You only have I chosen

You only have I chosen

Scripture: “You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.” Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?  Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing? Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground when no bait is there? Does a trap spring up from the ground if it has not caught anything? When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:2-7

Observation: The Scripture today begins with the Lord reminding Israel that they were chosen out of all the families of the earth and therefore would be judged more severely. The warning is applicable too for us who have tasted the goodness of the Lord and still turned away and followed after evil. As Hebrews 10:29 says of those who deliberately go on sinning after knowing the Lord- “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” We must never lose the fear of the Lord, but endeavor to always live our lives reverently before God, seeking to be righteous like Jesus by depending on the Holy Spirit who is with us.

The next few verses remind us of the logic of cause and effect. Two don’t walk together unless they have agreed to walk together. A lion roars when it has prey. A bird swoops down to a trap because bait is there. In the first picture of two walking together, we are reminded of Psalm 1 which says that blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. Each one of us has a choice whether to walk in the ways of the world or walk in the ways of Christ. If we are walking in the way of the world, it is because we have agreed to walk in it. The analogy of the bird and the trap reminds us of the temptations of the world which bait men. Power, lust, greed in different areas call out to us, and many fall into the trap. James Chapter 1 says that each one is tempted when by his own evil desire he is dragged away and enticed. We have to accept that temptation is part of life. Even our Lord was tempted. It is for us to stand up against temptation by depending on the power of the Holy Spirit who is with us.

The last verse speaks of the Lord doing nothing without revealing His plans to His servants the prophets. This shows us the loving heart of the Lord who involves human men like you and me in His divine plans. Each one of us who are in the Lord can become God’s messenger to others. This also shows the heart of the Lord for the human race as a whole. Peter clearly writes that God does not want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Application: Remember to fear and revere the Lord, knowing that our privileged position in knowing Christ also means more will be expected of us in how we live our lives. Let us desire to grow more and more in the Lord and to live by His Holy Spirit. Remember that temptations are part of our lives and the world will call us to depart from our values in the Lord. Depend on God for help in all circumstances. Praise God that He reveals His plans always to His servants. Pray for a greater understanding and revelation of God’s plans for us in these last days.  

Prayer: Father God, may Your name be praised forever. Guard my heart O Lord, let me always remember to fear You for You are our great and awesome God. Help me grow more and more in You O Lord. In my hours of temptation be my strength. As I seek you, help me Lord know you more and your great plans. In Jesus name, Amen