15)

It was message that the people didn’t want to hear, and it’s not just that they didn’t want to hear it; they couldn’t stand to hear it. (Amos 7:10-17)

We can see God’s righteous anger in this book, but we also see God lamenting for his people. (Amos 5:1. See also Ezekiel 33:11) God loves his people, so he disciplines them.

So often Israel looked to their own strength, or a military alliance with other nations, but there will be no picking themselves up; no allies to help them. Their false gods in which they trusted have no power. God would put them in a position where the only hope they have left is in him. (Amos 5:2)

Let’s not put our trust in our own strength or our possessions or anything except God, lest we learn a hard lesson in a similar way.

Israel was to be conquered by another nation and it would be devastating. Many would be killed. Many would be taken into captivity. There would only be a small remnant when the exiles finally returned to rebuild. (Amos 5:3)

In these four words is the message we find continually throughout scripture; a message of hope.

There was a temple at Bethel which housed one of the two golden calves. God only authorized one place for a temple; that was at Jerusalem. The warning here for us is that anything you put above the one true God is an idol and will ultimately lead to discipline or destruction. (Amos 5:5)

God repeatedly offers a lifeline to his people, but with his plea comes a warning for the northern kingdom (Amos 5:6-7)

Hearts in Israel were corrupted, and their actions flowed out of what was in their hearts. They preyed on the lowly for material gain and in their quest for self-gratification; they gave no justice for the oppressed.

What is in our hearts? As believers, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. That should be evident. Are we exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit? (Galatians 5:22)

Amos reminds the listener of who God really is.

The world always seeks to diminish the attributes of God. People invent all manner of clever ideas in a vain attempt to relegate God into myth, but nature proclaims the glory of God. (Amos 5:8)

No power of men can withstand our God. God has defeated mighty armies without a sword being raised against them. (Amos 5:9, Revelation 19:19-21)

Israel couldn’t stand to hear the truth (Amos 5:10)

Isn’t this true today? Truth has become anathema in today’s culture. Anyone who speaks the truth is ostracized; cancelled; doxed; banned. We’re even beginning to see legal action taken against those who resist Satan’s lies.

God promised retribution for the injustice in Israel (Amos 5:11-12)

Many people look at the world today, and because there is so much injustice, they say how can there be a God? Why do the wicked keep going unpunished?  (1 Peter 3:9, Isaiah 64:6)

We all deserve judgement. Our righteousness can’t save us, because we’re not righteous in ourselves. We need God’s mercy.

Verse 13- Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.

Sometimes silence is called for. When men’s hearts are hard, and they all stand together embracing the lies of Satan, they will not endure God’s truth. (Amos 5:13, Matthew 7:6)

Verses 14-15  Seek good, and not evil, that you may live;…

Is this endorsing some kind of salvation by works? Not at all!

God is good. To seek God is to seek good, and because only God is good, to seek goodness without God is futile.

To be saved is to pass from death to life – to be born again- a new creature. No longer slaves to sin.

We should exhibit evidence of that. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

‘Seek the Lord and live’ is still true today, but we’ve been blessed with greater knowledge. More of God’s plan of salvation has been revealed in Jesus. (Ephesians 1:7-10)

People don’t see the need for Jesus. They’ve made up their own way to get to heaven, but there is only one way.

(Luke 13:24, John 10:9)

Israel is God’s chosen nation, but Gentiles are also being added to his Kingdom. (John 10:16, Romans 9:25-26, Galatians 3:6, Romans 11)

This phrase ‘Seek the Lord and live’ is relevant to all people, but we need to make sure that we seek the right God. (Mathew 7:13-14)

Only the one true living God; the God of the Bible can give life- (Job 12:10, Genesis 2:7)

God made Adam from dust – It will be no problem for him to resurrect us, and someday everyone will be resurrected, but to what?- (John 5:28)

 ‘Seek the Lord and live’… but how?

God isn’t so remote that he’s hard to find. It’s only the hardness of men’s hearts that prevent them from finding Him. (Romans 1:18-25)

But we can see God in more than just his creation. We also have his written word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

 ‘Seek the Lord and live’. There is life in God the Son – Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:20, John 6:47-48, John 14:6)