THE WRATH OF GOD

#678                    THE WRATH OF GOD

(According to the Prophet Amos)

Scripture         Amos 3:2, NIV                                                                                                         

Orig.     11/1/1964

Rewr.    10/5/1977

Passage:           “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”

Introduction

              William Blake, the English poet, has a classic statement dealing with anger, and how to handle it.  “I was angry with my friend, I told my friend, my wrath did end.  I was angry with my foe, I told it not, my wrath did grow.”

              In those supple lines, this 18th Century poet sees into the very heart of God, as He determines that His people shall know when they suffer under His hot displeasure.  It is in the knowing that proper steps can be taken to correct our errors.

              Not much bitterness could survive if we went as quickly to those with whom we are angry, for nothing dissipates so quickly as anger not fed on resentment.

              Even so, the Lord calls upon His prophet to be a spokesman to His people in their rebelliousness.  Who the prophet is, is unimportant.  The message of judgment and redemption is of utmost importance.

              In our first lesson the various words for “prophet” were considered.  Ro’eh—to see; chozeh—seer. Navi (9 of 10)—to announce.  Specific meaning to specific people escapes us.  I Samuel 9:9, “He who is now called the prophet (navi)was formerly called the seer.” Jeremiah 28:28, “Let the prophet (navi) who has a dream tell his dream, but he who has my word, let him proclaim  it faithfully.”

I.           God’s Wrath is Made Perfectly Clear through Human Instrumentality.  1:1,2, Amos identifies his prophetic calling. 3:7, Surely, the Lord will do nothing without revealing it to His servant the prophets.

·         Adam forewarned that as there was a tree of life, even so a tree of death.

·         Noah discovered in ample time to make the necessary provisions that there would be a flood.

·         Both Abraham and Lot learned of the impending judgment upon Sodom.

·         Moses delivered God’s message of the blood-atonement that would ward off the death angel in Egypt.

·         Jonah was even sent to forewarn the Ninevites of their danger.

·         Amos also was sent from Judah to Israel less than ½ century before fall of Samaria.  Only Hosea would follow him.

II.          God’s Wrath is Universal in Scope.  Chapters 1 & 2 define this with absolute certainty.

·         Damascus—to the northeast of Israel

·         Gaza—to the west of Judah

·         Tyre—to the north of Israel

·         Edom—to the south of Judah (the descendants of Esau)

·         Ammon—to the east of Israel

·         Moab—to the east  of Judah

·         Judah

·         Israel

              Some observations about the impending judgments.

·         They sinned with impunity until no escape.

·         The judgment would be one of fire (Israel--Genesis 15:17; Exodus 3:2; Deuteronomy 4:24; Isaiah 33:14; Malachi 3:2).

·         The rebuke is at the point of cruelties to other people.

III.         The Wrath of God has as its Primary Target, God’s Own People.  3:2, Key verse, You only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will punish you for your iniquities.

              I Peter 4:17, For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it begins first with us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?

IV.         The Ultimate Source of God’s Wrath is Found in the Idolatry of His People.  4:4, Come to Bethel and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression.  (Bethel—House of God.)

·         Genesis 28:17-18, Jacob’s ladder—How dreadful is this place? This is none other but the house of God, . . . the gate of heaven.

·         Judges 4:5, Deborah judged Israel from near Bethel.

·         I Samuel 7:16, Samuel’s circuit—Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah.

·         I Kings 12:29-30, And he (Jeroboam) set one in Bethel. . . .  And this thing became a sin.

·         I Kings 13, Prophet from Judah rebukes Jeroboam and curses his altar at Bethel.

·         II Kings 2:2, Elisha follows Elijah to Bethel.

·         II Kings 23:15, Reforms of Josiah begin with Bethel.

V.          God’s Wrath is Directed Toward the Restoration of Righteousness.  3:12, As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued.

              9:14, And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them. . . .

Conclusion

              Julia Ward Howe’s moving “Battle Hymn of the Republic”:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword,

His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat,

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat.

O, be swift my soul to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet:

Our God is marching on.