Sharper Iron — The Day Is Surely Drawing Near: The Oracle against Israel

http://archives.kfuo.org/mp3/SI/SI_Oct_24_2019.mp3
Download Audio File

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson, MN and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bruno, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 2:6-16.

Amos has finished his prelude; now he begins the main content of his prophecy. The LORD has sent Amos to preach to and against Israel herself. The wording of this oracle is similar to the preceding seven, for Israel has behaved and believed no differently than her pagan neighbors. Masterfully weaving together both general and specific sins, Amos calls Israel out for her mistreatment of the poor and licentious sexual behavior. These are tied closely to their idolatry; wrong worship has led them into wrong living. Of all people, Israel should have known better, for the LORD had saved them in the past and was still bestowing His Word upon them in the present. Yet even these gifts Israel misused. For this reason, the LORD’s judgment was coming. Not even the best of their warriors would escape. The LORD did not give this judgment lightly or gladly, for His people’s sins had been His burden. This fact points us forward to the moment when the LORD Himself bears our sins on the cross. Jesus’ forgiving death is our only hope of salvation from God’s wrath, the hope to which He desires that we cling in repentance and faith.

“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 2:6-16

Judgment on Israel

6 Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals—
7 those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth
and turn aside the way of the afflicted;
a man and his father go in to the same girl,
so that my holy name is profaned;
8 they lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge,
and in the house of their God they drink
the wine of those who have been fined.

9 “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,
whose height was like the height of the cedars
and who was as strong as the oaks;
I destroyed his fruit above
and his roots beneath.
10 Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt
and led you forty years in the wilderness,
to possess the land of the Amorite.
11 And I raised up some of your sons for prophets,
and some of your young men for Nazirites.
Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.

12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine,
and commanded the prophets,
saying, ‘You shall not prophesy.’

13 “Behold, I will press you down in your place,
as a cart full of sheaves presses down.
14 Flight shall perish from the swift,
and the strong shall not retain his strength,
nor shall the mighty save his life;
15 he who handles the bow shall not stand,
and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself,
nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;
16 and he who is stout of heart among the mighty
shall flee away naked in that day,”
declares the Lord.