The Showdown between Amos and Amaziah --- 2019/11/15

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 7:10-17.

Amos intended to bring Israel back to true faith in the LORD by his preaching, and the first to listen should have been one called a priest. Amaziah, however, proves himself unrepentant. Instead of returning to the LORD as the true king, Amaziah appeals to Jeroboam, claiming that Amos is leading a conspiracy against the kingdom. He commands Amos to return to the southern kingdom to make his living; he is free to preach there, but the temple of the kingdom is off limits. Amaziah has replaced the LORD as king. Amos, however, remains faithful in the face of such apostasy. He defends his ministry not as his own desire or plan. Before the LORD’s call, Amos worked in agriculture. When he heard the LORD’s roar, however, he could not do anything other than speak the LORD’s Word, even when that Word was not what people wanted to hear. That Word proclaimed judgment not only against the nation as a whole, but against the unfaithful individuals, including Amaziah. We too need to hear such preaching, lest we think that we can escape God’s just judgment for our sin on our own. We dare not exchange the true King over all for the kings or things of this world. Instead, our trust must be in Christ and His Word, for His Word will never pass away. God’s judgment has been poured out upon Christ so that by faith in Him, we have eternal life.