Good morning!
Text: Amos 7-9; Ecclesiastes 8
For me, one of the high points of Amos is his confrontation with Amaziah, the priest of Bethel. The Lord has sent Amos north – to the northern kingdom of Israel to prophecy. He is from the south, Judah, which makes him an interloper. Amaziah tries to tell him to beat it:
…Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ Now therefore hear the word of the Lord. (Amos 7:12-16)
Sometimes leaders in the church can begin to think that the church and the people belong to them. They can get territorial, even outright possessive. The message in these verses is clear. The people of God are His and His alone. I am so glad the church belongs to Jesus, and He is her head. Neither the leaders nor the people are in charge. I pray the Lord might protect us from thinking and acting like Amaziah. Instead, may we all have the humility, boldness and obedience of Amos.
in Him, Mike