Shaken by God

Amos was a farmer “of Tekoa” (Amos 1:1), a small village near Bethlehem (Mic 5:2). He was called by God to prophesy against the sins of northern Israel; during the time when Jeroboam was king of Israel (2 Ki 14:23), and Azariah was king of Judah (2 Ki 14:21). He was a contemporary of the prophets Hosea and Isaiah. Although it was a time of peace and prosperity for the people of Israel (2 Ki 14:25), it was also a time of their spiritual decline. Because they have “despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept His commandments” (Amos 2:4).

There were also “great tumults” (Amos 3:9), or lawlessness and oppression in their midst! Amos gave a stern warning for God’s people to repent, or else they will “prepare to meet” Him in His judgment (Amos 3:14). He will prove to them that He is “the Lord, the God of hosts” (v. 14). He can and will use any means possible in His power (Gen 50:20), to draw our attention away from the world and back to Him. He would even “shake all nations” (Hag 2:7), to get our minds off the trivial and keep us “in perfect peace” (Isa 26:3). He wants to break our self-righteousness and pride through the troubles of life (Jms 1:3), to humble us (Jms 4:10).

Since true worship requires “a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart” (Ps 51:17). Sadly, many in today’s modern generation think that they can play church (1 Ki 18:21), while conforming to the ways of the world and condoning sin in their lives (Rom 12:2). They are not shaken by God because they are shaky about what they believe (Jms 1:8). Therefore, they can’t be used as vessels of honour (2 Tim 2:20), because they are never broken. If they don’t meet Jesus by trusting Him as their Lord and Savior by faith (Rom 5:1), then they would meet Him in His final judgment (Jn 5:22)! God bless you!



-Pastor Melito Barrera