Seek me and live…” Almost as simple as John 3:16, isn’t it? But how often do we instead “seek Bethel” or “go to Gilgal” or “journey to Beersheba” instead of seeking the Lord?  Only God offers us an abundant life here and an abundant everlasting life later. The ways of the world only offer the temporary and the illusion of abundant. Sin seeks to destroy but hope is found only in God.
 

Amos mentions a couple of constellations. As we learned in another study, Deep Sea Diving into Genesis 1, the consistency and orderliness of the heavens and all their host challenges us to look beyond them to our Creator.

You "...despise him who tells the truth."  Many times we want to turn a deaf ear to the truth and want only lies that make us feel good.  But, of course that is not what God wants of us.  That's why He sends us prophets.  They may be telling things the people don't want to hear but they are bringing warnings from God.  "Cotton candy" preaching and teaching may taste good momentarily but it is not nourishment and leaves people feeling unsatisfied.

DAY OF THE LORD asks the question, "Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light." It seems to be a contradiction. Shouldn't we as Believers long for the day of the Lord and the return of Jesus? This verse is for the non-believers. We have no fear of that day that brings darkness because we are children of the light.

EMPTINESS OF RITUAL asks the question, “What is the attitude of our heart in worship?” The religious feasts that are being spoken of are those that are not God-ordained, but "traditions of men", most often tied to pagan festivals. Do we have any of those in our churches today?  God says, "I hate, I despise your religious feasts."  Does that mean that God hates our man-made holidays that take the place of His God-ordained Holy Days?

Amos rebukes the people for their pride and complacency. "Woe to you who are complacent..."  Are we as believers complacent or apathetic concerning God's warnings to us as individuals, to us as the established church, to us as a nation?  

The people had built luxurious homes to flaunt their achievements. Sound like today? It's not wrong to live in comfortable houses, but not as a source of pride and self-glorification.

“Look, I am setting up a plumb line among my people…”
What a great visual He has given us. His Word is our plumb line that helps us to be aware of our sin. It shows us how far off we are.

In the visions of Amos, God illustrates the figurative and symbolic with the literal.  There was great hope in some of the visions, when Amos interceded on behalf of the people God relented and did not send the disasters. Does that mean there is hope for us?

UNETHICAL RELIGION lays out a description of what happens with the people once their man-made holidays are over.  They continue in their dishonest ways.

Very sad words, “…a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.”
Sad words, but so true for today. We are experiencing a “falling away” as we head toward these last days. But there is hope. If we witness to our circle of influence, if we encourage our acquaintances, friends and family to read and study God’s Word, if we share with them what we understand, then we will be doing our part to give them “food for thought” and end the famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

One thing comes through loud and clear in the prophecies of Amos. No one can escape God's judgment. Good news for the faithful. Bad news for the unfaithful.

Today’s reading ends with a very positive note. No matter how far away we stray we have the hope of restoration. Praise God!