Sharper Iron — The Day Is Surely Drawing Near: The Trial for Justification

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Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 3:9-15.

The prophet Amos pictures a courtroom scene in these verses. The LORD summons Israel’s archenemies, Philistia and Egypt, to serve as witnesses against Samaria in the northern kingdom. The LORD brings forward the evidence against Israel. In their storing of wealth as the source of their security and at the expense of the weak, Israel has in fact only stored up violence and robbery for themselves, a danger that all should guard against when it comes to money. The LORD speaks the verdict and punishment against Israel. He will send an adversary against them; though a remnant will be spared, the scene remains a gruesome and near-complete destruction of Israel for her injustice and idolatry. Like the father Jacob had been a deceiver, so Israel had believed and lived. Israel had placed her trust in the wrong houses, the idolatrous house of Bethel and the luxurious houses in which they lived. The LORD would bring them to an end. The depth of the bad news of Amos’ courtroom scene allows us to grasp the height of the good news of the Savior. What could Israel say in her own defense to the LORD’s accusations? What can we say in our own defense to the LORD’s accusations? There is no righteousness of our own that we can offer. Instead, we can only put our trust in the righteousness of Another, the righteousness that is freely given to us by our Savior, Jesus Christ. He alone is our Advocate whose perfect life, death, and resurrection can deliver the verdict to us: “Forgiven.”

“The Day Is Surely Drawing Near” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that digs into the book of Amos. This Old Testament prophet speaks the LORD’s roaring Word in order to call us first to repentance over our idolatry and injustice and second to faith in the Messiah in the line of David, Jesus Christ. Only through faith in Him will we stand forgiven and redeemed on the coming Day of the LORD.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Amos 3:9-15

9 Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod
and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt,
and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria,
and see the great tumults within her,
and the oppressed in her midst.”
10 “They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord,
“those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.”

11 Therefore thus says the Lord God:

“An adversary shall surround the land
and bring down[a] your defenses from you,
and your strongholds shall be plundered.”

12 Thus says the Lord: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part[b] of a bed.

13 “Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,”
declares the Lord God, the God of hosts,
14 “that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions,
I will punish the altars of Bethel,
and the horns of the altar shall be cut off
and fall to the ground.
15 I will strike the winter house along with the summer house,
and the houses of ivory shall perish,
and the great houses[c] shall come to an end,”
declares the Lord.

Footnotes:

Amos 3:11 Hebrew An adversary, one who surrounds the land—he shall bring down

Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

Amos 3:15 Or and many houses

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.