GOD FIVE CALLS TO REPENTANCE

Introduction: The book of Amos is about God's passion for justice, anger with injustice, and judgment as an on going part of God's relationship with the people.

“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: You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:1-2).

Notice in Chapter 4 God called for repentance and the phrase “Yet have ye not returned unto Me” was mentioned five times in Amos chapter 4 each related to God punishment upon them yet Israel has not returned to God.  Let us see the first:

1.        1. Lack of Bread – Amos 4:6

“I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me, declares the Lord.”

Lack of bread is of the necessity of all human lives. We could die without bread. This is famine in their land.

Today’s Christian life it could mean spiritual bread. Yes, in a spiritual context, a "lack of spiritual bread" can indeed symbolize a lack of the Word of God, as Jesus affirmed, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God".

Amos 8:11, 12

11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.”

Most people think the worst kind of famine is a famine of bread, but Amos reminded Israel that the worst kind of famine is a famine… of hearing the words of the LORD.

Notice carefully the nature of this famine. It is not a lack of God’s Word, but a famine… of hearing the words of the LORD.

2. Lack of Water Environment – Amos 4:7,8

“I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up. 8 People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

a.   I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city: God made the provision of rain so specific, they would know it was from His hand. Yet the message did not get through to them.

3.Lack of Fruitfulness/Prosperity – Amos 4:9

“I blasted you with blight and mildew. When your gardens increased, Your vineyards, Your fig trees, And your olive trees, The locust devoured them; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD.

Israel would not listen to the chastisement of the LORD, His hand grew more and more heavy upon them. You were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; yet you have not returned to Me: God saw Israel as a glowing ember plucked from the fires of judgment, like the judgment that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah. God spared them, they did not respond in gratitude – they have not returned to God. (Guzik)

4. Lack of Wholeness - Amos 4:10

“I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt;  Your young men I killed with a sword, Along with your captive horses; I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD.

As articulated in Amos 4:10, the refusal of the Israelites to heed their condition and repent is illustrate a profound spiritual blindness.

5. Lack of Godliness  - Amos 4:10

“I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

This wasn’t a demonstration of God’s anger, but of His gracious love.  If we will not turn back, the hand of chastisement grows heavier and heavier, out of loving desire to see our repentance.

B) God vows to perform what He has promised. Vs. 12-13

“Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you,
Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

a. Prepare to meet your God: This is a sober warning, appropriate for all men at all times, because we never know when we will meet our God in eternity. Because we don’t know when, we must always be prepared to meet our God – but this is especially true for those facing the judgment of God. (Guzik)

b. We recognize that one day all will stand before God and give an account. Hebrews 9:27 states, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment," meaning that death is followed by judgment. For sinners its eternal judgment and for saints it’s the Bema Judgment where rewards will be given.

Conclusion: Let us not be stubborn and ignorant of God’s judgment. Let us repent of our wrong doings and let Him change our lifestyle in accordance to His Will and Purpose.