WEBVTT

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<v Bob Weppler>Thank you, bob.

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<v Bob Weppler>The nervousness part though that's sorry that noise you hear that's my heartbeat.

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<v Bob Weppler>Tonight we're going to look at the book of Amos, as Doug mentioned.

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<v Bob Weppler>Please turn to 811 in your Bibles.

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<v Bob Weppler>We are at book 30 of the 66 books of the Bible.

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<v Bob Weppler>We're almost halfway home, making our way through the Old Testament, book three and the Minor Prophets.

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<v Bob Weppler>There's nine more to go there.

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<v Bob Weppler>The book, chronologically, is either first or second.

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<v Bob Weppler>The book of Jonah may or may not have taken place earlier.

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<v Bob Weppler>Scholarships sort of divided on that.

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<v Bob Weppler>The consensus has the date of Amos' sermons, around 760 BC.

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<v Bob Weppler>Before we meet the prophet, let's go to have your perfect, precious, pure word.

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<v Bob Weppler>It is truth itself, said Martin Luther.

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<v Bob Weppler>Father, please, as we look at the book of Amos tonight, may your message that you want us to hear come forth.

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<v Bob Weppler>And we ask this in Jesus' name.

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<v Bob Weppler>Amen, all right.

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<v Bob Weppler>So Amos was a shepherd and a fig farmer from a small village named Tekoa.

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<v Bob Weppler>It was located 10 miles south of Jerusalem.

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<v Bob Weppler>He is called by God to preach to the wealthy officials of the northern kingdom At the moment.

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<v Bob Weppler>Amos was called, he became a prophet, a prophet's purpose To call Israel, to call God's people back into covenant, exodus 6-7.

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<v Bob Weppler>I will take you to be my people and I will be your God.

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<v Bob Weppler>His message your end has come Pretty easy.

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<v Bob Weppler>Message right.

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<v Bob Weppler>The name Amos means burden bearer.

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<v Bob Weppler>What a burden he must have felt when given his assignment.

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<v Bob Weppler>How could he have possibly understood God's plan for him?

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<v Bob Weppler>Clearly, god saw something in this man.

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<v Bob Weppler>God knew that Amos would trust him.

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<v Bob Weppler>Proverbs 3.5, probably a verse you guys know very well Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

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<v Bob Weppler>Lean not on your own understanding.

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<v Bob Weppler>Amos trusted and off he went.

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<v Bob Weppler>We will discover in our reading that Amos was both a beautiful poetic writer and a great communicator.

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<v Bob Weppler>The setting as mentioned, around 760 BC, king Jeroboam II is ruling.

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<v Bob Weppler>Scripture calls him an evil king.

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<v Bob Weppler>He's not alone.

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<v Bob Weppler>Every northern king, 19 in all, did evil in the sight of the Lord.

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<v Bob Weppler>During his reign he greatly expanded Israel's border.

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<v Bob Weppler>It was a time of peace, prosperity and political strength.

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<v Bob Weppler>Also a time of relative weakness for Israel's two biggest foes, egypt and Assyria.

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<v Bob Weppler>All was good in the north, but was it?

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<v Bob Weppler>God was not in agreement here.

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<v Bob Weppler>Israel was far from good and even farther from God.

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<v Bob Weppler>Their continual sin and rebellion had hardened their hearts.

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<v Bob Weppler>What caused this?

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<v Bob Weppler>Let's grab some plutonium and jump in our DeLorean and head back to 932 BC.

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<v Bob Weppler>King Jeroboam I is the first king of the north.

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<v Bob Weppler>Shortly after bless you.

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<v Bob Weppler>Shortly after his appointment, he constructs two rival temples One in Bethel near the southern border, one in Dan near the northern border.

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<v Bob Weppler>Samaria, the capital city, was midway between both temples.

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<v Bob Weppler>In both houses of worship, they made for themselves a golden calf.

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<v Bob Weppler>Has anyone read the scroll of Exodus?

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<v Bob Weppler>A golden calf what are they thinking?

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<v Bob Weppler>Israel enjoyed the status as God's children.

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<v Bob Weppler>However, their identity looked nothing like it.

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<v Bob Weppler>They were hardly a light to the nations.

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<v Bob Weppler>The idol-worshiping Israelites were behaving like their pagan neighbors.

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<v Bob Weppler>Exodus 20, verse 4 and 5.

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<v Bob Weppler>Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything, in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters underneath the earth.

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<v Bob Weppler>Do not bow in worship to them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God bringing consequences of the father's iniquity on the children of the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.

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<v Bob Weppler>As far as God is concerned, idol worship equals hatred of him.

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<v Bob Weppler>In the minor prophet books we notice that the prophet's message usually is in four parts Indictments, god's judgment, god's instruction and the aftermath.

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<v Bob Weppler>Amos has all four.

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<v Bob Weppler>Let's look at the book's structure.

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<v Bob Weppler>Amos is divided into three sections.

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<v Bob Weppler>Chapter 1 and 2 are God's judgment against eight nations.

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<v Bob Weppler>The last two are Judah and Israel.

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<v Bob Weppler>The focus for the book is on Israel.

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<v Bob Weppler>Chapter 3 through 6 provide verification of God's judgment against Israel.

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<v Bob Weppler>Lastly, chapters seven through nine are five visions of devastation and one vision of hope.

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse one, two the Lord roars from Zion.

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<v Bob Weppler>What an understatement this is.

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<v Bob Weppler>The book of Amos is 144 verses long.

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<v Bob Weppler>For the next 137 voices.

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<v Bob Weppler>You will indeed hear the Lord roar.

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<v Bob Weppler>We read of Amos' first sermon, beginning in verse 1-3.

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<v Bob Weppler>First, amos speaks about Israel's enemies.

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse 1-3 through 2-3 are oracles against six nations Syria, philistia, tyre, edom, ammon and Moab.

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<v Bob Weppler>Let's look at the judgment against Edom, beginning in verse 111.

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<v Bob Weppler>The Lord says I will not relent from punishing Edom for three crimes, even four, because he pursued his brother.

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<v Bob Weppler>If we look at the six paragraphs that talk about the oracles against the nation, we'll notice a pattern.

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<v Bob Weppler>In every judgment we see the two sentences I will not relent from punishing.

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<v Bob Weppler>Therefore, I will send fire.

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<v Bob Weppler>What do we learn here?

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<v Bob Weppler>God will punish.

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<v Bob Weppler>God will punish with fire.

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<v Bob Weppler>We know that fire destroys, but fire also refines.

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<v Bob Weppler>All these nations' crimes fit into two broad categories of sin, oppressive social policies.

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<v Bob Weppler>And two, the breaking of their own moral code.

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<v Bob Weppler>Judah's sin is similar, but their penalty will be worse.

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<v Bob Weppler>Why?

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<v Bob Weppler>Because they are the covenant people of God.

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<v Bob Weppler>If Amos was sent by God to deliver a message of condemnation to Israel, why is he mentioning other nations in his first sermon?

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<v Bob Weppler>Because Israel is guilty of the same crimes.

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<v Bob Weppler>This was a rhetorical device used by the prophet.

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<v Bob Weppler>What was its intention?

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<v Bob Weppler>To get Israel to understand?

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<v Bob Weppler>They too will be judged.

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<v Bob Weppler>Beginning in verse 2-6,.

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<v Bob Weppler>It's Israel's turn.

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<v Bob Weppler>Why is God so angry with Israel?

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<v Bob Weppler>Why is God so angry with Israel?

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<v Bob Weppler>What are their crimes?

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<v Bob Weppler>We find six broad categories.

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<v Bob Weppler>One oppression of the poor Verse 2-6,.

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<v Bob Weppler>Third line.

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<v Bob Weppler>Because they sell a righteous person for silver and a needy person for a pair of sandals.

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<v Bob Weppler>They trample the heads of the poor on the dust of the ground and obstruct the path of the needy.

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<v Bob Weppler>Poor on the dust of the ground and obstruct the path of the needy.

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<v Bob Weppler>The wealthy leaders were selling the poor into slavery.

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<v Bob Weppler>Even small debts were not being forgiven.

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<v Bob Weppler>Two corruption and greed Verse 8.5,.

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<v Bob Weppler>When will the new moon be over so we may sell grain, and the Sabbath so we can reduce the measure, while increasing the price and cheat with dishonest scales.

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<v Bob Weppler>Three injustice and unrighteousness, verse 512, third line.

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<v Bob Weppler>They oppress the righteous, take a bribe and deprive the poor of justice.

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<v Bob Weppler>At the city gates the poor had no standing, no standing in the court system.

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<v Bob Weppler>Empty worship Verse 521 through 523.

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<v Bob Weppler>I can relate to this.

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<v Bob Weppler>I hate, I despise your feasts.

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<v Bob Weppler>I can't stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.

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<v Bob Weppler>Even if you offer me your burnt offerings, I will not accept, I will have no regard for your fellowship.

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<v Bob Weppler>Offerings of fat and cattle.

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<v Bob Weppler>Take away from me the noise of your songs.

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<v Bob Weppler>I will not listen to the music of your harps.

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<v Bob Weppler>The Israelites were going through the motions.

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<v Bob Weppler>God knew their hearts.

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<v Bob Weppler>He knew their worship was empty Idolatry, verse 526.

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<v Bob Weppler>But you have taken up Sackath, your king, and Kiwan, your star god, images you made for yourselves, king and Kiwan, your star God, images you made for yourselves.

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<v Bob Weppler>Worship of golden calves had led to all kinds of pagan worship.

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<v Bob Weppler>Lastly, pride and complacency.

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<v Bob Weppler>Woe to those, I'm sorry.

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse six, verse six one.

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<v Bob Weppler>Woe to those who are at ease in Zion and to those who feel secure on the hill of Samaria, verse 6, 8.

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<v Bob Weppler>I loathe Jacob's pride.

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<v Bob Weppler>God has given them peace, prosperity and political strength.

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<v Bob Weppler>But the wealthy leaders took all the credit.

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<v Bob Weppler>God's judgment.

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<v Bob Weppler>Would Israel be judged for their crimes?

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<v Bob Weppler>God answers in verse 412.

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<v Bob Weppler>Prepare to meet your God.

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<v Bob Weppler>I think that's a yes.

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<v Bob Weppler>God cannot look upon sin.

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<v Bob Weppler>Sin must be judged.

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<v Bob Weppler>Who will judge these sinners?

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse 413.

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<v Bob Weppler>The Lord, the God of armies.

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<v Bob Weppler>This was no God of mercy.

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<v Bob Weppler>This was the warrior God, the almighty God, and he's carrying a sword.

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<v Bob Weppler>How would Israel be judged?

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse 311.

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<v Bob Weppler>Therefore, the Lord God says an enemy will surround the land.

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<v Bob Weppler>He will destroy your strongholds and plunder your citadels.

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<v Bob Weppler>Israel has been deemed no better than their pagan neighbors.

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<v Bob Weppler>God was going to do the unimaginable Verse 213.

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<v Bob Weppler>God was going to do the unimaginable.

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse 2.13.

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<v Bob Weppler>Look, I am about to crush you in your place.

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<v Bob Weppler>What other punishment would God's children face?

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse 5.27.

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<v Bob Weppler>I will send you into exile beyond Damascus, whoa.

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<v Bob Weppler>To exile beyond Damascus, whoa.

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<v Bob Weppler>God sent Amos to deliver a message of doom to the Israelites of the northern kingdom.

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<v Bob Weppler>The wealthy leaders ignored him and tried to send him away.

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<v Bob Weppler>Now God was going to send them away.

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<v Bob Weppler>How incredibly sad.

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<v Bob Weppler>What does life look like in exile?

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse 8, 11, and 12.

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<v Bob Weppler>Look, the days are coming.

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<v Bob Weppler>This is the declaration of the Lord God.

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<v Bob Weppler>When I will send a famine through the land.

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<v Bob Weppler>Not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a hearing of the words of God.

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<v Bob Weppler>But a hearing of the words of God.

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<v Bob Weppler>People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east seeking the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.

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<v Bob Weppler>God's instruction, our Lord, god, has accused Israel of many crimes.

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<v Bob Weppler>He has pronounced judgment.

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<v Bob Weppler>Was there hope for Israel?

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<v Bob Weppler>Yes, verse 5-4, seek me and live.

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<v Bob Weppler>He repeats it again in verse 5-6, seek the Lord and live.

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<v Bob Weppler>Seems simple, but is it?

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<v Bob Weppler>Seems simple, but is it?

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<v Bob Weppler>Jeremiah 29, 13.

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<v Bob Weppler>You will seek me and find me when you search me with all your heart.

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<v Bob Weppler>There lies the problem.

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<v Bob Weppler>Their hearts were full of pride.

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<v Bob Weppler>A prideful heart has no room for God.

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<v Bob Weppler>We heard this this morning in James 4.6.

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<v Bob Weppler>We see more instruction in verse 5.14.

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<v Bob Weppler>Pursue good and not evil.

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse 5.15.

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<v Bob Weppler>Hate evil, love good.

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<v Bob Weppler>Establish justice at the city gates.

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<v Bob Weppler>All throughout the book we see a recurring theme Injustice leads to unrighteousness.

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<v Bob Weppler>The wealthy leaders were treating the poor unjustly.

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<v Bob Weppler>God wanted his people to repent, to seek him and turn from their evil ways.

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<v Bob Weppler>What did God desire of his people?

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<v Bob Weppler>Amos writes, verse 524,.

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<v Bob Weppler>Let justice flow like water and righteousness like an unfailing stream.

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<v Bob Weppler>That sounds good.

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<v Bob Weppler>Sadly, israel's justice and righteousness flowed like poison.

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<v Bob Weppler>Would a remnant be saved?

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<v Bob Weppler>Scripture tells us that God usually saves some.

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<v Bob Weppler>Let's see how it plays out.

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<v Bob Weppler>The aftermath God's people have been given a choice.

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<v Bob Weppler>The choice was a personal choice Ignore the prophet's warning or take heed of it.

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<v Bob Weppler>What will they do?

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<v Bob Weppler>In chapters 7, 8, and 9, we see the consequences of their personal choice.

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<v Bob Weppler>God gives Amos five visions of devastation and a vision of hope.

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<v Bob Weppler>These visions depict the day of the Lord.

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<v Bob Weppler>Great or terrible.

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<v Bob Weppler>Vision one locusts Not again, pastor Doug.

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<v Bob Weppler>Vision two fire.

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<v Bob Weppler>After each vision, amon pleads with God to relent from punishing.

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<v Bob Weppler>Lord.

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<v Bob Weppler>God, please forgive, lord, god, please stop.

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<v Bob Weppler>In both cases, god relents.

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<v Bob Weppler>This indicated to the prophet that a remnant would indeed be saved.

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<v Bob Weppler>Who were they?

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<v Bob Weppler>The humble repentant?

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<v Bob Weppler>In visions 3, 4, and 5, god does not spare.

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<v Bob Weppler>We read of the gruesome aftermath in verse 8.3.

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<v Bob Weppler>In that day the temple songs will become wailing, many dead bodies thrown everywhere, silence who would perish?

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<v Bob Weppler>Verse 9.10.

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<v Bob Weppler>All the sinners among my people who say disaster will never overtake or confront us will die by the sword.

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<v Bob Weppler>These were the proud, wealthy leaders who oppressed the children of God.

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<v Bob Weppler>They had no love for neighbor.

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<v Bob Weppler>They loved themselves and their possessions.

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<v Bob Weppler>Finally, a vision of hope.

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<v Bob Weppler>The Lord has roared for 137 verses.

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<v Bob Weppler>The last five verses of the book show the aftermath for the saved.

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<v Bob Weppler>Our beloved God of mercy has finally returned.

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<v Bob Weppler>Amos paints a beautiful picture of the paradise that awaits God's children Verse 9, 13 through 15.

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<v Bob Weppler>Sweet wine and the hills will flow with it.

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<v Bob Weppler>I will restore the fortunes of my people, israel.

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<v Bob Weppler>They will rebuild and occupy ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink their wine, make gardens and eat their produce.

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<v Bob Weppler>I will plant them in their land and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them.

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<v Bob Weppler>The Lord, god, has spoken.

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<v Bob Weppler>When these days come, the crops will be so plentiful that the seasons for planting and harvesting will run together.

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<v Bob Weppler>A place where justice and righteousness will flow like sweet wine, where all the nations will enjoy true peace and true prosperity.

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<v Bob Weppler>Psalm 1,.

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<v Bob Weppler>How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway of sinners or sit in the company of mockers.

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<v Bob Weppler>Instead, his delight is in the Lord's instruction and he meditates on it day and night.

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<v Bob Weppler>He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bear fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.

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<v Bob Weppler>Another beautiful painting.

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<v Bob Weppler>God's people will never again be uprooted.

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<v Bob Weppler>Why?

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<v Bob Weppler>Because Jesus is ruling and reigning on the throne of David.

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<v Bob Weppler>The Lord of lords and king of kings will reign forever and ever.

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<v Bob Weppler>Can I get a hallelujah chorus?

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<v Bob Weppler>I get a hallelujah chorus.

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<v Bob Weppler>Let's look back and reflect.

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<v Bob Weppler>More than any other book in scripture, the book of Amos holds God's people accountable for their ill treatment of others.

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<v Bob Weppler>It repeatedly points out the failure of God's chosen to fully embrace God's idea of justice.

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<v Bob Weppler>Amos rebuked them because he saw in their lifestyle evidence that Israel had forgotten God.

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<v Bob Weppler>Why had they forgotten God?

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<v Bob Weppler>Idolatry, idol worship, was the foundational sin that led to all of Israel's ungodly behavior.

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<v Bob Weppler>They had become just like their pagan enemy.

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<v Bob Weppler>What's an idol?

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<v Bob Weppler>Anything or anyone that replaces God.

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<v Bob Weppler>It's a matter of the heart we make them.

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<v Bob Weppler>John Calvin wrote the human heart is an idol factory.

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<v Bob Weppler>God wanted Israel's heart, but their heart had no room for him.

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<v Bob Weppler>Israel was incapable of obeying the first commandment because they couldn't obey the second.

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<v Bob Weppler>Idol worship led to all of their other sins.

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<v Bob Weppler>Their rebellion led to God's judgment a brutal judgment, the unimaginable.

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<v Bob Weppler>Sacked by their enemy and exiled from their land.

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<v Bob Weppler>Amos' prophecy was fulfilled in 722 BC.

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<v Bob Weppler>Assyria would be that enemy who would surround Israel, destroy their strongholds and plunder their citadels.

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<v Bob Weppler>The end had indeed come to those who turned their back on God.

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<v Bob Weppler>Injustice permeates our world.

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<v Bob Weppler>Are we, as Christians, turning a blind eye?

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<v Bob Weppler>Are we truly loving our neighbors as ourselves?

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<v Bob Weppler>God has called Christians not only to be in relationship with him, but to be in relationship with others.

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<v Bob Weppler>Do we focus more on our invisible God than we do on his visible creation?

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<v Bob Weppler>The book of Amos teaches us God's scheme of justice, where the physical needs of people are as important as the spiritual needs of people.

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<v Bob Weppler>The book of Amos reveals the consequences of taking our eyes off God.

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<v Bob Weppler>We are God's new chosen people, the children of the new covenant, united with Jesus, united with each other.

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<v Bob Weppler>It is our status and our identity, and that will never change.

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<v Bob Weppler>What can we take away from the book of Amos?

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<v Bob Weppler>What can we take away from the book of Amos?

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<v Bob Weppler>God requires true worship.

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<v Bob Weppler>When we place anything or anyone above God, we run the risk of making an idol.

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<v Bob Weppler>Idol worship leads to empty worship.

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<v Bob Weppler>How do we avoid this trap?

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<v Bob Weppler>Amos provides the answer.

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<v Bob Weppler>We seek God and live.

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<v Bob Weppler>We live the life that God intends for us.

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<v Bob Weppler>We seek him through scripture.

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<v Bob Weppler>We seek him through prayer.

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<v Bob Weppler>We seek him through fellowship.

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<v Bob Weppler>Israel was called by God to be a light to the nations.

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<v Bob Weppler>They failed.

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<v Bob Weppler>We have been called by God to be a light to the world, to manifest justice and righteousness to our neighbors and to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

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<v Bob Weppler>May we never fail.

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<v Bob Weppler>Let's pray, father.

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<v Bob Weppler>We are so grateful for the prophet Amos, who has delivered to us a message of doom, but a message of hope for those who repent, for those who come to you, for those who approach your throne humbly and seek the Lord Jesus.

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<v Bob Weppler>We are grateful for the prophet, we are grateful that he answered your call and we pray that we will always answer your call In Jesus' name, amen.