Wednesday 08 May 2024

Psalm 116

Background

In chapter 3 Amos describes God’s observations as he gazed on his people and saw the huge gap between their words and actions. Their behaviour was characterised by corruption, deceit and self-interest, leading them to disregard their responsibilities towards their neighbours. They prioritised wealth, leading to a wicked oppression of the poor.

God’s judgement was harsh because he had called them and loved them deeply, making it devastating when they turned away. God lamented the way the chosen people behaved in failing to use their God-given wealth and influence to provide a remedy for poverty and God vowed to punish them for it (v. 2). God declared that his love and favour for Israel could not continue if their sinful behaviour persisted, just as two people cannot walk together unless they have agreed to walk in agreement with each other (v. 3).

God wanted his anger at Israel’s actions to be clear to all, and desired everyone to know that the punishment came from God's hand. It wasn’t an accident or bad luck but rather a direct consequence of their rejection of God. Yet despite God’s anguish, God did not act in haste. He first revealed his plans to the prophets and so Amos spoke of the coming judgement upon Israel to give the nation the opportunity to repent and avoid their fate.

The destruction that God’s judgement brought was catastrophic and vast, and led to Israel being conquered and exiled. The prophecy “so shall the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued” (v. 12) was fulfilled around 40 years after Amos made this prophecy in the Assyrian exile of Israel.

The final verses of today’s reading tell us that God’s wrath was directed at not only the shrines the people built to other gods, but also at the symbols of their idolatry of wealth and riches.

There is much to challenge us here. We, too, prioritise our own wants and desires over others. We can fail to see the suffering of others or, worse, we can be aware of it and fail to act. How often do we pursue other idols (money, recognition, personal satisfaction) at the expense of God? Praising God and spending time in God’s presence can easily become an afterthought and no longer central to our lives. How can we ensure we don’t become like the people of Israel?

To Ponder:

• What does it mean to be a child of God? What are the benefits? What are the responsibilities?
• An idol is something that takes a significant place in our life and to which we give more thought, time and money than we do to God. What are the biggest idols of our society?

Prayer
Lord help us to put you at the centre of all we do. May we not see you as ‘extra’ to our daily lives. Forgive us when we pursue selfish ends and help us to see the futility of a life based on false idols. Open our eyes to the needs of those around us and open our hearts to be people of compassion and care for those who are struggling. Let us remember to look up and not around us, walking in step with you in love, gratitude and service.

Bible notes author: Cara Macdonald
Cara lives with her husband and five children in Glasgow, where she works for the Evangelical Alliance as the assistant to the Scottish Director. She attends Newton Mearns Baptist Church and is also involved with the work of Reigate Methodist Church in Surrey, where she came to faith.