From Amos 9:7-15

^9:7 “Are not you Israelites the same to me as the Cushites?” declares the Lord. “Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir? ⁸ “Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lord are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth. Yet I will not totally destroy the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord. ⁹ “For I will give the command, and I will shake the people of Israel among all the nations as grain is shaken in a sieve and not a pebble will reach the ground. ¹⁰ All the sinners among my people will die by the sword, all those who say, ‘Disaster will not overtake or meet us.’

¹¹ “In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be, ¹² so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the Lord, who will do these things. 

¹³ “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, ¹⁴ and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. “They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. ¹⁵ I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

In this passage, we see God’s work on the nation of Israel in three aspects: God’s election, God’s destruction, and God’s construction.

1. God elects 

Amos 9:7-8: “Are not you Israelites the same to me as the Cushites?” declares the Lord. “Did I not bring Israel up from Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Arameans from Kir? Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lord are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth. Yet I will not totally destroy the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord. 

The Lord tells Israel that He is the God of all the nations. Not only did the Lord bring them out of Egypt, but He is also the God who brought the Philistines out of Caphtor and the Arameans out of Kir. Yet God bestows special grace upon Israel. All nations on the earth are sinfully corrupt, but the Lord God did not destroy Jacob’s house, not because Israel was better than the other nations, but because the Lord’s grace is upon them.

2. God demolishes 

In vv9-10, God wanted to crush Israel, scatter them among the nations, shake them with a sieve so that not even a single pebble will fall on the ground. He sought to demolish them so he could build them up again. The Lord judged the other nations but did not rebuild them. Only Israel, the nation belonging to God, will be rebuilt after it is destroyed.

The Bible tells us that the Lord disciplines those whom he loves. Is there a father who does not discipline his own children? The Lord loves Israel, and He will not spare them His rod of discipline.

3. God builds

In vv11-15, we see that the Lord will rebuild Israel. v11: “In that day, I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be.” 

The Israel that will be rebuilt will be more prosperous than before. The plowman will overtake the reaper; the planter will be overtaken by the one who treads grapes; the new wine will drip from the mountains and flow from the hills. God’s blessings will flow down one by one; this is grace upon grace. And the exiles will return. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them, plant vineyards, drink the wine from them; they will build orchards and eat the fruits from them. The Lord will plant them in the land, never again to be uprooted.

May we, in humility, be demolished and built up by God. Many things in our lives are not pleasing to the Lord, but He does not abandon us. He chooses us, He tears us down, but the purpose is to build us into suitable instruments in his hands for his use.

Previous Post: Judgement at the Altar

毀滅後的重建 | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 9:7-15

^9:7 耶和華說, 以色列人哪, 我豈不看你們如古實人麼? 我豈不是領以色列人出埃及地, 領非利士人出迦斐託, 領亞蘭人出吉珥麼? ⁸ 主耶和華的眼目察看這有罪的國, 必將這國從地上滅絕, 卻不將雅各家滅絕淨盡, 這是耶和華說的。⁹ 我必出令, 將以色列家分散在列國中,好像用篩子篩穀, 連一粒也不落在地上。¹⁰ 我民中的一切罪人說:災禍必追不上我們, 也迎不著我們。他們必死在刀下。

¹¹ 到那日,我必建立大衛倒塌的帳幕, 堵住其中的破口, 把那破壞的建立起來, 重新修造, 像古時一樣; ¹² 使以色列人得以東所餘剩的和所有稱為我名下的國, 此乃行這事的耶和華說的。

¹³ 耶和華說, 日子將到, 耕種的必接續收割的, 踹葡萄的必接續撒種的, 大山要滴下甜酒, 小山都必流奶 ¹⁴ 我必使我民以色列被擄的歸回, 他們必重修荒廢的城邑居住, 栽種葡萄園, 喝其中所出的酒; 修造果木園, 喫其中的果子。¹⁵ 我要將他們栽於本地, 他們不再從我所賜給他們的地上拔出來,這是耶和華你的神說的。

在這段經文裡, 我們看見神對以色列這個民族, 這個國家三方面的工作: 神揀選, 神拆毀, 神建造。

1. 神揀選。

9:7 耶和華說, 以色列人哪, 我豈不看你們如古實人麼? 我豈不是領以色列人出埃及地, 領非利士人出迦斐託, 領亞蘭人出吉珥麼? 9:8 主耶和華的眼目察看這有罪的國, 必將這國從地上滅絕, 卻不將雅各家滅絕淨盡, 這是耶和華說的。神在告訴以色列, 神是萬國的神, 神不單將他們領出埃及, 也曾領非利士人出迦斐託, 領亞蘭人出吉珥, 但神對以色列卻有特別的恩, 地上都是充滿罪惡的國, 但神卻不將雅各家滅絕淨盡, 不是以色列比別國更好, 是神的恩臨到他們。

2. 神拆毀。

從 V9-10 神要拆毀以色列, 要將他們分散在列國中,好像用篩子篩穀, 連一粒也不落在地上。拆毀為要建造起來, 其他的國家神審判他們, 但卻沒有建造他們, 只有以色列這個屬神的國, 神要拆毀她, 因為神要建造她; 聖經告訴我們, 神所愛的, 祂必管教。有誰作父的不管教自己的兒女呢？神愛以色列, 神管教的杖也不離開以免列。

3. 神建造。

V11-15神要重建以色列。9:11 到那日,我必建立大衛倒塌的帳幕, 堵住其中的破口, 把那破壞的建立起來, 重新修造, 像古時一樣。被重建後的以色列比以前更豐盛, 耕種的必接續收割的, 踹葡萄的必接續撒種的, 大山要滴下甜酒, 小山都必流奶; 神的恩一個一個的下來, 這是恩上加恩; 而且被擄的要歸回, 他們必重修荒廢的城邑居住, 栽種葡萄園, 喝其中所出的酒; 修造果木園, 喫其中的果子; 神要將他們栽在本地, 不再被拔出。

願我們存謙卑的心被神拆毀, 被神建造; 我們生命有很多不蒙神悅納的地方, 但神不放棄我們, 祂揀選我們, 祂拆毀我們, 但目的卻是要建造我們成為神手中合宜的器皿。

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From Amos 9:1-6

^9:1 I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said: “Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Bring them down on the heads of all the people; those who are left I will kill with the sword. Not one will get away, none will escape. ² Though they dig down to the depths below, from there my hand will take them. Though they climb up to the heavens above, from there I will bring them down. ³ Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, there I will hunt them down and seize them. Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them. ⁴ Though they are driven into exile by their enemies, there I will command the sword to slay them. “I will keep my eye on them for harm and not for good.” ⁵ The Lord, the Lord Almighty— he touches the earth and it melts, and all who live in it mourn; the whole land rises like the Nile, then sinks like the river of Egypt; ⁶ he builds his lofty palace in the heavens and sets its foundation on the earth; he calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land— the Lord is his name.

Amos 9:1: “I saw the Lord standing by the altar.” This is the last vision that the prophet Amos saw, and it is a vision of judgment. As recorded in the Scriptures, this altar is most likely the altar in the temple because it had pillar tops and thresholds. The Lord wants to strike the tops of the pillars, shake the thresholds, bring them down on the heads of the people, such that no one will be able to escape. This is a terrible judgment because the judge is God himself. Amos 9:6: “he builds his lofty palace in the heavens and sets its foundation on the earth; he calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land—the Lord is his name.” The Lord is the creator of the heavens and the earth. He is the Lord Almighty. Who can oppose him?

Paul said in the Book of Romans asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” But if God attacks us, who can help us? In Amos 9:2-4, God said five times, “Though they [do something], I will [do something]” No matter what the circumstances, no matter what they do, I will bring them down, I will take them down, I will seize them, I will slay them because judgment from the altar has come.

The people of Israel took pride in the temple. They claim that they are God’s chosen people because they have the temple and the law. Yet now, the temple altar has become the place where they meet their judgment.

Church, we should also take heed! What do we boast about? Do we claim to be more pious than others? Do we claim to be more moral than others? Do you love the Lord more than others? Be careful; these might be the reasons for God to pass judgment upon us. Those who are arrogant will be humbled, and those who are humble will be exalted. Let us always stay alert because it is terrible to fall into the hands of the living God.

Previous Post: Spiritual Famine

祭壇的審判 | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 9:1-6

^9:1 我看見主站在祭壇旁邊, 他說, 你要擊打柱頂, 使門檻震動, 打碎柱頂落在眾人頭上, 所剩下的人我必用刀殺戮, 無一人能逃避, 無一人能逃脫。² 他們雖然挖透陰間, 我的手必取出他們來, 雖然爬上天去, 我必拿下他們來。³ 雖然藏在迦密山頂, 我必搜尋捉出他們來,雖然從我眼前藏在海底, 我必命蛇咬他們。⁴ 雖被仇敵擄去, 我必命刀劍殺戮他們, 我必向他們定住眼目, 降禍不降福。⁵ 主萬軍之耶和華摸地, 地就消化, 凡住在地上的都必悲哀, 地必全然像尼羅河漲起, 如同埃及河落下。⁶ 那在天上建造樓閣, 在地上安定穹蒼, 命海水澆在地上的, 耶和華是他的名。

9:1 我看見主站在祭壇旁邊。這是先知看見最後一個異象, 這是審判的異象, 這個祭壇從經文中的記載, 這應該是聖殿裡的祭壇, 因為有柱頂, 有門檻, 這都是指在聖殿裡的建築, 但神要擊打柱頂, 使門檻震動, 打碎柱頂落在眾人頭上, 而沒有一個人可以逃避, 這是非常可怕的審判, 因為審判者是神本身。9:6 那在天上建造樓閣, 在地上安定穹蒼, 命海水澆在地上的, 耶和華是他的名。耶和華是創造天地的主, 祂是全能的主, 有誰能敵擋祂呢?

保羅在羅馬書說, 神若幫助我們, 誰能敵擋我們; 但神若攻擊我們, 又有誰能幫助我們呢？9:2-4神先後五次說: 他們雖然⋯⋯我必。無論任何的情況, 他們無論作了任何的事, 但我必要將他們拉下來, 我必要將他們打下來, 因為祭壇的審判出現了。

聖殿是猶大人引以為傲的地方, 他們自稱神的選民, 他們有聖殿, 他們有律法, 但聖殿裡的祭壇卻成為他們審判的地方。教會, 我們也當以為戒, 我們誇口什麼? 比別人更虔誠嗎? 比別人更有道德嗎? 比別人更愛主嗎? 小心啊, 這些也會不會成為神審判我們的原因呢? 凡自高的必要降為卑, 凡自卑的都要升為高。願我們一生儆醒, 因為落在永生神手中是可怕的。

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From Amos 8:11-14

^8:11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. ¹² People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. ¹³ “In that day “the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst. ¹⁴ Those who swear by the sin of Samaria— who say, ‘As surely as your god lives, Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the god of Beersheba lives’— they will fall, never to rise again.”

Famine or scarcity is a social problem, where people need food but there is a supply shortage. Spiritual famine is a life issue — the human spirit is dry but there is no supply of life. The difference between the two lies in the way that spiritual famine is a problem of supply and demand. What do we mean? Today, some churches do not provide spiritual provisions. The men standing at the podium do not preach the word of God at all. They only speak of life principles and offer words of encouragement leaving their listeners’ spirits empty. In yet churches, the abundant spiritual life is preached but the listeners do not hear it. Their ears are itching to hear fables and strange doctrines. Paul warned us of this early on in the book of 2 Timothy.

Amos 8:11:  “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” The Lord says famine is coming where people will be hungry not because they have no bread nor because they are thirsty nor because they have no water, but because they are eager to hear the word of the Lord.” Men will want to hear from God, but the Lord grants no revelations. This happened once when Samuel was young. The Bible says: “In those days, the word of the Lord was rare.” In the 400-year period between the Old Testament and the New Testament, God did not reveal Himself at all.

These four verses also tell us that people used two methods to cope with spiritual famines:

1. They look for it.

Amos 8:12 “People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.” People will go from sea to sea, from the north to the east just to find the word of the Lord and yet they will not find it. As a result, they faint from thirst.

2. They look for false gods.

Amos 8:14 “Those who swear by the sin of Samaria— who say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan’, or, ‘As surely as the god of Beersheba lives’— they will fall, never to rise again.” They replaced the true God with idols, and they were severely punished by the Lord.

In the last days, the same thing will happen. May the Lord have mercy on us. May we listen and heed God’s words before the famine comes.

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屬靈的饑荒 | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 8:11-14

^8:11 主耶和華說, 日子將到, 我必命飢荒降在地上, 人飢餓非因無餅,乾渴非因無水, 乃因不聽耶和華的話。¹² 他們必飄流, 從這海到那海, 從北邊到東邊, 往來奔跑尋求耶和華的話, 卻尋不著。¹³ 當那日,美貌的處女和少年的男子必因乾渴發昏。¹⁴ 那指著撒瑪利亞牛犢起誓的說, 但哪, 我們指著你那裡的活神起誓, 又說, 我們指著別是巴的神道起誓, 這些人都必仆倒, 永不再起來。

饑荒是社會的問題, 人要找食物但卻沒有供應; 屬靈的饑荒是生命的的問題, 人的靈裡枯乾但卻沒有生命的供應。但屬靈的饑荒是供與求二方面的問題, 這是什麼意思呢？現今的教會, 有些教會真是沒有任何屬靈的供應, 站在講台的人根本沒有傳什麼神的話, 只是講講一些生活的道理, 講一些鼓勵人心的話, 但聽完後靈裡卻是空空的;但也有一些教會, 講台傳講出豐富的屬靈生命, 但聽的人卻聽不進, 他們耳朵發癢, 要聽那些新奇的, 古怪的道理, 保羅在提摩太後書早就告訴我們了。

8:11 主耶和華說, 日子將到, 我必命飢荒降在地上, 人飢餓非因無餅, 乾渴非因無水, 乃因不聽耶和華的話。這節經文的原意是: 主耶和華說, 日子將到, 我必命飢荒降在地上, 人飢餓非因無餅, 乾渴非因無水, 因為他們渴想聽耶和華的話。人想聽, 但神卻沒有啟示了。在撒母耳年幼時, 這曾發生一次, 聖經說: 耶和華的話稀少。在舊約與新約之間的四百年, 神完全沒有發出啟示。

這四節的經文也告訴我們, 人用二個方法來面對屬靈的饑荒：

1.他們去找。

8:12 他們必飄流, 從這海到那海, 從北邊到東邊, 往來奔跑尋求耶和華的話, 卻尋不著。從這海到那海, 從北邊到東邊, 目的是要尋找, 但卻尋求不著, 結果乾渴發昏了。

2.他們去尋找假神。

8:14 那指著撒瑪利亞牛犢起誓的說, 但哪, 我們指著你那裡的活神起誓, 又說, 我們指著別是巴的神道起誓, 這些人都必仆倒, 永不再起來。他們以假亂真, 以偶像代替真神, 結果被神大大的刑罰。

在末後的日子, 這事要再次發生。求主憐憫我們, 要趁著饑荒未來之前, 好好聽神的話。

The post Spiritual Famine | Amos appeared first on Christian Bible Church of the Philippines.

From Amos 8:1-10

¹ This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: a basket of ripe fruit. ² “What do you see, Amos?” he asked. “A basket of ripe fruit,” I answered. Then the Lord said to me, “The time is ripe for my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. 

³ “In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “the songs in the temple will turn to wailing. Many, many bodies—flung everywhere! Silence!” ⁴ Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, ⁵ saying “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?”— skimping on the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, ⁶ buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat. 

⁷ The Lord has sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done. ⁸ “Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn? The whole land will rise like the Nile; it will be stirred up and then sink like the river of Egypt. 

⁹ “In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. ¹⁰ I will turn your religious festivals into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave your heads. I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day. 

“A basket of ripe fruit”, this is the central theme of this scripture passage.  Israel is located in the Middle East.  During summer, temperatures rise to extreme highs, so all the fruits must be harvested before they go bad and have to be thrown away. In Hebrew, the term “ripe fruit” is the same as “the end”. Therefore, God is saying to Amos, “The end of my people Israel is here. I will not forgive them again.” 

Why does the Lord say He will judge Israel and no longer spare them? In Amos 8:4-6, the Lord narrated the things they had done – they trampled upon the needy, did away with the poor; they say that they will sell grain and wheat, yet they skimped on the measure, boosted the prices, cheated with dishonest scales. They bought the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.  The Lord God said, “I will not forget anything they have done.” All of the evil they have done are laid bare before the Lord and the righteous God will judge with justice.   

What the people of Israel have done resulted in: 

1. Environmental destruction

Amos 8:8 “Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn? The whole land will rise like the Nile; it will be stirred up and then sink like the river of Egypt.” Amos 8:9 “In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.” The environmental damage leads to natural disasters. Natural disasters often accompany human sins. On the day Adam and Eve sinned, God declared that the earth was now cursed because of man. When Cain killed Abel, the Lord God told him that the ground had received the innocent blood he shed and it would no longer yield its crops. Changes upon the earth are inextricably connected to human sin. In the past few decades, people have begun to pay attention to environmental issues. Environmental destruction and human selfishness are without a doubt inextricably connected.  

2. Human suffering

Amos 8:10 “I will turn your religious festivals into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave your heads. I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.”  How heartbreaking!  Suffering is the consequence brought on by humanity’s sin. We can say these are man-made disasters.

Natural disasters and man-made disasters are here. No wonder God calls this phenomenon “a basket of ripe fruit”; the end has come. Will we remain unrepentant? What are we still waiting for?

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夏天的果子 | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 8:1-10

¹ 主耶和華又指示我一件事, 我看見一筐夏天的果子。² 他說: 阿摩司阿, 你看見甚麼? 我說: 看見一筐夏天的果子, 耶和華說: 我民以色列的結局到了, 我必不再寬恕他們。

³ 主耶和華說: 那日殿中的詩歌變為哀號, 必有許多屍首在各處拋棄, 無人作聲。⁴ 你們這些要吞喫窮乏人, 使困苦人衰敗的, 當聽我的話; ⁵ 你們說: 月朔幾時過去, 我們好賣糧, 安息日幾時過去, 我們好擺開麥子, 賣出用小升斗, 收銀用大戥子, 用詭詐的天平欺哄人, ⁶ 好用銀子買貧寒人, 用一雙鞋換窮乏人, 將壞了的麥子賣給人。

⁷ 耶和華指著雅各的榮耀起誓, 說: 他們的一切行為, 我必永遠不忘。⁸ 地豈不因這事震動, 其上的居民不也悲哀麼。地必全然像尼羅河漲起, 如同埃及河湧上落下。

⁹ 主耶和華說: 到那日, 我必使日頭在午間落下, 使地在白晝黑暗。¹⁰ 我必使你們的節期變為悲哀, 歌曲變為哀歌, 眾人腰束麻布, 頭上光禿, 使這場悲哀如喪獨生子, 至終如痛苦的日子一樣。

夏天的果子是這段經文的中心, 以色列是屬中東地區, 在夏天的時候, 溫度是非常的高, 所有的果子都必須在夏天最炎熱時收割起來, 否則一定會爛掉的。在希伯來文裡夏天的果子的字指與結局是相同的, 所以, 神對阿摩司說: 我民以色列的結局到了, 我必不再寬恕他們。為什麼神要審判他們, 不再寬恕他們呢？ 

8:4-6 神述說他們所行的事, 他們吞喫窮乏人, 使困苦人衰敗; 他們說賣出用小升斗, 收銀用大戥子, 用詭詐的天平欺哄人, 他們用銀子買貧寒人, 用一雙鞋換窮乏人, 將壞了的麥子賣給人。神說: 他們的一切行為, 我必永遠不忘。他們所行的惡一一在神面前出現, 公義的神要用公義來進行審判了。

結果首先帶來: 

1.環境的破壞。

8:8 地豈不因這事震動, 其上的居民不也悲哀麼。地必全然像尼羅河漲起, 如同埃及河湧上落下。8:9 主耶和華說: 到那日, 我必使日頭在午間落下, 使地在白晝黑暗。這些都是一些自然界的破壞, 我們口中所說的天災。天災常常不離開人的罪, 當亞當夏娃犯罪的那一天, 神已經宣告說: 地因為人受咒詛; 當該隱殺了亞伯後, 神說地流了無辜人的血, 地沒有出產了。天地的改變也離不開人的罪。最近這幾十年, 人開始注意所謂的環保, 環境的破壞與人的自私自利是分不開的。

2. 人的痛苦。

8:10 我必使你們的節期變為悲哀, 歌曲變為哀歌, 眾人腰束麻布, 頭上光禿, 使這場悲哀如喪獨生子, 至終如痛苦的日子一樣。「這場悲哀如喪獨生子, 至終如痛苦的日子一樣。」這是何等可悲的事, 這上都是人的罪帶來的結果, 我們可以稱為人禍。

天災人禍都出現了, 難怪神稱這個現象為「夏天的果子」; 結局來到了, 我們還不悔改嗎? 還要等什麼呢？

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From Amos 7:10-17

^7:10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. ¹¹ For this is what Amos is saying: “‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’” 

¹² Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. ¹³ Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.” 

¹⁴ Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. ¹⁵ But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ ¹⁶ Now then, hear the word of the Lord. You say, “‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’ 

¹⁷ “Therefore this is what the Lord says: “‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country. And Israel will surely go into exile away from their native land.’”

In this passage, we see two different kinds of servants. The first is represented by Amaziah who was the priest of Bethel. He had a close relationship with Jeroboam, the king of Israel.  He was not a servant of God, but rather a servant of the king. He was not speaking for the Lord; instead, he spoke for the king. He said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.” The phrase “earn your bread there” shows the real reason why Amaziah was a prophet. He was doing it as a way to earn his living. In the words of the New Testament, he saw godliness as a way for profit.

In this same passage,, we see another kind of servant, represented by Amos. When Amaziah rebuked him, he replied, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’” Amos said that he was originally a shepherd who also took care of mulberry trees. He had not gone through any discipleship training. In today’s words, he had not received the so-called orthodox theological training. He was a man who did not have academic attainments to boast of, but he had God’s calling. The Lord God called him out from shepherding the flock to be a voice for God. He was not a servant of God who was simply “earning his living.” 

Church, when we serve God, no matter what it is we do, remember that our intention, purpose. and motives are more important than anything else. We who serve God must have a simple heart. Do not serve the Lord for fame and gain. God is not to be taken lightly. Amos said to Amaziah, “Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.” A terrible fate awaits those who are false servants. We must take heed.        

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真假僕人 | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 7:10-17

^7:10 伯特利的祭司亞瑪謝打發人到以色列王耶羅波安那裡, 說: 阿摩司在以色列家中, 圖謀背叛你, 他所說的一切話, 這國擔當不起。¹¹ 因為阿摩司如此說, 耶羅波安必被刀殺, 以色列民定被擄去離開本地。

¹² 亞瑪謝又對阿摩司說, 你這先見哪, 要逃往猶大地去, 在那裡餬口, 在那裡說預言, ¹³ 卻不要在伯特利再說預言, 因為這裡有王的聖所,有王的宮殿。

¹⁴ 阿摩司對亞瑪謝說: 我原不是先知, 也不是先知的門徒, 我是牧人, 又是修理桑樹的; ¹⁵ 耶和華選召我, 使我不跟從羊群, 對我說, 你去向我民以色列說預言。¹⁶ 亞瑪謝阿, 現在你要聽耶和華的話, 你說, 不要向以色列說預言, 也不要向以撒家滴下預言。

¹⁷ 所以耶和華如此說, 你的妻子必在城中作妓女, 你的兒女必倒在刀下, 你的地必有人用繩子量了分取, 你自己必死在污穢之地, 以色列民定被擄去離開本地。

這段經文我們看見二種不同的僕人, 第一種是以亞瑪謝為代表的人物, 他是伯特利的祭司, 他與以色列王耶羅波安的關係也相同好,因為他是保王黨, 他根本不是神的僕人, 他是王的僕人。他對耶羅婆安王說: 阿摩司在以色列家中, 圖謀背叛你, 他所說的一切話, 這國擔當不起。因為阿摩司如此說, 耶羅波安必被刀殺, 以色列民定被擄去離開本地。他不是為神發聲, 他是為王發聲。然後他又對阿摩司說: 你這先見哪, 要逃往猶大地去, 在那裡餬口, 在那裡說預言。「在那裡餬口」這句話說出了亞瑪謝作先知背後真正的原因, 他是為「餬口」; 用新約的一句話, 他是敬虔為得利的門徑。

但這段經文有另外一種僕人, 以阿摩司為代表人物, 當亞瑪謝責備他的時候, 他回答說: 我原不是先知, 也不是先知的門徒, 我是牧人, 又是修理桑樹的; 耶和華選召我, 使我不跟從羊群, 對我說, 你去向我民以色列說預言。阿摩司說他本來是牧人, 是修理桑樹的, 他沒有經過什麼門徒訓練, 用現在的話, 他沒有受所謂正統神學訓練, 他是一個沒有多大學問的人, 但在他的生命裡有神的呼召, 神從羊群人召他出來, 要為神發出聲音, 他不是為「餬口」作神的僕人。 

教會, 當我們事奉神的時候, 無論你在作什麼? 你的存心, 你的目的, 你的動機比一切都重要。事奉神的人要存一個單純的心, 不要以事奉神為名但卻是為名與利, 神是輕慢不得的。阿摩司對亞瑪謝說: 耶和華如此說, 你的妻子必在城中作妓女, 你的兒女必倒在刀下, 你的地必有人用繩子量了分取, 你自己必死在污穢之地, 以色列民定被擄去離開本地。我們當引以為戒。

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From Amos 7:1-9

^7:1 This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king’s share had been harvested and just as the late crops were coming up.
² When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” ³ So the Lord relented. “This will not happen,” the Lord said. 

⁴ This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: The Sovereign Lord was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. ⁵ Then I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” ⁶ So the Lord relented. “This will not happen either,” the Sovereign Lord said. 

⁷ This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. ⁸ And the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. ⁹ “The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword, I will rise against the house of Jeroboam.”

This passage can clearly be divided into three sections. The structure of each section is very similar: First, the Lord shows the prophet something, then the prophet makes a request to God, and the Lord gives an answer.

The first section is Amos 7:1-3.

The Lord showed the prophet a judgment by a plague of locusts. Immediately the prophet prayed to the Lord and interceded for the people, not because the people had not sinned, and not because the people did not deserve such judgment. The prophet reasoned that Jacob would not survive for he was so small. The Lord relented and kept the disaster from happening. 

The second section is Amos 7:4-6. 

The Lord showed the prophet a judgment of fire. The prophet immediately prayed to God and interceded for the people. Again, it was not because the people had not sinned, nor that they did not deserve such judgment. The prophet’s reason was that Jacob was so small, he would not survive. The Lord relented and kept the disaster from happening.

The third section is Amos 7:7-9. 

The Lord showed the prophet a plumbline for judgment, but before the prophet could pray, the Lord said, “I will spare them no longer.” Then He pronounced the judgment that was to happen. Amos 7:9 “The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword, I will rise against the house of Jeroboam.”

This tells us three very important truths: 

1. When an intercessor comes he will mediate between God and man. He stands in the gap so that God’s judgment may be delayed and people will have a chance to repent. Psalm 106:23 explains it well, “So he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach (stood in the gap) before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.” We must stand in the gap. 
2. When there is no intercession, the wrath of God will pour down, Ezekiel 22:30 is the best explanation, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”
3. Repent quickly when you are given the opportunity, because when opportunity is gone, it may not come again. In the third judgment, the Lord decided not to spare them anymore. Let us not misuse God’s grace as an opportunity to indulge ourselves. Grab hold of the opportunity we have today and return to God quickly!

Previous Post: Living in a Drunken Stupor

代禱者 | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 7:1-9

^7:1 主耶和華指示我一件事, 為王割菜之後菜又發生, 剛發生的時候,主造蝗蟲。² 蝗蟲喫盡那地的青物, 我就說主耶和華阿, 求你赦免;因為雅各微弱, 他怎能站立得住呢? ³ 耶和華就後悔, 說, 這災可以免了。

⁴ 主耶和華又指示我一件事, 他命火來懲罰以色列, 火就吞滅深淵, 險些將地燒滅。⁵ 我就說, 主耶和華阿, 求你止息, 因為雅各微弱, 他怎能站立得住呢? ⁶ 耶和華就後悔說, 這災也可免了。

⁷ 他又指示我一件事, 有一道牆是按準繩建築的, 主手拿準繩站在其上。⁸ 耶和華對我說, 阿摩司阿, 你看見甚麼? 我說, 看見準繩。主說: 我要弔起準繩在我民以色列中, 我必不再寬恕他們, ⁹ 以撒的丘壇必然淒涼, 以色列的聖所必然荒廢, 我必興起, 用刀攻擊耶羅波安的家。

這段經文很明顯可以與為三個段落, 而且每個段落的結構都很相同的; 神先指示先知看一件事, 然後先知就向神發出請求, 最後神就給出一個答案。

第一個段落是7:1-3.

 神指示先知看見一個蝗蟲之災的審判, 先知馬上向神禱告, 為百姓代禱, 不是因為百姓沒有犯罪, 不是百姓不應面對這樣的審判, 先知的理由是雅各微弱, 怎能站立得住呢? 神後悔了, 神免了這災。

第二個段落是 7:4-6

神指示先知看見一個火災的審判, 先知馬上向神禱告, 為百姓代禱, 同樣不是因為百姓沒有犯罪, 不是百姓不應面對這樣的審判, 先知的理由是雅各微弱, 怎能站立得住呢? 神後悔了, 神免了這災。

第三個段落是 7:7-9

神指示先知看見一個準繩的審判, 但在先知還沒有禱告之前, 神先說: 我必不再寬恕他們。然後發出審判的內容, 7:9 以撒的丘壇必然淒涼, 以色列的聖所必然荒廢, 我必興起, 用刀攻擊耶羅波安的家。

這告訴我們三個很重要的真理: 

1. 當代禱者出現的時候, 他會在神與人中間成為中保, 他站在隙縫之中, 使神的審判可以延遲, 使人有悔改的機會。詩篇106:23是最好的解釋 「所以他說要滅絕他們,若非有他所揀選的摩西站在當中〔原文作破口〕使他的忿怒轉消, 恐怕他就滅絕他們。」我們要成為站在破口的人。
2. 當沒有代禱出現的時候, 神的忿怒會傾倒下來, 以西結書 22:30是最好的解釋「我在他們中間尋找一人重修牆垣, 在我面前為這國站在破口防堵, 使我不滅絕這國, 卻找不著一個。」 
3. 要趁有機會快悔改, 因機會失去了不會再來。第三個審判神決定不再寬恕, 我們不要以神的恩成為放縱自己的機會, 把握今天還有的機會, 早早歸向神吧!

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From Amos 6:8-14

^6:8 The Sovereign Lord has sworn by himself—the Lord God Almighty declares: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it.” 

⁹ If ten people are left in one house, they too will die. ¹⁰ And if the relative who comes to carry the bodies out of the house to burn them asks anyone who might be hiding there, “Is anyone else with you?” and he says, “No,” then he will go on to say, “Hush! We must not mention the name of the Lord.”

¹¹ For the Lord has given the command, and he will smash the great house into pieces and the small house into bits. 

¹² Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness— ¹³ you who rejoice in the conquest of Lo Debar and say, “Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?” 

¹⁴ For the Lord God Almighty declares, “I will stir up a nation against you, Israel, that will oppress you all the way from Lebo Hamath to the valley of the Arabah.”

The Chinese have a saying that translates to “thrive in calamity and perish in ease and pleasure.” It means that in an environment full of adversity, we would survive, but in a comfortable environment, we would perish. This sounds ironic but it is a very real situation.

Today’s passage once again established the reason for Israel’s downfall. The Israelites perished as a result of their comfortable lives because they had lived in a drunken stupor. They were not roused even when disaster was at their door. They were not stirred at all.

Amos 6:14 “For the Lord God Almighty declares, “I will stir up a nation against you, Israel, that will oppress you all the way from Lebo Hamath to the valley of the Arabah.” This referred to the Assyrian army’s coming, but they were oblivious to it, why? Do you remember what we saw in Amos 6:1-7? They were lounging in their ivory beds, feasting on choice lambs and fattened calves. They were strumming away on their harps and singing their time away, they were drinking wine by the bowlful and putting on the finest lotion; meanwhile, they did not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. That is why I say they were living in a drunken stupor.

Why did God use the Assyrian army to attack them? This passage tells us three reasons:

1. God abhorred them.

Amos 6:8 … “I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it.” All their deeds vexed the Lord to the point of disgust. God could no longer tolerate them. True, the Lord is not easily angered, but that does not mean that He will never get angry. Can a righteous God be called a righteous God if he sees injustice yet does not get angry?

2. They had perverted the meaning of righteousness and justice.

Amos 6:12 “…but you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.” Justice had become poison, and righteousness had become bitter. Poison and bitterness are both bitter things. Righteousness and justice are good and wonderful but they became bitter, because these people who were in authority actually corrupted righteousness and justice; should God not be angry?

3. Their boasting.

Amos 6:13 “you who rejoice in the conquest of Lo Debar and say, “Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?” They really thought that it was by their own human strength that they had triumphed and conquered. They relied on their own strength instead of on the Lord who brought them out of Egypt into Canaan. Therefore, should the arrogant not be humbled?

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醉生夢死 | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 6:8-14

^6:8 主耶和華萬軍之神指著自己起誓說, 我憎惡雅各的榮華, 厭棄他的宮殿; 因此, 我必將城和其中所有的, 都交付敵人。⁹ 那時, 若在一房之內剩下十個人, 也都必死。¹⁰ 死人的伯叔, 就是燒他屍首的,要將這屍首搬到房外, 問房屋內間的人說: 你那裡還有人沒有? 他必說:沒有, 又說: 不要作聲, 因為我們不可提耶和華的名。¹¹ 看哪, 耶和華出令, 大房就被攻破, 小屋就被打裂。¹² 馬豈能在崖石上奔跑, 人豈能在那裡用牛耕種呢? 你們卻使公平變為苦膽, 使公義的果子變為茵蔯。¹³ 你們喜愛虛浮的事, 自誇說: 我們不是憑自己的力量取了角麼? ¹⁴ 耶和華萬軍之神說, 以色列家阿, 我必興起一國攻擊你們,他們必欺壓你們, 從哈馬口直到亞拉巴的河。

我們中國有一句話 「生於憂患、死於安樂」。意思是在一個充滿患難的環境裡, 我們還可以生存下去, 但在一個安逸的環境下, 我們卻活不去了。這是非常諷剌的情況, 但卻又是非常真實的情況。

今天這段文就是再一次証明以色列人滅亡的原因, 他們真是死於安樂, 因為他們在醉生夢死裡面, 但他們完全沒有醒悟, 患難已經在面前, 他們沒有醒覺。6:14 耶和華萬軍之神說, 以色列家阿, 我必興起一國攻擊你們,他們必欺壓你們, 從哈馬口直到亞拉巴的河。這是指亞述的大軍要來了, 但他們卻不知不覺已啊, 為什麼呢? 你還記得在6:1-7所就的嗎? 他們躺臥在象牙床上, 他們喫群中的羊羔與棚裡的牛犢; 他們彈琴鼓瑟唱消閑的歌曲, 他們以大碗喝酒, 用上等的油抹身, 卻不為約瑟的苦難擔憂。所以我說他們是醉生夢死了。

為什麼神要用亞述大軍來攻擊他們呢? 這段經文告訴我們三個原因:

1. 神憎惡他們。

6:8 – 我憎惡雅各的榮華, 厭棄他的宮殿; 因此, 我必將城和其中所有的, 都交付敵人。以色列人所作所為已經達到神憎惡的程度, 神不能再容忍他們繼續下去, 神不會輕易發怒, 但不要說成神永不會發怒, 公義的神看見不公義的事而不發怒, 還能稱為公義的神嗎?

2. 他們將公平公義變了質。

6:12 – 你們卻使公平變為苦膽, 使公義的果子變為茵蔯。公平成為了苦膽, 公義成為了茵蔯; 苦膽與茵蔯都是非常苦的東西, 公平公義本來是良善的, 美好的, 但他們卻使人感到痛苦, 因為這群在上在權柄的人, 他們竟將公平公義變了質, 神能不發怒嗎？

3. 他們的自誇自大。

6:13 – 你們喜愛虛浮的事, 自誇說: 我們不是憑自己的力量取了角麼? 他們還以爲真是人力勝天, 他們要憑自己的力量而不倚靠那位帶他們出埃及進迦南的神, 豈不是自高的要降為卑嗎？

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From Amos 6:1-7

^6:1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! ² Go to Kalneh and look at it; go from there to great Hamath, and then go down to Gath in Philistia. Are they better off than your two kingdoms? Is their land larger than yours? ³ You put off the day of disaster and bring near a reign of terror. ⁴ You lie on beds adorned with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. ⁵ You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. ⁶ You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. ⁷ Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.

Today let us focus on this exception – “you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph”. What does this phrase mean? First, through the prophet, the Lord told the Israelites that they were blessed by God and that they were more blessed than the other nations. In Amos 6:1-2, they are described as the foremost of nations. The Lord asked them to go look at Kalneh, the great city of Hamath, and Gath of Philistia and see if these had received more grace than Israel? We can see from other Scriptural passages that Israel had been blessed in ways that the other nations have not been, such as having the Law of God. No other nation has the great and wise Laws of God, and most significant of all, the one true God is the God of Israel. These are blessings that the other nations did not have!

However, the Lord rebuked them because they were ungrateful and the nation was full of sin. And in this passage, v.3-6, the people the Lord was rebuking were their leaders. The Lord rebuked them for their: 1. rule of terror 2. lounging in beds of ivory 3. dining on choice lambs and fattened calves 4. strumming away on their harps 5. improvising on their musical instruments 6. drinking wine by the bowlful 7. Using the finest lotions. 

What are these? These statements describe a life of indulgence. It is not that the Lord does not want us to enjoy His blessings, but as leaders, we must not live in ease and affluence while being oblivious to the suffering of others. For this reason, the Lord rebuked them for not grieving over the ruin of Joseph. Joseph’s story is recorded in Genesis chapters 37-50 – how he was sold and betrayed, how he was framed and how he suffered. The Israelites understood this clearly. Joseph had two sons – Manasseh and Ephraim. Ephraim became the representative of the northern kingdom. To say that they did not grieve over the ruin of Joseph means that they did not care about the sufferings of Israel while they themselves had lives of indulgence and ease. 

As leaders, we must have a sense of concern, we must watch over God’s church and the flock. Are our fellow believers growing in their love for the Lord or are they being drawn away by the world? Are they bound by sin? What are their needs? These are the things that leaders are to focus on, rather than the pleasures of life. 

Amos 6:7 “Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.” The Lord issues a grave and serious warning here: He says that judgment will begin with the house of God and the judgment of God’s house will begin with its leaders. We must watch out!

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不為約瑟的苦難擔憂 | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 6:1-7

^6:1 國為列國之首, 人最著名, 且為以色列家所歸向, 在錫安和撒瑪利亞山安逸無慮的, 有禍了。² 你們要過到甲尼察看, 從那裡往大城哈馬去, 又下到非利士人的迦特, 看那些國比你們的國還強麼? 境界比你們的境界還寬麼? ³ 你們以為降禍的日子還遠, 坐在位上盡行強暴。⁴ 你們躺臥在象牙床上, 舒身在榻上, 喫群中的羊羔, 棚裡的牛犢, ⁵ 彈琴鼓瑟唱消閑的歌曲, 為自己製造樂器, 如同大衛所造的, ⁶ 以大碗喝酒, 用上等的油抹身, 卻不為約瑟的苦難擔憂。⁷ 所以這些人必在被擄的人中首先被擄, 舒身的人荒宴之樂必消滅了。

今天我要跟你們思想一句很特別的話, 「不為約瑟的苦難擔憂」這句話是什麼意思呢？神首先藉著先知告訴以色列人, 他們蒙神的祝福, 他們比列國蒙恩。6:1-2他們為列國之首。神施給他們的恩比列國更多, 神讓他們去看看甲尼, 大城哈馬去, 非利士人的迦特, 他們所蒙的恩豈比以色列多嗎？如果我們再參考其他的經文, 以色列還有其他的恩典是列國沒有的, 好像神的律法。列國那有神偉大而且充滿智慧的律法, 更重要是的神是獨一的真神, 竟然成為以色列的神, 這些都是列國沒有的恩典啊!

但是神要責備他們, 因為他們沒有感恩而且全國充滿了罪惡, 但這段文, 從3-6節主要責備的對像是那些作領袖, 神責備他們1.坐在位上盡行強暴。2.躺臥在象牙床上 3.喫群中的羊羔與牛犢4.彈琴鼓瑟唱消閑的歌曲 5.為自己製造樂器 6.以大碗喝酒 7.用上等的油抹身。

這些是什麼? 安逸的生活, 神不是不准許我們享受神的祝福, 但作為領袖的不能是活在安逸中, 完全沒有患難意識。所以神責備他們, 不為約瑟的苦難擔憂, 約瑟的故事記載在創世記 37-50章, 他怎樣被賣? 怎樣被陷害, 怎樣受苦, 以色列人非常了解, 約瑟有二個兒子, 瑪拿西與以法蓮, 後來以法蓮更成為北國的代表, 所以不為約瑟的苦難擔憂

就是不為以色列現在面對的患難擔憂, 只沈迷在享樂之中。

作為領袖, 我們要有一種憂患的識意, 為教會, 為羊群守望, 他們愛主或是愛世界, 他們在罪中被捆綁嗎? 他們在那方面有真實的需要嗎？這些都是領袖們要注意的事, 而不是只注重每天的享樂。

6:7 所以這些人必在被擄的人中首先被擄, 舒身的人荒宴之樂必消滅了。神提出一個嚴重的警告, 審判從神家開始, 神家的審判從領袖開始, 我們要儆醒啊!

The post Not Grieving Over Joseph’s Ruin | Amos appeared first on Christian Bible Church of the Philippines.

From Amos 5:16-27

^5:16 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord God Almighty, says: “There will be wailing in all the streets and cries of anguish in every public square. The farmers will be summoned to weep and the mourners to wail. ¹⁷ There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst,” says the Lord. 

¹⁸ Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. ¹⁹ It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. ²⁰ Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light— pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? 

²¹ “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. ²² Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. ²³ Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. ²⁴ But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! 

²⁵ “Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? ²⁶ You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god— which you made for yourselves. ²⁷ Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty.

Amos 5:17 “… I will pass through your midst, says the Lord.” When the Lord passes through our midst, it means that the day of the Lord has come. However, verses 16-17 tell us that when the Lord passes through,  the whole earth will be full of mourning, weeping, and wailing. In Amos 5:18, the prophet proclaimed with sarcasm, “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord?”

Don’t the Israelites long for the Messiah to come? Do we not often pray for the Lord’s return, too? But do we really understand what the day of the Lord is, the true significance of the second coming of the Lord? The day of the Lord is significant for two different reasons. Yes, it is the day of God’s salvation and when He comes again, it will be the day of salvation for the whole earth. However, it will also be the day of judgment. So the prophet says, woe to you. 

Why would the day of the Lord mean woe for Israel? In Amos 5:21-23, the Lord declared to Israel through the prophet, “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not regard your choice fellowship offerings, nor listen to the music of your harps.” Why? We find the answer in Amos 5:25-26.  “Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god—which you made for yourselves.” All the religious ceremonies and rituals they performed were basically in the worship of idols. Externally, they were worshipping the Lord, but in their hearts, they were worshipping idols. What the Lord truly wanted was worship which poured forth from their hearts, that is why He said, “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

A person who truly worships the Lord will uphold justice and righteousness.  The man who does so is the one who truly worships the Lord. Such a man is also a man who is ready to meet the Lord. The day of the Lord signifies salvation for them, but for the others, the day of the Lord means judgment. Which kind of person are you? Will the second coming of the Lord Jesus mean salvation or judgment for you?

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耶和華的日子是喜? 是憂? | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 5:16-27

^5:16 主耶和華萬軍之神如此說, 在一切寬闊處必有哀號的聲音, 在各街市上必有人說, 哀哉, 哀哉, 又必叫農夫來哭號, 叫善唱哀歌的來舉哀。¹⁷ 在各葡萄園必有哀號的聲音, 因為我必從你中間經過, 這是耶和華說的。

¹⁸ 想望耶和華日子來到的, 有禍了, 你們為何想望耶和華的日子呢? 那日黑暗沒有光明, ¹⁹ 景況好像人躲避獅子又遇見熊, 或是進房屋以手靠牆, 就被蛇咬。²⁰ 耶和華的日子, 不是黑暗沒有光明麼? 不是幽暗毫無光輝麼? 

²¹ 我厭惡你們的節期, 也不喜悅你們的嚴肅會。²² 你們雖然向我獻燔祭和素祭, 我卻不悅納, 也不顧你們用肥畜獻的平安祭。²³ 要使你們歌唱的聲音遠離我, 因為我不聽你們彈琴的響聲。²⁴ 惟願公平如大水滾滾, 使公義如江河滔滔。

²⁵ 以色列家阿, 你們在曠野四十年, 豈是將祭物和供物獻給我呢? ²⁶ 你們抬著為自己所造之摩洛的帳幕和偶像的龕, 並你們的神星。²⁷ 所以我要把你們擄到大馬色以外, 這是耶和華名為萬軍之神說的。

5:17 ⋯⋯我必從你中間經過, 這是耶和華說的。神從我們中間經過, 意思就是耶和華的日子來到了, 但 16-17卻告訴我們, 當耶和華經過的時候, 全地卻充滿了哀聲, 哭聲與哀號。5:18先知更發出一種諷剌的聲音說, 想望耶和華日子來到的, 有禍了, 你們為何想望耶和華的日子呢?

以色列人不是渴望彌賽亞來嗎？我們也不是常常祈禱主再來嗎？但我們真的明白什麼是耶和華的日子, 主第二次再來的意思嗎？耶和華的日子有二層的意思。首先這是神拯救的日子。這沒有錯, 祂再來的時候是拯救全地的日子, 但是也是審判的日子。所以先知說, 你們有禍了。

為什麼耶和華的日子會成為以色列人的禍患呢？5:21-23神藉先知向以色列人說, 我厭惡你們的節期, 不喜悅你們的嚴肅會。不接納你們的獻燔祭和素祭, 也不顧你們用肥畜獻的平安祭, 也不聽你們讚美我的聲音。為什麼？5:25-26就是答案, 「以色列家阿, 你們在曠野四十年, 豈是將祭物和供物獻給我呢? 你們抬著為自己所造之摩洛的帳幕和偶像的龕, 並你們的神星。」 他們所作的一切宗教的儀式, 禮儀根本是在敬拜偶像, 他們在外表是敬拜神, 但內心卻是敬拜偶像, 神真正要的是從他們心裡出來, 所以神說: 惟願公平如大水滾滾, 使公義如江河滔滔。

一個真實敬拜神的人, 他的生命有公平有公義, 這樣的人才是真實的敬拜者, 這樣的人也是預備好迎見神的人, 耶和華的日子對他們來說是拯救, 但對其他人來說, 耶和華的日子卻是審判; 你是那一種人呢? 主耶穌第二次再來對你來說, 是拯救或是審判呢？

The post Is the Day of the Lord a Day of Joy or Sorrow? | Amos appeared first on Christian Bible Church of the Philippines.

From Amos 5:1-15

^5:1 Hear this word, Israel, this lament I take up concerning you: ² “Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up.” 

³ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel: “Your city that marches out a thousand strong will have only a hundred left; your town that marches out a hundred strong will have only ten left.” 

⁴ This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live; ⁵ do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.” ⁶ Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire; it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it. ⁷ There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. ⁸ He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land— the Lord is his name. ⁹ With a blinding flash he destroys the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin. ¹⁰ There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth. ¹¹ You levy a straw tax on the poor and impose a tax on their grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. ¹² For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts. ¹³ Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil. ¹⁴ Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. ¹⁵ Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. 

In Amos 5:1-3, the prophet Amos made a lament concerning the desperate situation that Israel was in because God’s judgment was about to come upon them. But in Amos 5:15, he also said, “Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.” Perhaps the Lord will show them mercy and they will not be completely destroyed. Perhaps there is still hope for them. 

What happened between verses 4-14? In these verses, we see what could be the chance for Israel’s continued survival. In verses 4-8, the prophet asked them to seek God. In verses 14-15, the prophet asked them to seek good. Actually, God is good. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, a young official approached Him to seek eternal life. He referred to the Lord Jesus as a “good teacher”. The Lord Jesus immediately responded saying that there is no one good except God. Yes, only God is truly good. Therefore, to seek God is to seek good. But how do we seek God?

 1. Do not substitute religious activities for the pursuit of God

Amos 5:5: “Do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.” The Lord mentioned 3 “do nots” — do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. These three sites—Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba—were all sacred religious places for the Israelites. They held many religious activities in these places, but the Lord told them to stop going to these places and to stop using religious activities to substitute for the true pursuit of God. 

This is a great reminder for the church in the 21st century. We often use church participation as our spiritual yardstick. The more meetings you attend, the more spiritual we think we are. But what the Lord wants are not activities. What the Lord wants is us, our hearts. We still have a chance, but let us not just participate in activities and gatherings, but seek Him wholeheartedly.

 2. Seek the Creator and the One who upholds justice

In Amos 5:6 the prophet says, “Seek the Lord and live”. In this chapter, the prophet specifically mentioned two attributes of God: 

• First – God as the Creator. Amos 5:8 “He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land—The Lord is his name.” The Lord is the creator of all things in the universe. We must seek Him who is the only true God. We must part with all other idols because He is the only true God. 
• Second – The Lord is the one who upholds justice. From verses 10-13, the Lord mentions several social injustices, and He proposes a solution – overcome evil with good, do not repay evil with evil. He says that when you do so the Lord God Almighty will be with you. 

The Lord is not only the Creator of the heavens; He is also the One who upholds justice on the earth. We must seek Him and do what pleases Him; that we may experience the way out of our difficult situation!

Previous Post: Prepare to Meet Your God

還有機會嗎? | 阿摩司書

張國強牧師

阿摩司書 5:1-15

^5:1 以色列家阿, 要聽我為你們所作的哀歌。² 以色列民跌倒, 不得再起, 躺在地上, 無人攙扶。

³ 主耶和華如此說, 以色列家的城發出一千兵的, 只剩一百, 發出一百的, 只剩十個。

⁴ 耶和華向以色列家如此說, 你們要尋求我, 就必存活。⁵ 不要往伯特利尋求, 不要進入吉甲, 不要過到別是巴, 因為吉甲必被擄掠, 伯特利也必歸於無有。⁶ 要尋求耶和華, 就必存活, 免得他在約瑟家像火發出, 在伯特利焚燒, 無人撲滅。⁷ 你們這使公平變為茵蔯, 將公義丟棄於地的, ⁸ 要尋求那造昴星和參星, 使死蔭變為晨光, 使白日變為黑夜, 命海水來澆在地上的, 耶和華是他的名, ⁹ 他使力強的忽遭滅亡, 以致保障遭遇毀壞。¹⁰ 你們怨恨那在城門口責備人的, 憎惡那說正直話的。¹¹ 你們踐踏貧民, 向他們勒索麥子, 你們用鑿過的石頭建造房屋, 卻不得住在其內, 栽種美好的葡萄園, 卻不得喝所出的酒。¹² 我知道你們的罪過何等多, 你們的罪惡何等大, 你們苦待義人, 收受賄賂, 在城門口屈枉窮乏人。¹³ 所以通達人見這樣的時勢, 必靜默不言, 因為時勢真惡。¹⁴ 你們要求善, 不要求惡, 就必存活。這樣, 耶和華萬軍之神必照你們所說的, 與你們同在。¹⁵ 要惡惡好善, 在城門口秉公行義, 或者耶和華萬軍之神向約瑟的餘民施恩。

5:1-3阿摩司先知為以色列人作哀歌, 因為神的審判要臨到了, 這是絕望的光境; 但在5:15最後一句卻說: 5:15 或者耶和華萬軍之神向約瑟的餘民施恩。他們或者還有機會, 神要向餘民施恩, 使他們不至完全的滅亡, 他們還有盼望。

4-14之間發生了什麼事? 這可能成為以色列生存的機會。4-8先知要他們尋求神。14-15先知要他們尋求善。其實神就是善, 主耶穌在世上的時候, 有一少年的官來尋求永生, 他開口就對主耶穌說: 良善的夫子, 主耶穌馬上回應說, 除了神沒有良善的。對, 只有神才是真正的良善, 所以尋求神就是尋求良善, 但怎樣尋求神呢？

1. 不要以宗教活動代替尋求神

5:5 不要往伯特利尋求, 不要進入吉甲, 不要過到別是巴, 因為吉甲必被擄掠, 伯特利也必歸於無有。神三次對他們說「不要」; 不要往伯特利尋求, 不要進入吉甲, 不要過到別是巴。伯特利, 吉甲, 別是巴都是以色列人宗教的聖地, 他們在這裡有很多宗教式的活動, 但神說不要再去了, 不要以宗教活動代替尋求神。

這對廿一世紀的教會是很大的提醒, 我們常以參加教會為屬靈的標準, 你參加越多聚會就越屬靈, 但神要的不是活動, 神要的是我們, 是我們對祂的心。我們還有機會的, 但不要再只樂於參加活動, 聚會, 乃是全心全意的尋求祂。

2. 要尋求那位創造者與那位道德的維持者

5:6 要尋求耶和華, 就必存活。先知在這裡特別提到神二個屬性:

• 第一.神的創造性。5:8 要尋求那造昴星和參星, 使死蔭變為晨光, 使白日變為黑夜, 命海水來澆在地上的, 耶和華是他的名。神是宇宙萬物的創造者, 我們要尋求這位獨一的真神, 我們要放下所有的偶像, 因為只有祂是獨一的真神。
• 第二.神是道德的維持者。從10-13節, 神讓我們看見一些社會不公平的現象, 神卻提一個解決的方法, 以善勝惡, 不要以惡報惡, 因為這樣耶和華萬軍之神必與你們同在。

神不單是天上創造者, 祂更是地上道德的維持者, 我們要尋求祂, 行祂所喜悅的, 這樣, 我們在這困難的環境裡才有出路啊!

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