When in your life have your bad habits caught up with you? Speeding might be a good example of a habit that eventually catches up to you and costs you. At some point, your habits find you out. This week the Northern Kingdom will be judged. Their habits have found them out! Nothing has escaped God’s awareness. God uses the Assyrians to be a judgement. Just like every speed limit sign is a reminder; God sent the law and prophets as a reminder. However, they refused to pay attention and only sped up in their disobedience. The book of Amos records God’s words given through the prophet Amos. The book is a series of prophecies, visions, and sermons condemning the Northern Kingdom. The reading this week begins another prophet’s writings in Isaiah. The first 10 chapters describe God’s judgement against wickedness for Israel, for Judah, and the rest of the world. How are God’s promises to bless all nations going to happen? Just when it looks like God is done with Israel, there is hope, the promise of a son.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Bible Plan Reading - Week 35
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2024. Specifically, we're taking a journey into how the story of the Bible unfolded in the Old Testament. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell us. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the book of Chronicles or Isaiah or Amos, what is impacting you the most? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read 2 Chronicles 27:2. What type of practices did the people of Judah follow? Read 2 Kings 15:35. What are the practices that are identified here?
*"High Places" are associated with pagan worship.
Read Amos 3:13-14. What are the people of Israel being punished for? Read Amos 4:8-11. What did Israel not do after all of God’s prior punishments that is repeated in every verse?
Read Amos 5:4,14 and Mark 10:18. Who does the Lord say they need to seek to live?. What does the LORD say to seek in order to live? How is this not a contradiction?
Read Genesis 49:10-12, Isaiah 7:14, and Isaiah 9:6-7. Who do these prophecies point to?
Read Luke 1:26-35 and Matthew 1:18-25. How do these verses relate to Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7?
SHARE IT.
Read 2 Chronicles 26:4,16. What are the things in your life that puff you up with pride? How is this damaging to your relationship with God and others?
Read Amos 6:4-7. How are you tempted to forget God when you are comfortable?
Read Hebrews 1:3. Jesus was not just a "good teacher", but the "exact imprint of God’s nature" and the radiance of God’s glory, which was the point in Mark 10:18. Take some time to praise Jesus for being Immanuel; God with us.
Read Amos 7:14-15. What was Amos’ profession before being used as a prophet? How might this encourage you that God can use anyone that humbly follows His instruction?
Read John 14:3. It's been almost 2,000 years since Jesus promised to return. Read Revelation 22:20. Are you praying for and looking for Christ’s return? What would you be doing differently if you knew Christ was coming back soon?
FINAL THOUGHT
The book of Amos is bleak. God's people keep getting farther and farther away from anything that looks like an example to the nations around them. Yet, in the last few verses in Amos, God leaves a promise to bring them back (Amos 9:11-15). The fulfillment of that promise is mentioned previously. God says in Amos 8:9 that on the day of judgement, He will make the “sun go down at noon”. When is a time like that recorded in the Bible? Luke 23:44 records that at noon, darkness covered the land as Jesus hung on the cross. However, there is a stunning reversal in the next verse. Luke 23:45 continues, “while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” While judgement for sin was fully placed on Jesus, the veil that separated man from God was being ripped open. The judgement and restoration prophesied in Amos is fulfilled in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Jesus taking the judgement secures the blessing for those put their faith in Him.
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