Amos - The Lesson of National Accountability

Amos 4:12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Outline

General Judgments - Chs. 1-2

1. Against Nations (1:1-2:3)

2. Against Judah (2:4-5)

3. Against Israel (2:6-16)

Specific Judgments Against Israel - Chs. 3-6

1. Sins of Presumption (3:1-15)

2. Sin of Religious Orthodoxy (4:1-13)

3. Sin of Moral/Ethical Corruption (5:1-6:14)

Symbolic Visions of the Coming Judgment - Chs. 7:1-9:1

The Promised Messianic Blessings - Ch. 9:11-15

        Three Lessons for Us to Learn

God is long suffering, but He is also Holy. (1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6)

1. Long suffering is patience without apathy.

2. 1 Corinthians 13:4

3. 1 Peter 3:20

4. God is patient – But that patience has an end.

5. He must judge sin.

God is not a respecter of persons. (3:2) cf. 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1; 1 Peter 1:17

1. He will judge the lost.

2. He will chasten His own.

3. You are not ready to fight and win against God. (4:12)

God can use anyone who will let Him use him. (7:14)

1. Amos was “untrained.”

2. “Let a man know himself called and sent by God, then there will be no hesitancy or fear in his heart. Only let him be indeed sure of this, or in spite of all ‘training’ he will lack authority and power.” - G. Campbell Morgan

3. Will you let God use you?