14 day plan

The Lion Roars

Day 8 of 14

CSB

Amos 3:9-10

9Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod

and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:

Assemble on the mountains of Samaria,

and see the great turmoil in the city

and the acts of oppression within it.

10The people are incapable of doing right —

this is the Lord’s declaration —

those who store up violence and destruction

in their citadels.

You Are A Dis-grace

Greed is the opposite of grace. A greedy person is a bottomless pit – they take everything around them to feed themselves, yet they are never satisfied. In Amos’ time, Israel’s rulers were greedy, therefore violent and oppressive. Jesus is the opposite. He is God’s grace – God’s generosity – incarnate. He gave himself to death for us, so that we can overflow with eternal life (John 4:14).

Question: How are you tempted to use the people around you – your family, friends, co-workers etc. – to fulfil yourself? As someone fulfilled in Christ, how can you give yourself to them, for their benefit, instead?

Prayer: Lord, we admit that we are greedy people, living in a greedy, oppressive society. Thank you for your amazing, overflowing grace in Christ Jesus. By your Spirit, fill us with your love in Christ. And may that love overflow from us to those around us. Amen.

© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

Days

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Amos 3:1-15

God’s Reasons for Punishing Israel

1Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:

2I have known only you

out of all the clans of the earth;

therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.

3Can two walk together

without agreeing to meet?

4Does a lion roar in the forest

when it has no prey?

Does a young lion growl from its lair

unless it has captured something?

5Does a bird land in a trap on the ground

if there is no bait for it?

Does a trap spring from the ground

when it has caught nothing?

6If a ram’s horn is blown in a city,

aren’t people afraid?

If a disaster occurs in a city,

hasn’t the Lord done it?

7Indeed, the Lord God does nothing

without revealing his counsel

to his servants the prophets.

8A lion has roared;

who will not fear?

The Lord God has spoken;

who will not prophesy?

9Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod

and on the citadels in the land of Egypt:

Assemble on the mountains of Samaria,

and see the great turmoil in the city

and the acts of oppression within it.

10The people are incapable of doing right —

this is the Lord’s declaration —

those who store up violence and destruction

in their citadels.

11Therefore, the Lord God says:

An enemy will surround the land;

he will destroy your strongholds

and plunder your citadels.

12The Lord says:

As the shepherd snatches two legs

or a piece of an ear

from the lion’s mouth,

so the Israelites who live in Samaria

will be rescued

with only the corner of a bed

or the cushion of a couch.

13Listen and testify against the house of Jacob —

this is the declaration of the Lord God,

the God of Armies.

14I will punish the altars of Bethel

on the day I punish Israel for its crimes;

the horns of the altar will be cut off

and fall to the ground.

15I will demolish the winter house

and the summer house;

the houses inlaid with ivory will be destroyed,

and the great houses will come to an end.

This is the Lord’s declaration.

© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers