TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Amos 1:1-3:15
Revelation 2:1-17
Psalm 129:1-8
Proverbs 29:19-20
Amos 1:1 — Who was Amos? A herdsman as opposed to the influential Isaiah who lived at the same time. In Amos 7:14 we’ll see “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit.” He lived a few miles southeast of Bethlehem.
We can see, then, that Amos had to travel to his job. He was a migrant worker, if you please. His sheep and his sycamores pushed Amos far out into that desert. He was truly a farmer. He was a country rube. He was a rustic. He was a yokel and a hayseed. He was a country preacher. He was a clumsy bumpkin who was “all thumbs” among the ecumenical preachers up yonder in Bethel. But before you laugh at Amos, may I say this? He was one of God’s greatest men, and he was a remarkable individual.
Amos 2:3 — Judgment on Damascus, Gaza, Ashdod, Tyrus, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and now Judah! Why? “… they have despised the Law of the LORD and have not kept His commandments.”
Amos 2:12 — Nazarites were forbidden from drinking (Numbers 6:3).
Amos 3:15 — What’s a house of ivory? Probably meant that the house was full of ivory artifacts.
Revelation 2:1 — Jimmy DeYoung has done a documentary on the 7 Churches of Revelation:
Revelation 2:2 — Jesus appreciated the intolerance of the Ephesians! They recognized the importance of doctrine (Acts 2:42).
Revelation 2:4 — The Ephesians were good separatists, but they forgot the reason they separated!
Revelation 2:10 — Not exactly your best life now! We have a promise: for those faithful unto death, Christ offers us the crown of life!
Revelation 2:13-14 — These churches have unique problems! Pergamos hadn’t denied Jesus, but they tolerated false teaching. They needed to separate from the false teachers (see Ephesus in Revelation 2:4)!
Psalm 129:4 — What does it mean to say “The LORD is righteous”? From the BlueLetterBible.org:
God’s righteousness, or justice, is an attribute that leads Him to do only those things that are right. Because God is righteous He must judge evil. God’s justice allows Him to reward those who have been faithful to Him. Someday He will rule in absolute righteousness.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_1285.cfm
Proverbs 29:20 — Like James says, “Be swift to hear and slow to speak!”
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