Danger in enjoying God's Judgment on Others

Amos 2:4-

As we explore the Word as recorded by Amos, in the first and second chapter up to verse four, you may be reminded that as a people or as a nation we reap what we sow and now these evil pagans are getting what they deserve.  There is a danger in enjoying God’s judgment on a people or a nation, as seen in Proverbs 24:17-18, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”  In fact, love does not rejoice in the judgment of others but flesh always does.   Jesus Christ, who is love, has instructed us to do something that apart from letting God do it through us is impossible, and that is to love our enemy and to pray for those who persecute you. 

As you use that wonderful gift of imagination, place yourself in the audience, you are the chosen of God, you are a descendant of Abraham, you are a Jew.  And it’s not been easy to be the chosen of God, but now this farmer tells you “Thus says the Lord” and he is speaking of the judgment of your enemies, of those who have persecuted your people. Are you a little excited?  This is not you getting even, no, the message that Amos is bringing is God was not sleeping, He saw what these nations did to His people and now it’s judgment time.  Amos is your newest man of the year he is welcomed as the guest speaker of any gathering of people, until verse four of that second chapter.

What has happened, the message has not changed, it is still “Thus says the Lord” but it’s no longer about your enemies, it is God proclaiming judgment on His chosen.  These were the words of God spoken from the lips of Amos: “Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked.  So I will send a fire upon Judah,

and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.” (Amos 2:4-5)

           

As Amos proclaimed the judgment of God on those six pagan nations that surrounded Israel, all is well, in fact, it is wonderful, but as the people of God, judgment begins with the church, just as it did with the chosen people.  And what had the chosen done?  They were living independent of God’s laws and statutes, and this question comes into my mind; are they that much different than the ones who have been called out of the world to faith in the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice