AMOS

The following comments are from Navigator's and Quiet Time Diary journals. One verse will be entered, then the comment, then the date.

1:9b+    "For three sins of Tyre, even of four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood, 

    Tyre is in current Lebanon. God is not pleased with people who enslave others. While this may seem confusing, I believe that brotherhood and peace is the ultimate desire of God. (DRM 6/6/89)

2:6    For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. 

    This verse reminds me that all people who are physically in Israel are not righteous. It's what's inside that counts and not who you are or where you live. (DRM 6/7/89)

3:2, 7    "You (sons of Israel) only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." ⁷Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets. 

    Amos was a prophet of God. In verse seven he wants us to know that God counsels the prophets before He does things, and God's plan, so told through Amos, is to punish the Israelites for their inequities [sins]. We need a true prophet today! (DRM 1/25/04)

3:6    If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble?
         If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?

    I immediately thought of two cities - New York on 9/11/01 and God allowed this to occur - for whatever reason, and the earthquake in Haiti that occurred about 10 days ago - which God had control over.
    In both cases, we don't know WHY He allowed them - but was probably some message that has to be learned. The wise will understand. (DRM 1/24/10)

    The evil (calamity) in the city (cause) (3:6b) means that the Lord has done it (effect). God was about to judge His people who had forgotten how to do right. (Word of Life Quiet Time Diary)

3:8    The lion has roared — who will not fear? 
        The Sovereign Lord has spoken — who can but prophesy?

This is a good example of a verse about prophets. The lion roars - people listen  - - - When God speaks - people should also listen. These listeners of God are sometimes known as prophets as they "heard" God. (DRM 6/8/89)

4:7    Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you while there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city And on another city I would not send rain; one part would be rained on, while the part not rained on would dry up.

    Nowadays people, or the news media, don't think of God's judgment when "Mother Nature" is more destructive. Clearly God is in control of who gets more rain and who gets none in this verse. He knows where the next earthquake will strike and why. Yet, like Israel in the past, we don't return to worship Him. (DRM 1/25/10)

4:9    "I smote you with scorching wind and mildew; And the caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

    The people of Israel kept disobeying the Lord's will for them. In this verse are examples of what He did to try and get their attention, yet they did not return to Him. 
    Lord, keep my eyes open to see and do Your will for my life! (DRM 1/26/04)

4:10    "I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt;
            I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses,
            And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils;
            Yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

    Amos was a prophet over 2,700 years ago. His prophecies were about the northern kingdom Israel - who had stopped following the Lord God.
    In this verse God (through Amos) was reminding Israel of the calamities they endured for their lack of faith in Him.  Still, they didn't pay attention.
    As we watch events in our world today, it seems that so many are ignoring God like those days long ago.
    As Christians, we can see these events happening. God will not allow this to keep going much longer.
    We know from the Bible that He will keep us from the wrath to come. Praise the Lord! (DRM 11/28/17)

4:11b    "You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me," declares the Lord.

    Lord, don't let me be like this person. You snatched me from the fire of hell and I am really thankful! Let me be of Your service, Lord. (DRM 6/9/89)

4:13    For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind
           And declares to man what ate His thoughts,
           He who makes dawn into darkness
           And treads on the high places of the earth,
           The LORD God of hosts is His name.

    This is a good summary of who God is and what He has done. As Creator, He knows how He made each one of us, and certainly knows all of our thoughts - so why try to hide anything from Him?
    The only confusion in this verse is line four (4) - which was written before Jesus walked as a Man on the earth - but I don't try to know everything He does . . . it above me. (DRM 9/30/11)

5:4    For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, "Seek Me that you may live."

    Like Israel, I get distracted. The Lord wants our full attention. Think of all of His abilities! [verse 8 and 9] Just to remember Who we are praying to makes me real humble, — and thankful that He truly cares about me. (DRM 1/27/04)

5:14    Seek good and not evil, that you may live;
           And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you,
           Just as you have said!

    This seems like a good premise for all of life. Both Christians and non-Christians can apply this truth.
    Why people want to destroy other people and property is beyond me. I choose to seek Peace and follow His directions. (DRM 1/26/10)

5:18    Alas, you who are longing for the day of the LORD, 
            For what purpose will the day of the LORD be for you?
            It will be darkness and not light;

    This verse is from God speaking to Israel in the Old Testament. The day of the Lord came to them with Jesus, and they did not see the light. I wonder how many people would trust in Jesus if He were to come today and do the same thing - or would He be another good teacher? Only the Holy Spirit can give us discernment. (DRM 1/28/04)

5:20    Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light,
           Even gloom with no brightness in it?

    To know and trust in the Lord=Jesus - is to have seen the Light. If you don't have the Light and the day of the Lord comes, then you won't be able to see His arrival. Those who don't have the Light are in spiritual darkness. (DRM 1/28/10)

6:1a    Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria.

    When everything goes right, it is easy to forget that God has given us all of our gifts. We tend to ignore God and think that everything we have done was "our own doing."
    This verse tells us that if we are complacent and forget or ignore God, that our gifts may suddenly be taken away.
    I try to pray that the Lord will not let me forget His ways or principles and that I will always honor Him who has done everything for me.

8:9    "In that day," declares the Sovereign Lord, I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.

    In this passage, the Lord was telling how he would destroy the people in Israel. This verse reminds me of the crucifixion of Jesus, where the day became dark when Jesus died.
    We should never doubt how powerful God is and never depend on only our own understanding. (DRM 1/5/87)

    While this prophecy to Israel could refer to a still future event, I think it was fulfilled at Christ's crucifixion. This is only one of several things that Amos mentions. We should understand when they all come to pass. (DRM 1/29/04)

8:11    "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD,
            When I will send a famine on the land,
            Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,
            But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.

    I'm convinced this prophecy is true today. I have visited/attended many churches where the word of the Lord (Bible) only gets a small mention, then the sermon goes in a totally different direction. It's hard to find a church that stays "on Text" today. (DRM 1/28/10)

9:6    he who builds his lofty palace* in the heavens and sets its foundation* on the earth, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land - the Lord is his name.

    NIV Bible could not explain * words. Maybe I can: *palace = the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21). *foundation = the spiritual believers in His Body. He (Christ, God) also made the clouds from the sea and created the flood or - rain in general. He is God! (DRM 6/10/89)

9:14    Also I will restore the captivity (fortunes) of My people Israel,
           And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them;
           They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine,
           And make gardens and eat their fruit.

    What I really like about the Bible is the prophecy - and the excitement of having seen that prophecy fulfilled recently.
    This proves to me that God is still alive and is working out everything to His plan - from the alignment of the nations to how we each play a part - individually - in the plan. (DRM 1/30/10)

9:15    "I will also plant them (My people Israel; verse 14) on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them," says the LORD your God.

    Here is another fulfilled prophecy. It took nearly 2,000 years for Israel to have it's homeland back! As we see more and more prophecies fulfilled, it gives me hope that the pace will continue and the Lord Jesus will be the ruler of this earth very soon. (DRM 1/30/04)