I’m not an OT scholar by any stretch. I’m not in my office where I can consult my commentaries or investigate things further. I’m at my kitchen table where I am most every morning with just my Bible, my journal and several other aids to use during my Quiet Time. Oh yeah…and the Holy Spirit. 🙂  And I’m trying to make sense of something I read this morning in Amos. A couple observations:

1. In chapter 4 the phrase “yet you did not return to me” appears several times (6,8,9,10,11). Each time that statement follows God’s judgment by an act on Israel. “I gave you lack of bread.” “I withheld rain.” “I struck you with blight and mildew.” etc. It seems to me that God has done these things to bring them back to Himself. He even says, “Therefore I will do this to you…prepare to meet your God.”
2. In chapter 5 two statements  grabbed my attention. “Seek good and not evil…Hate evil and love good.” (14,15) But a little later in the same chapter He tells them He hates-despises- their outward displays (21-23).  He even tells them He will send them into exile. (27)

I think it is safe to say God is not happy with the conduct and outward show of Israel! 🙂  They did not respond to His harsh treatment (ch.4) and He is not happy with their outward display, which I take it is mere hypocrisy.

That definitely got me to thinking of me. Have I missed God’s “hammer/chisel” on my life? And has my life/is my life simply one of outward display-of going through the motions-instead of heartfelt surrender and worship?

“Father, You are serious about following You. Sometimes you get my attention through tough times; sometimes through judgment. You certainly aren’t happy with my lack of ‘heart’ that I sometimes bring to the table. May my life be a sincere effort to follow You.”