Amos - The God Of Justice - Preach The Word

THE GOD OF JUSTICE
David Legge
there is a sifting out happening now, but there is a sifting out that's going to happen
on that great day of judgement between the good seed and the chaff.
Oh, you've been with me these nights, and I hope you've shared in Amos' burden -
the God of justice accusing the nations, and God's people along with them; charging
them with aimlessness, and affluence, and apathy. Showing these five visions of a
plague of locusts, a devouring fire, a plumbline, a basket of summer fruit ripe for the
picking, and a ruined Temple - and He's calling on His people to come back. Is there
any hope? I heard the story years ago of an S4 submarine that plummeted down to
the depths of the ocean, and that was in grave trouble, and the oxygen supply was
being exhausted. They sent down rescue divers to see if they could salvage any life,
and they put their ear to the side of that vessel to see if they could hear anything, and
they heard a tapping in Morse code - and it was four words: 'Is there any hope?'. The
nation of Israel is sinking, the church of the West is sinking - is there any hope? Yes!
There is hope!
Amos closes this chapter in a note of victory, the promise of the future restoration of
Israel. Verse 11 of chapter 9: 'On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it
as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the
Gentiles who are called by My name', says the LORD who does this thing'. If you go
home and read Acts 15, you will read those very words recited at the first church
council in Jerusalem, because today in the church God is calling out a nation of people
of all nations for Himself, a peculiar people. I believe God still has a plan for Israel and
the house of David in Judah in a day that is yet to be, but the promise is, listen: God
will fulfil His word, God will honour His covenant, God will live up to His character -
the God of justice. Though we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny
Himself.
Have you seen the God of justice this week? What will you do with the vision that God
has given to you? You're responsible now. If you have heard His voice, harden not
your heart. Let us pray. What is your need tonight? Maybe you're an unbeliever, and I
know I haven't been preaching an evangelistic message, but the entrance of God's
Word brings light, and maybe you have seen a just God before whom you will have to
answer. It is appointed unto men once to die, and after it the judgement. Will you
repent and flee to Calvary where Jesus bled and died for you, where He suffered for
your sins and take your place, bore your judgement, endured your hell? Will you look
to Him and live? Backslider, do you understand why God is chastising and disciplining
you, because your back is toward Him and you're grieving His heart. He is a God of
justice, will you come back to Him tonight? Believer, lukewarm, will you be fired for
God? You've seen who He is, He is a consuming fire - what will you do? You're now
responsible for the ministry of both mornings and evenings this week - what will you
do? Church leaders, elders, ministers, pastors, what will you do? There's something
for you to do now. The Rev Hamilton Moore of Connor Presbyterian Church, just
before the revival of 1859, he said to some of those young men who ended up in a
prayer meeting in Kells, he said to them: 'Do something more for God'. Is that what
God's asking you to do?
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