Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
2 “You only have I known
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
for all your iniquities.
After World War One, America settled into a time of prosperity and we hear stories of the Roaring Twenties. There was a good economy, Jazz and cinema was changing the culture, and everyone was happy. Then came the Great Depression and the thirties roared back. Here, Amos was prophesying to a prosperous and strong Israel. They were enjoying themselves and this meant idolatry during the reign of Jeroboam II, much like they did under the reign of the first Jeroboam who basically made up a religion. God warned them through Amos, Jonah, and Hosea that he would punish them for their sin. They were too busy with their lives to take heed of the warnings.
Here we are, 2,700 years later in America. It is not exactly the Roaring Twenties this time but we are far from poverty. We have a world of information at our fingertips and always seem to have more than enough to eat. The culture has definitely changed to one that makes idols of their desires and preferences. There is no room for God in their equations of what constitutes right and wrong. God will have something to say about that when Jesus returns as the Judge of the world. Praise God that he brought us out of slavery to sin!
Dear Lord, thank you for sparing us from the wrath to come. We pray for those who reject you and will suffer for their iniquities. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church