Day 31 - 40 Days in the Old Testament

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Old Testament
Day  31| SEEK GOOD, NOT EVIL, THAT YOU MAY LIVE
SEEK GOOD, NOT EVIL, THAT YOU MAY LIVE

Amos 2:4
“This is what the Lord says: ‘The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They have rejected the instruction of the Lord, refusing to obey his decrees. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors.’” 
(NLT)

Like the other prophets, God called Amos – who lived in Judah - to warn God's people… including the northern Kingdom of Israel. God told him to point out that they were sinning against God, and if they did not stop, severe punishment and even captivity was coming. Amos' prophecies did not move the Israelites, mainly because the nation was experiencing great success and prosperity.

Amos was allowed by God to see beneath the prosperity the kingdom was experiencing to the corruption and sinfulness of the leaders and the people. Amos then pronounces judgment upon the surrounding nations, including his own nation of Judah, but mostly upon the nation of Israel.

The LORD also led Amos to pronouncement judgment on those who did not care for truth, justice, or the poor.  In Amos 5 he said:
“How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth! You trample the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses, you will never live in them. Though you plant lush vineyards, you will never drink wine from them.  For I know the vast number of your sins and the depth of your rebellions. You oppress good people by taking bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.”
“So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time. Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live. Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.”

America, too, has enjoyed a high degree of success and prosperity. But we, too, must repent and turn away from similar corruption and sinfulness or we too might fall.

Prayer: LORD, wake us up, and help us to repent and turn back to You. Amen.