WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.040 Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist, now known as the father of psychoanalysis, 00:00:06.740 --> 00:00:15.179 believed that all of the world's problems came from the repression of deep desires for pleasure. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.559 All that to do with sex was his idea. 00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:26.740 And therefore, for him, the villains in society are the repressive moral gatekeepers. 00:00:26.739 --> 00:00:30.479 And particularly, he had his sights on the Christian church. 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:33.159 People need to be free to do whatever they want to do. 00:00:34.140 --> 00:00:43.500 Unlike Freud, however, the Christian worldview doesn't locate the problems of this world in one part of the world or in one group of people in the world. 00:00:43.599 --> 00:00:46.959 That is, Christianity doesn't blame religion for all the world's problems. 00:00:47.099 --> 00:00:49.539 It doesn't blame Muslim terrorists. 00:00:49.700 --> 00:00:51.039 It doesn't blame atheists. 00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:52.840 It doesn't blame big business. 00:00:52.980 --> 00:00:54.359 It doesn't blame immigrants. 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:58.119 It doesn't blame Donald Trump or anything like that. 00:00:58.179 --> 00:01:04.219 It locates the problem of this world, the universal problem, as sin. 00:01:04.519 --> 00:01:08.060 It's rejection of God, the creator God. 00:01:08.459 --> 00:01:16.840 And it locates a solution to the world's problems in the same God's gracious actions towards his rebellious creation. 00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:24.920 That is, the Christian worldview declares both a universal solution and a universal problem, or a universal problem with a universal solution. 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:40.480 And in this series in Amos, which we're launching into now, I'll be mentioning some core Christian beliefs that are connected to that worldview, which are repulsive to the average human ear. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:53.800 Sin, divine judgment, and in fact, even God's solution to the problem, that being the person of Jesus, are some of the most offensive elements of the Christian faith today. 00:01:53.799 --> 00:01:59.200 A good number of our society still believe in God. 00:01:59.259 --> 00:02:01.799 So don't believe the new atheists who say that most people are atheists. 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:02.439 That's not true. 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:04.439 Most people believe in God. 00:02:04.759 --> 00:02:07.079 Four out of five people in this world still believe in God. 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:20.840 Most, however, have arrived in their own minds at a God of love who supports them no matter how they live. 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:22.520 That's the job of God. 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:24.180 His job is to support me. 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:28.420 And so a survey of believers in the United States, this is Christian. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:34.379 These are Christian Bible-believing guys in the United States, 2006. 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:41.920 Only 31.5% of them believed in a God who would actually hold people accountable. 00:02:42.640 --> 00:02:43.420 One third of them. 00:02:43.939 --> 00:02:47.580 Two thirds of them, these are Bible-believing Christians in the United States. 00:02:47.580 --> 00:02:51.500 Two thirds of them came up with a concept that God's never going to hold us accountable. 00:02:52.540 --> 00:02:54.540 That's a God that they'd formed in their own minds. 00:02:55.420 --> 00:02:58.960 One person commented, I like to think of a kind God. 00:02:59.760 --> 00:03:02.700 A nice old man with a beard who wouldn't hurt anyone. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:09.340 The New Testament God who's a God of love and forgiveness and mercy and nice stuff. 00:03:10.580 --> 00:03:12.160 That's pleasant, isn't it? 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:13.880 And that's a common view. 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:18.439 It's like you've got the Old Testament God, he's kind of a bit nasty. 00:03:19.939 --> 00:03:23.680 So Richard Dawkins and all those kind of guys say, you know, God's just a bully. 00:03:24.460 --> 00:03:27.060 And then New Testament God, he kind of grew up. 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:31.219 Kind of got over the nasty stuff and became a God of love in the New Testament. 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:38.560 The question is, where do they get this concept that God is love? 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:40.860 Because you can't look at the world. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:43.419 And you can't look at history. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:50.699 And in fact, you can't even look at any of the major religions in this world and declare that God is love. 00:03:50.699 --> 00:04:00.280 There is no religion outside of biblical Christianity that says that God created this world out of love and out of delight. 00:04:00.859 --> 00:04:01.439 Not one. 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:02.560 Christianity is the only one. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:08.419 The source of the idea that God is love is the Bible itself. 00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:13.039 There's no other source for that except Christian scriptures. 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:26.360 And the Bible tells us that the God of love is also a God of judgment who will make all things in this world which has gone terribly wrong, will make it all right in the end. 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:37.020 And I want to suggest as we launch into this series that until we understand the fierce judgment and anger of God, 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:43.439 we will never grasp the beauty and the wonder and the depth of his grace, his mercy and his love. 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:50.199 Minimize the justice of God and you minimize the grace of God. 00:04:52.780 --> 00:04:54.259 Gut one, you gut the other. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:05:03.660 See, what if the nature of God is to be deeply moved to anger by injustice? 00:05:03.900 --> 00:05:04.980 Wouldn't you actually want that? 00:05:06.020 --> 00:05:07.639 I mean, you look at this world, the messiest world. 00:05:07.780 --> 00:05:14.560 You know, when you stop to think of it, don't you really want a God who is in fact enraged by the injustices in this world at the moment? 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:20.400 And that's the God we meet at the beginning of the book of Amos. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:22.340 The God who roars. 00:05:22.340 --> 00:05:22.980 Look at verse 2. 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:23.220 It says, 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:28.120 The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:36.720 So the very first thing that comes out of Amos' mouth is an image of God who is a lion on the prowl. 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:39.000 A lion who's roaring. 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:48.680 Now, lions can be 1.2 meters high, 3 meters long, weigh 200 kilos, can run it for a short distance up to 80 kilometers an hour, 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:51.000 and have got paws the size of shovels. 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:54.100 They're meant to be a fearsome beast. 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:55.500 They are the king of the beasts. 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:59.860 And when you're confronted with one, awe is the picture. 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:07.920 A number of years ago, I was in Singapore, and I was visiting the baboons in the, not specifically visiting them. 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:13.600 I was going through the zoo, and I came to the baboon section. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:19.300 And I, I shouldn't really tell you this, but anyway, the first thing I did was I found this banana. 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:23.100 And so I got this banana, and I hooked it into the baboons. 00:06:23.580 --> 00:06:29.139 And when you've got 60 baboons and one banana, it's, it's entertainment is what it is. 00:06:29.280 --> 00:06:30.040 It's fantastic. 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:34.200 But anyway, I moved on from that, and there's this baboon. 00:06:34.199 --> 00:06:37.620 And now baboons have got big teeth, and they're a fairly fearsome kind of beast, right? 00:06:38.479 --> 00:06:43.459 This baboon is there behind the glass, big glass panel, this sort of viewing area, 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:47.379 and this baboon's sitting there in the corner doing what baboons do, you know, 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:48.980 licking itself or scratching itself or something. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:53.360 And so I get down, and I get eye contact with this baboon. 00:06:54.039 --> 00:06:59.139 And I'm just staring it down just to see what will happen and see whether or not I can get this thing stirred up at all. 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:04.139 And, and it's kind of glancing at me, and I'm staring at it, and it's glancing at me. 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:05.699 And it's going back, doing it, it's glancing at me. 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:09.959 And then all of a sudden, it just stopped, and it just, I got eye contact with this baboon. 00:07:10.279 --> 00:07:14.659 And all of a sudden, I don't know what it did, but it snapped, and it just launched itself at the glass, 00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:18.819 right to me where I was, and bang, it hit the glass, and I fell backwards, 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:22.539 much to the amusement of this Japanese tourist which were all there. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:25.539 I was scared of baboon. 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:31.459 So a couple of weeks later, I'm at Taronga Zoo, and I thought I'd do the same thing for the lions and see what happens. 00:07:32.039 --> 00:07:35.279 And a lion's walking past, so I'm trying to get eye contact with the lion and stare it down. 00:07:35.539 --> 00:07:39.819 And just in one moment, it stopped, and it looked at me. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:42.079 And it's like this far away from me through the glass. 00:07:42.419 --> 00:07:44.579 And I'm like, okay, it's time to go and see the tigers now. 00:07:44.979 --> 00:07:49.419 You know, like, I was so, I mean, there's a big, thick panel of glass there. 00:07:49.419 --> 00:07:52.759 And even in that moment, it's like, oh my goodness, my heart started pounding. 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:55.659 These are fearsome animals. 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:59.399 So you can imagine, you know, Amos here, he's not a professional prophet. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:07.199 Very first verses tell us that he's a shepherd, and he's out there as a shepherd, taking care of his sheep. 00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:13.539 And he hears a lion roar in the distance. 00:08:13.540 --> 00:08:16.600 And it's dark. 00:08:17.260 --> 00:08:21.640 He's got his sheep, and he's armed with a really big, effective weapon, like a big stick. 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:25.319 And in that moment, he gets scared. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:27.600 He gets scared. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:33.600 That's the picture of God that we're meant to have as we launch into Amos. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:41.680 See, Amos is here minding his own business down in the southern village of Tekoa, 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:47.040 looking after his sheep and his fig trees, and God pushes him into action. 00:08:47.920 --> 00:08:49.120 He's not a professional prophet. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:55.600 Pastoral search committee looking for a senior pastor would not be very interested or impressed by this dude's credentials. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:09:00.220 But God doesn't see what we see. 00:09:00.940 --> 00:09:04.460 His job is to preach a message of God's judgment to the north. 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:10.460 Now, it's really helpful as we jump into these early parts of Amos to understand that at this point, 00:09:10.540 --> 00:09:13.840 we're dipping into the Old Testament story towards the end of it. 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:17.700 Halfway through the story, the kingdom of Israel has split. 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:22.920 After King Solomon, there's a civil war because of the sin of Solomon. 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:28.319 And instead of a united Israel, what we now have is a split Israel. 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:32.919 There's Israel to the north and there's Judah to the south. 00:09:33.139 --> 00:09:36.500 Kind of like Tasmania and the rest of Australia kind of thing. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:41.000 Little guys down the south who've got a chip on their shoulder and the rest of the country. 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:48.059 Now, except in this case, there's blood which has been spilt and there's a simmering tension. 00:09:48.580 --> 00:09:50.440 Not right at this particular moment. 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:53.299 They've had a relatively amount of peace for about 20 years. 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:57.000 But right here, there's still this simmering tension. 00:09:57.139 --> 00:10:00.200 So the two tribes down to the south, they're known as Judah. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:02.340 They're only small. 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:04.340 There's only two of them of the original 12. 00:10:04.340 --> 00:10:06.639 But they've got the temple and they've got Jerusalem. 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:12.280 And 10 tribes in the north, they've kept naming rights. 00:10:12.420 --> 00:10:13.620 You know, they haven't got the temple, they haven't got Jerusalem. 00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:14.360 They've got naming rights. 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:16.040 So they're still called Israel. 00:10:16.540 --> 00:10:20.280 And they've got this breakaway altar at Bethel where they bring their sacrifices. 00:10:20.460 --> 00:10:22.980 And we'll pop back into that in the coming weeks. 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:34.460 And so into this simmering tension comes Amos from the south with a word especially for Bethel and the northern tribes. 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:43.800 He would not have been well received coming from the south, a shepherd and a shepherd from this little village. 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:46.100 But Amos is no fool. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:51.460 He almost has their attention right from the very beginning as he launches into this. 00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:58.360 Because what he does is he starts to pronounce judgment on Israel's neighbors. 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:01.360 He mentions six of them in the first couple of chapters. 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:03.340 And there's a repeated pattern. 00:11:04.300 --> 00:11:06.580 Each judgment starts exactly the same way. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:10.560 Chapter 1 in verse 3, verse 6, verse 9, 11, 13. 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:15.139 And chapter 2, verse 1 with this is what the Lord says. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:19.580 This is the God proclaiming judgment on these nations. 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:21.840 The God that these nations did not know. 00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:28.100 And in each judgment, we see God saying, 00:11:28.340 --> 00:11:34.580 For three sins of whoever it is, even for four, I will not relent. 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:44.740 In other words, God has been keeping a very careful record and account of all the sins of these nations. 00:11:44.740 --> 00:11:47.940 He's got them numbered. 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:50.620 The evidence is all there. 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:54.399 He sees it all and nothing escapes his attention. 00:11:54.580 --> 00:11:57.259 And then comes, in each case, a description of their sins. 00:11:57.340 --> 00:12:00.299 So Damascus, they're treating people as if they have no worth. 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:02.480 Gaza, treating people for profit. 00:12:02.680 --> 00:12:06.620 Tyre, breaking a word against a brother in order to use him for profit. 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:10.019 Edom, unrestrained hatred and spite towards a brother. 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:13.980 Ammon, ambition and uncontrolled violence against the helpless. 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:20.500 What's described here in these six nations is war crimes and human rights abuses. 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:22.620 Take Damascus. 00:12:22.699 --> 00:12:24.299 We'll just pick on Damascus for a moment. 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:26.019 What's Damascus done? 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.319 The second half of verse 3 says, 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:32.939 Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth. 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:42.340 Back in those days, these have these big, heavy machines that had these iron teeth, 00:12:42.520 --> 00:12:50.380 which were curved upwards, that were dragged across the harvested crops. 00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:56.320 And the idea was that it would split out the grains from the straw and all the other rubbish. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:13:06.580 And the picture here is what's happened is that Damascus or the Arameans have got these huge bits of gear. 00:13:07.140 --> 00:13:12.020 They've hooked them up to their beasts and they've laid their captives, 00:13:12.760 --> 00:13:18.180 their enemies' prostate on the ground and they've dragged these machines across the top of them 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:22.480 and slaughtered them in the most despicable way imaginable. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:25.779 It's an atrocity. 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:26.759 It's a war crime. 00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:29.259 There's no mercy. 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:33.080 These people were treated like objects. 00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:36.200 And so what will God do about it? 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:36.659 Verse 4, 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:41.220 I will send fire upon the house of Haziel that will consume the fortress of Ben-Hadad. 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:43.259 I will break down the gate of Damascus. 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:46.180 I will destroy the king who is in the valley of Avon. 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:50.139 All six of these nations are guilty of war crimes against humanity. 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:53.399 And the penalty is in every case, it says God will destroy them by fire. 00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:59.460 It's an Old Testament picture of the judgment of God. 00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:02.699 It's normally judgment of God in the Old Testament is normally described as fire. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:07.520 So if you're looking at a map here, 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:17.020 we'd notice that every one of Israel's neighbors is going to be judged by God and it's going to burn. 00:14:17.280 --> 00:14:20.900 And the picture here for Israel coming out of the mouth of Amos is, 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.460 guys, you're going to look around and you're just going to see smoke everywhere. 00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:25.120 They're going to burn. 00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:27.600 You're going to be judged. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:33.639 And Israel would have been listening to this from this prophet from the south and gone, 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:38.379 actually, that's great. 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:42.320 We've had problems with these people for ages. 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:43.740 Good on you, God. 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:44.320 Yes. 00:14:45.040 --> 00:14:46.279 Wicked pagans. 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:48.399 Destroy them all. 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.379 Let justice be done. 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:57.679 At the very least, these pronouncers are reminded that God is sovereign over all nations and all people. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:01.399 Even though they didn't have the word of God, 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:03.360 they weren't without moral responsibility, 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:06.100 even though they didn't have direct knowledge of God, 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:08.100 but they did have direct accountability to God. 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:12.259 Even though they might not have the law of God written in tablets of stone, 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:15.659 they did have the law of God written on their consciences. 00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:19.559 But that's not the case for Judah. 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:29.259 You can maybe feel the crowd go just a little bit silent at this point in Amos 2, verse 4, 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.899 when Amos says, 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:35.439 For three sins of Judah, even for four, 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:39.820 I will not relent or I will not turn back my wrath. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:44.820 Now, Amos is probably most likely won over his audience at this point 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:45.759 until he starts, 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:46.980 Judah? 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:51.460 That's a little bit close to home. 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:58.879 Israel expected God to be angry with the neighbours for all their atrocities, 00:15:58.940 --> 00:16:01.420 but now he's talking about the people of God. 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:02.759 And look at the charges. 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:08.080 You see, the human rights abusers get God riled, no matter who does it. 00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:09.940 But this is different. 00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.899 This bit's personal. 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:16.439 Judah has the words of God's covenant and they have ignored it. 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:20.879 Back in Deuteronomy, God said to his people, 00:16:21.319 --> 00:16:23.600 Make sure that when I take you into the promised land, 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:25.139 that you don't go following other gods, 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:27.840 or I'm going to throw you out of the promised land, frankly. 00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:30.459 And look at what Judah's done. 00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:31.259 Chapter 2, verse 4, 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:44.220 See, there's one thing that really angers God. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:46.899 It's when his covenant people, 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:50.960 his special people devote themselves to gods of wood and stone 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:54.220 and gold and plastic and metal and brick and cement. 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:58.420 When they become just like the people around them. 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:02.420 Judah has had a history of God's revealed presence 00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:04.500 and his mighty deeds in their midst. 00:17:04.600 --> 00:17:05.519 They've got a history of it. 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:10.460 They also have a history of the prophets who proclaim God's word to them. 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:14.079 And yet what we see here is having God's word 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:18.140 is no substitute for embracing God's word 00:17:18.140 --> 00:17:20.940 and the God behind his word. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.839 Judah had it. 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:25.299 They had the word of God, but they didn't embrace it. 00:17:26.699 --> 00:17:29.359 And God's going to judge Judah as well, just like the rest. 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:35.019 Now, it must have been tempting, I think, at this point for Amos to go, 00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:37.079 that's the final point of my sermon. 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:40.559 Must have been so tempted to stop here. 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:43.659 If he did, he could have possibly been the most popular preacher in all the nation. 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:49.399 And I think, potentially, Israel expected him to stop at this point too, 00:17:49.399 --> 00:17:52.799 because they've heard a pronouncement at this point, 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:54.740 of seven nations. 00:17:54.939 --> 00:17:59.899 And the astute Israelite would know that the biblical number for completion 00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:01.299 is the number seven. 00:18:03.419 --> 00:18:06.279 But the message of Amos, and in fact, the whole Bible, 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:09.399 is that no one misses out. 00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:11.079 2 Corinthians 5.10 says, 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:26.960 You see, Amos had made the journey from Tekoa in the south up to the north, 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:34.259 not primarily to bring a message of God's anger to all of Israel's neighbours, 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:36.980 but to bring it to Israel itself. 00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:41.579 The kind of things listed from chapter 2, verse 6 onwards, 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:44.559 is exactly what God told them not to do. 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.099 There's abuse of power. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:47.519 The first half of verse 6. 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:48.879 Sorry, second half of verse 6. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:51.180 They sell the righteous for silver, 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:53.700 and the needy for a pair of sandals. 00:18:53.700 --> 00:19:01.900 The idea was that a sandal was used as a symbol of exchange in a property deal. 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:04.720 That'd be pretty good, wouldn't it, nowadays? 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:06.080 You take your boot off, and here you go. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.880 I'll buy that house. 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.700 Here goes my shoe. 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.559 It'd be awesome. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:15.740 And what it's saying here is that the poor were being exploited by the rich 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:20.180 in property deals and other financial transactions. 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.680 Verse 7. 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:24.400 They trampled on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.880 and denied justice to the oppressed. 00:19:26.120 --> 00:19:27.460 They abused power. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.620 Legal protection was only for the rich. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.660 And they thought that God didn't notice. 00:19:32.060 --> 00:19:35.360 They turned up to the altar each week. 00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:38.080 It's like they went to church week in and week out. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.400 They brought their offerings. 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.799 They sang their praises. 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:41.920 They did their prayers. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.580 And they thought that everything was okay. 00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:49.420 And look what happens in verse 7 while they are there. 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.259 Second half verse 7. 00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:54.980 Father and son use the same girl and go and so profane my holy name. 00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:58.940 They lie down beside every altar on garments pledged, taken in pledge. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:02.900 In the house of their God, they drink wine taken as fines. 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.940 It's a picture of debauchery. 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:07.240 Debauchery at church. 00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:13.539 Deuteronomy says that if a poor man has to give his cloak over, 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:18.819 the only cloak that he owns as a security for a debt, 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.460 he owes a debt. 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:23.059 And what he had to do is he had to take his coat off and give it to the bloke 00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:24.139 as a security for the debt. 00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:26.500 The word of God said in Deuteronomy, 00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:30.339 don't hang on to the cloak overnight because the bloke might get cold 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:32.319 and he's got nothing to sleep on. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:35.059 And here it is. 00:20:35.139 --> 00:20:36.179 It says that they kept it. 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:38.700 And not only did they keep it, 00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:40.859 instead of returning it to the poor person, 00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:43.720 they kept the cloaks 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:48.119 and all the cloaks that they kept, 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:50.379 all the ones that they confiscated from the poor people, 00:20:50.439 --> 00:20:51.399 they piled them up 00:20:51.399 --> 00:20:54.019 in front of the altar 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:57.299 and father and son rolled around with prostitutes on them 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:59.900 so they didn't mess up their own jackets. 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:08.599 It says here as well that Israel had silenced the prophets. 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:12.960 They had mocked the vows of the Nazarites 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.539 who vowed not to drink alcohol, 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.680 not to cut their hair. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.940 Samson was one of those. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:20.220 And the Israelites laughed at those vows 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:23.000 and they forced them to have alcohol. 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:26.519 When the prophets spoke, 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.039 the Israelites said, 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.940 we don't want to hear it. 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.740 We don't want to hear from God. 00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.839 And so verse 13, 00:21:33.139 --> 00:21:33.720 God says, 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:35.339 Israel is going to be flattened. 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:37.139 Now then I will crush you 00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:39.819 as a cart crushes when loaded with grain. 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:41.180 The swift will not escape. 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.900 The strong will not muster their strength 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:45.359 and the warrior will not save his life. 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:48.079 The archer will not stand his ground. 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:50.859 The fleet-footed soldier will not get away 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:52.559 and the horseman will not save his life. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:55.559 Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day, 00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.379 declares the Lord. 00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:00.339 It's one thing for Israel to point the finger 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:01.319 at their neighbours and say, 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:04.619 pagans, celebrate their judgment. 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:06.859 This word is for them. 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:09.559 You see, privilege brings responsibility. 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:13.000 Israel was in a very privileged position. 00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:16.579 God loved Israel in a way that he didn't love 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.799 the other nations around 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:19.819 and in a way that they certainly didn't deserve. 00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:22.659 You see, the back story to all this 00:22:22.659 --> 00:22:23.960 is the covenant relationship 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:25.799 that God had established with Israel. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:29.480 It's described in Deuteronomy chapter 9. 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.279 I'll read it to you. 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:30.500 It says, 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:54.460 It's not because of your righteousness 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.559 or your integrity 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:58.000 that you're going to take possession of this land, 00:22:58.059 --> 00:23:00.740 but on account of the wickedness of these nations, 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:03.579 the Lord your God will drive them out before you. 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:05.500 It's accomplished what he swore to your fathers, 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:07.120 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.539 Understand then, 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:11.079 it is not because of your righteousness 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:13.880 that the Lord your God is giving you this land, 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.700 good land to possess, 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:17.480 for you are a stiff-necked people. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.779 I want to make it really clear, 00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:21.380 you're not better than anyone else. 00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:22.500 You're no different. 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.940 And so the picture here 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:26.100 at the beginning of Deuteronomy 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:28.080 is that of a wedding ceremony 00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:30.740 and it's a major mismatch. 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.940 It's one of those weddings, 00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:36.160 which you may or may not have been to, 00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:39.220 where the people are nodding 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.580 and prodding with each other 00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.580 and whispering and going, 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:45.160 What on earth does he see in her? 00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:48.580 It's one of those kind of weddings. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.660 That's what's happening here. 00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:53.480 There is nothing special about Israel 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.779 and yet God has, 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:57.820 in an incomprehensible way, 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.420 chosen to love these people. 00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:02.800 And it's this special love story 00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:05.180 which stands behind what's written here 00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:06.380 in chapter 3, verse 1. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.340 Hear this word, 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.279 people of Israel, 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:10.279 the word of the Lord has spoken against you, 00:24:10.540 --> 00:24:11.480 against the whole family. 00:24:11.580 --> 00:24:12.880 I brought you up out of Egypt. 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:16.040 You only have I chosen 00:24:16.040 --> 00:24:18.040 of all the families of the earth. 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:21.539 Therefore, I will punish you for your sins. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:24.000 God rescued them 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.039 and he loved them 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:26.759 and he'd been patient with them 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:28.500 with all of their waywardness. 00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:30.859 But he said, 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.480 Enough's enough. 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:33.920 Enough's enough. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:40.080 It's hard for us to hear about a God like this. 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.500 Though on the other hand, 00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:42.220 we don't want a God 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:44.019 who doesn't get rolled by rapists 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.180 and people traffickers 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:48.019 and perpetrators of genocide 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.880 and things like that. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:51.140 God's patience has run out for Israel 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:54.259 because of their disregard of each other. 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.920 So it's not just all the big crimes. 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.740 It's not just war crimes 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:59.120 and crimes against humanity. 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.979 This is because of the way 00:25:00.979 --> 00:25:02.139 they've treated each other. 00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.539 It's the way that they've treated 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.799 the poor and the oppressed. 00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:09.359 How do you think Israel 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:11.039 responded to this message? 00:25:13.959 --> 00:25:15.000 They ignored it. 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:18.219 They actually ignored it. 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:19.500 Why? 00:25:19.699 --> 00:25:21.119 Because things were good 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:21.779 and they just assumed 00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.579 because things were good 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.859 it was because God was blessing them. 00:25:24.199 --> 00:25:25.399 Life was better than it had been 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:27.039 for a couple of hundred years. 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:29.839 Religion was flourishing. 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.460 There was no... 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.379 I mean, it's not surprising. 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.619 Everyone wanted to be at church. 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:35.420 You know, it was... 00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:36.379 Religion was flourishing. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.899 There was no military threats. 00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:40.240 Finances were fantastic. 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.220 There was wealth. 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:42.559 In fact, it was so wealthy 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:44.220 that people were buying 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.859 multiple holiday houses. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.339 We'll see that in the coming weeks. 00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:51.139 Thought they had God in their pocket 00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:53.279 and they could live how they pleased. 00:25:55.159 --> 00:25:56.480 We're the people of God. 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.559 What's there to worry about? 00:26:00.399 --> 00:26:02.039 And even when God sent his prophet 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.700 to warn them, 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.879 they would not listen. 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:05.639 You can just imagine the response. 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.879 Oh, Amos. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:10.700 You're taking things a little bit too far. 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.819 Come on, man. 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:13.539 Loosen up. 00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:15.839 No one believes in the judgment of God anymore. 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:17.359 This is 750 BC, man. 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.279 Get with the times. 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.079 Our grandparents believed that. 00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:20.799 Not nowadays. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.059 Yes. 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:27.159 Here's a bit of serpent theology 00:26:27.159 --> 00:26:29.940 that often infects our minds. 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.359 It's the thinking that God won't do 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.359 what he says he will do. 00:26:33.639 --> 00:26:34.779 Remember Genesis 3, 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.279 Garden of Eden. 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:38.079 Serpent comes in 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:40.759 and attempts Eve to eat the fruit. 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.960 And she remembers God's warning 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.419 and says, 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.960 No, no, no. 00:26:44.620 --> 00:26:45.880 If I do that, 00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.680 I will die. 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:49.360 And the serpent mocks it. 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.700 Ah, no. 00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:52.920 You're not going to die. 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.600 Don't believe it. 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.720 God's not going to hold you accountable. 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:59.120 He's a God who delivers on his promises 00:26:59.120 --> 00:27:01.200 to bring not just mercy, 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.600 but also to bring justice. 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:05.759 And he's not a God to be trifled with. 00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:09.079 In 734 BC, 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:11.519 Damascus was destroyed by the Assyrians. 00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:13.900 You can see that in 2 Corinthians 16.9. 00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:16.539 Gaza was destroyed in 734 00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:18.240 by the Assyrians as well. 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:21.140 Judah was destroyed by Babylon 00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:23.920 between 597 and 588 BC. 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:27.200 Edom rejoiced at that point. 00:27:27.300 --> 00:27:29.259 They rejoiced at the fall of Judah, 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:31.100 but they fell to the Arabs 00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:32.340 in the 5th century. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:35.160 Tyre thought it was impregnable. 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:38.160 They had this little sort of city fortress 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.360 just off the coast. 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:42.180 Sort of sea was in between 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:44.340 and they thought it was impregnable. 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.880 Alexander the Great came along 00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:48.240 in 333 BC, 00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:50.980 built a ramp to Tyre over the ocean, 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:51.880 walked over the walls 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.840 and destroyed the place. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.680 What happened to Israel? 00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:59.160 Israel was taken little by little 00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.460 until the capital of Samaria 00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.759 was all that was left. 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:03.200 And then in 722 BC, 00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:06.539 28 years after Amos spoke, 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:09.180 the final judgment came. 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:12.539 You can see that in 2 Kings 17.5 and 7. 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:15.220 Tiglath-Pileser III. 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:19.099 They thought it was a good enough name 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:20.180 to name their children 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:21.379 in several generations. 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.799 Tiglath-Pileser III, 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:24.579 the Assyrian king, 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.720 came from the north. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.119 He destroyed Israel. 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.240 This is the man 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:31.920 who boasted one of his conquests 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.899 where he said, 00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:34.519 I slit the wombs 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.620 of the pregnant women. 00:28:36.060 --> 00:28:37.800 I gouged out the eyes 00:28:37.800 --> 00:28:38.560 of the infants 00:28:38.560 --> 00:28:39.759 and I cut the throats 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.700 of the young men. 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:44.300 God handed Israel over 00:28:44.300 --> 00:28:46.400 to Tiglath-Pileser III. 00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:48.860 Tens of thousands of Israelites 00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:50.180 were violently driven 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.820 from their homes, 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:51.900 taken into captivity, 00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:53.240 and those people 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:55.040 never re-entered world history again. 00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:56.700 Israel, 00:28:56.820 --> 00:28:57.440 10 tribes of Israel, 00:28:57.560 --> 00:28:58.259 destroyed, gone. 00:28:58.580 --> 00:28:59.460 Never came back. 00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:01.960 God said he would do it 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:03.440 and he did 28 years later. 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.220 I think what we're meant 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.319 to get here from Amos 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:07.620 is that this God 00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:09.600 is not a safe one. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.100 It is unwise 00:29:11.100 --> 00:29:12.400 to mistake God's patience 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.059 for his weakness 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:14.180 or a lack of resolve. 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.319 Don't make the mistake 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.319 of thinking he hasn't 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.019 so he won't. 00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:19.180 Or I've got away with it 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.940 so I will get away with it. 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.600 Be careful 00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:26.420 of complacency. 00:29:27.620 --> 00:29:29.440 The lion roars 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:31.740 and the prophet speaks. 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.360 So let's 00:29:34.360 --> 00:29:35.259 us 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:36.360 who have the word of God 00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:37.200 in front of us 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:39.940 make sure we're listening. 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.860 We should ask the question. 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.900 We see it there 00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:50.420 eight times. 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.700 I will not relent. 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.860 I will not relent. 00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:55.120 I will not relent. 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.299 That is, 00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:57.620 I will not turn back my wrath. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.799 I will not turn back my wrath. 00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.579 You've got to ask yourself 00:29:59.579 --> 00:29:59.980 the question, 00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:00.940 is there any way 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.980 that he possibly would 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.799 or possibly could? 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.599 What would it take 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.680 for God to relent? 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.220 What would it take 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.039 for him to turn 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:09.500 back his wrath? 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:11.940 See, 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.279 in the death 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.299 and resurrection of Jesus, 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.440 we see that God, 00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:14.879 in fact, 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.619 does turn back his wrath 00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:19.419 and that he has turned back his wrath 00:30:19.419 --> 00:30:21.299 and that he will turn back his wrath. 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.939 That's what it takes. 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.779 It takes the cross 00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:26.379 of Christ 00:30:26.379 --> 00:30:27.819 where God's justice 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:29.219 and his mercy meet. 00:30:29.719 --> 00:30:30.579 His white, 00:30:30.719 --> 00:30:31.799 hot anger 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:33.439 is poured out 00:30:33.439 --> 00:30:34.519 on the person 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.279 of the Lord Jesus. 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.539 The Old Testament says, 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.420 cursed is anyone 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.460 who hangs on a tree 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:40.059 and God places himself 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:41.440 under his own curse, 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.639 takes his own 00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:43.279 white, 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:44.019 hot anger. 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:45.779 His righteous anger 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:47.940 is righteously satisfied. 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:51.519 Jesus places himself 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:53.319 under God's wrath, 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.940 not for his sin 00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:56.920 or his rebellion, 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.720 but for ours. 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:58.879 2 Corinthians 5.11 00:30:58.879 --> 00:31:00.639 makes the exchange clear for us 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:01.720 as God made him 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:03.160 who had no sin 00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:04.840 to be sin for us 00:31:04.840 --> 00:31:06.500 so that in him 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.640 and what he's done, 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:09.340 we might become 00:31:09.340 --> 00:31:10.500 the righteousness of God. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:12.000 We might have a right standing 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.680 before God. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.600 Not because we're righteous 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:15.480 just like Israel 00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:16.440 in Deuteronomy 9, 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.320 not because we're righteous 00:31:17.320 --> 00:31:18.420 but because we are wicked, 00:31:18.560 --> 00:31:19.460 not because we deserve 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.100 God's blessing, 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:22.440 but because he longs 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.820 for us to enjoy it 00:31:23.820 --> 00:31:25.660 in spite of who we are 00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:26.480 and what we've done. 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.160 Psalm 2. 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:31.380 Psalm 2 summarizes 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.660 the message of defeat 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.519 of these nations 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.420 around Israel 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:35.980 quite memorably. 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:36.980 It says, 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.240 Therefore you kings, 00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.940 be wise, 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:42.040 be warned you rulers 00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:42.840 of the earth, 00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:44.880 serve the Lord with fear 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:46.400 and rejoice with trembling. 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:48.120 Kiss the Son, 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.560 lest he be angry 00:31:50.560 --> 00:31:51.860 and you be destroyed 00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.840 in your way 00:31:52.840 --> 00:31:55.040 for his wrath can flare up 00:31:55.040 --> 00:31:56.040 in any moment. 00:31:56.820 --> 00:31:57.560 Blessed are all 00:31:57.560 --> 00:31:59.180 who take refuge in him. 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.519 Our refuge is in Jesus, 00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.360 the Son of God. 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:06.460 Ironically, 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.220 our refuge 00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:11.060 is in the lion 00:32:11.060 --> 00:32:12.100 who roars. 00:32:13.100 --> 00:32:14.140 That's the irony. 00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.779 Our refuge is the same God 00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:21.100 who is angry with our sin. 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.420 He took our place, 00:32:22.540 --> 00:32:23.380 atoned for our sins, 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.220 carried our guilt 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:26.279 so that we do not have to face 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:27.480 the fate of, 00:32:27.540 --> 00:32:29.160 that these nations faced. 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:29.279 Christ, 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:31.400 the same cross 00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:31.840 that reveals 00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:33.380 the awesome justice of God 00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:34.019 is the same cross 00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.380 that reveals 00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.680 the incredible patience 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:36.480 and goodness 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.820 and generosity of God 00:32:37.820 --> 00:32:40.900 as the just anger of God 00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:41.440 is satisfied 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:42.420 in the death of Jesus. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:43.920 Our sin 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:46.560 is that serious. 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:49.440 Look at the cross 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.140 and be reminded 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.960 of the seriousness 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.759 of your sin 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.820 and the awesome 00:32:52.820 --> 00:32:54.200 justice of God. 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:55.480 to think of ourselves 00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:56.640 in any other way 00:32:56.640 --> 00:33:00.380 regardless of how long 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:00.980 we've been Christian 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.600 or how long we've been 00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.519 sermon at church 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:05.500 is to make the mistake 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.799 that Israel's doing 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.460 right here 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.500 in the time of Amos 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:09.980 and that is not 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.299 to hear the word of God. 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:14.019 To be comfortable, 00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:15.120 to be complacent, 00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.480 to go, 00:33:15.580 --> 00:33:15.700 well, 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.200 right, 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:18.559 things aren't that bad. 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.480 I think of people 00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.159 worse than I am. 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.419 If we believe 00:33:23.419 --> 00:33:24.119 in the Son, 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.519 God's wrath 00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:26.460 is turned aside. 00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:28.019 It gets focused 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:28.619 onto Jesus. 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.579 If we reject Jesus, 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:31.259 His anger stays on us 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:33.720 which doesn't mean 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.399 for a moment 00:33:34.399 --> 00:33:36.460 that if you are 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:38.240 sheltering behind Jesus 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:40.079 that you have 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.859 any room 00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.779 of complacency 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.440 whatsoever. 00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.259 John 15 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:45.099 verses 1 and 2 00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:45.379 says, 00:33:45.379 --> 00:33:46.200 I am the true vine 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.700 and my Father 00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.399 is the gardener. 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.200 He cuts off 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:49.100 every branch 00:33:49.100 --> 00:33:49.720 in me 00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:51.100 that bears no fruit 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:52.820 while every branch 00:33:52.820 --> 00:33:53.700 that does bear fruit 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.200 He prunes 00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.960 so that it will be 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.840 even more fruitful. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.780 And then down in verse 6 00:33:56.780 --> 00:33:57.040 it says, 00:33:57.380 --> 00:33:58.960 If you do not remain 00:33:58.960 --> 00:33:59.360 in me, 00:33:59.420 --> 00:33:59.840 which means 00:33:59.840 --> 00:34:00.660 if you do not 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:01.600 obey me, 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:03.720 you are like a branch 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:05.200 that is thrown away 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.900 and withers 00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:06.900 and such branches 00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.560 are picked up, 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.400 thrown into the fire 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.119 and burned. 00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:10.960 Jesus is speaking 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.660 to His disciples 00:34:11.660 --> 00:34:12.260 at that point. 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.619 Don't blame you sin. 00:34:14.700 --> 00:34:15.480 Don't excuse it. 00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:17.039 Privilege brings 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:17.820 responsibility 00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:19.019 and repentance 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.820 is needed here 00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:20.320 which means 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:21.259 walking away 00:34:21.259 --> 00:34:22.739 from the vengeful acts 00:34:22.739 --> 00:34:23.559 of Moab 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:24.519 and the exploitation 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:26.059 of Gaza. 00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:26.659 It means 00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:27.699 being people 00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.179 of mercy 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:28.900 and compassion 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:30.159 because that is 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:30.980 what we've experienced 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.460 from God. 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.559 This is such a connection 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.279 between Amos 00:34:33.279 --> 00:34:33.880 and what we've just 00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:34.360 walked through 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.139 with Love Thy Neighbor 00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:36.099 for the last 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.820 five or six weeks 00:34:36.820 --> 00:34:37.420 or whatever it is. 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.420 Being a Christian 00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:40.579 is not about rituals 00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.619 or belonging 00:34:41.619 --> 00:34:42.639 to a social group 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.719 or having a spare time 00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:44.699 interest in religion. 00:34:44.699 --> 00:34:46.779 It demands 00:34:46.779 --> 00:34:47.599 the whole of our being, 00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:48.500 the whole of allegiance 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.319 to Christ. 00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:51.179 We cannot declare 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:52.159 allegiance to Christ 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:53.239 and then go on 00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:55.319 living in disobedience, 00:34:56.259 --> 00:34:57.119 willful sin 00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:59.079 because the two attitudes 00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:00.379 are mutually exclusive. 00:35:01.399 --> 00:35:02.339 Mutually exclusive. 00:35:04.739 --> 00:35:05.379 So I think 00:35:05.379 --> 00:35:06.159 in the coming weeks 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:06.960 Amos is going to 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.859 remind us 00:35:07.859 --> 00:35:09.719 that we've got 00:35:09.719 --> 00:35:10.759 some thinking to do 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.820 and how we put 00:35:11.820 --> 00:35:12.320 this stuff 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:13.020 into practice. 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:15.420 It's just so easy 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.300 to be lulled 00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:17.120 into not really 00:35:17.120 --> 00:35:18.180 noticing our sin 00:35:18.180 --> 00:35:19.120 and get so used 00:35:19.120 --> 00:35:19.880 to our sin, 00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:22.140 get so complacent 00:35:22.140 --> 00:35:22.600 with it, 00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.340 saying we're the people 00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:24.780 of God 00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:25.660 and just taking Jesus 00:35:25.660 --> 00:35:26.180 and his mercy 00:35:26.180 --> 00:35:26.600 for granted. 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.780 He's in the business 00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:28.200 of forgiveness. 00:35:28.680 --> 00:35:29.300 That's what he does. 00:35:30.660 --> 00:35:31.040 So I'll give him 00:35:31.040 --> 00:35:31.440 some more stuff 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:31.900 to forgive. 00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:36.680 A complacent lifestyle 00:35:36.680 --> 00:35:37.180 that says 00:35:37.180 --> 00:35:37.660 we're the people 00:35:37.660 --> 00:35:38.060 of God 00:35:38.060 --> 00:35:38.660 and yet ultimately 00:35:38.660 --> 00:35:39.740 serving our own comfort. 00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:41.759 This is about us. 00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:43.099 It's about how 00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:44.019 we treat each other, 00:35:44.359 --> 00:35:45.319 how we think 00:35:45.319 --> 00:35:46.000 about people. 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.479 In Christ 00:35:47.479 --> 00:35:48.039 we might have 00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:49.239 shelter from God's anger 00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:49.779 but that's not 00:35:49.779 --> 00:35:50.279 a license 00:35:50.279 --> 00:35:51.259 for complacency. 00:35:52.319 --> 00:35:53.699 1 Corinthians 10 00:35:53.699 --> 00:35:54.379 verse 11 00:35:54.379 --> 00:35:56.119 the Apostle Paul 00:35:56.119 --> 00:35:56.559 lists 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:58.579 the sins 00:35:58.579 --> 00:35:59.419 and the punishments 00:35:59.419 --> 00:36:00.079 of Israel 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:02.579 and then he says this 00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:04.399 These things 00:36:04.399 --> 00:36:04.899 happened 00:36:04.899 --> 00:36:06.179 to them 00:36:06.179 --> 00:36:07.139 as examples 00:36:07.139 --> 00:36:08.119 and were written 00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:08.739 down 00:36:08.739 --> 00:36:10.359 as warnings 00:36:10.359 --> 00:36:11.419 for us 00:36:11.419 --> 00:36:12.779 on whom 00:36:12.779 --> 00:36:13.719 the culminations 00:36:13.719 --> 00:36:14.779 of the ages 00:36:14.779 --> 00:36:16.119 have come. 00:36:16.839 --> 00:36:18.039 So if you think 00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:19.259 you are standing firm 00:36:19.259 --> 00:36:21.099 be careful 00:36:21.099 --> 00:36:22.299 that you don't 00:36:22.299 --> 00:36:22.839 fall. 00:36:24.619 --> 00:36:25.579 The application 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.479 is that we are 00:36:26.479 --> 00:36:27.000 to tremble 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:27.799 before God. 00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:29.139 We are to flee 00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:29.879 from our sin 00:36:29.879 --> 00:36:30.599 and find refuge 00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.179 in Jesus 00:36:31.179 --> 00:36:32.379 who has turned 00:36:32.379 --> 00:36:33.019 God's anger 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.839 away from us. 00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:34.840 God's message 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:36.100 of judgment 00:36:36.100 --> 00:36:36.860 in Amos 00:36:36.860 --> 00:36:37.660 is also 00:36:37.660 --> 00:36:38.820 ironically 00:36:38.820 --> 00:36:39.559 a message 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.820 of his grace. 00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:43.740 You see 00:36:43.740 --> 00:36:44.280 this message 00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:45.220 not only served 00:36:45.220 --> 00:36:45.900 as a warning 00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:46.559 to Israel 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.640 but as an opportunity 00:36:47.640 --> 00:36:48.460 for Israel 00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:49.180 to repent. 00:36:52.180 --> 00:36:52.680 If God 00:36:52.680 --> 00:36:54.200 didn't 00:36:54.200 --> 00:36:54.920 if he wasn't 00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.380 gracious 00:36:55.380 --> 00:36:55.720 he 00:36:55.720 --> 00:36:56.680 boom 00:36:56.680 --> 00:36:58.200 no warning 00:36:58.199 --> 00:37:00.199 and it 00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:00.599 is giving 00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:01.119 him an opportunity 00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:01.739 to repent 00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:02.519 to be restored 00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:03.339 to come back 00:37:03.339 --> 00:37:03.980 in repentance 00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:06.639 and if you're 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.119 sitting here 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:07.460 and you still 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:07.799 got breath 00:37:07.799 --> 00:37:08.359 in your lungs 00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.639 and you can 00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.259 still hear me 00:37:09.259 --> 00:37:09.579 speak 00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:09.899 and you still 00:37:09.899 --> 00:37:10.619 can see me 00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:11.699 God is patient 00:37:11.699 --> 00:37:12.000 with you 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:12.439 right now 00:37:12.439 --> 00:37:12.679 and he's 00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:12.919 patient 00:37:12.919 --> 00:37:13.439 with me. 00:37:14.399 --> 00:37:14.939 Every day 00:37:14.939 --> 00:37:15.379 you've got 00:37:15.379 --> 00:37:15.799 every breath 00:37:15.799 --> 00:37:16.119 you've got 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:17.480 left in your 00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:17.799 life 00:37:17.799 --> 00:37:18.239 with breath 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:18.939 in your lungs 00:37:18.939 --> 00:37:19.639 is a day 00:37:19.639 --> 00:37:20.119 where his 00:37:20.119 --> 00:37:20.599 patience 00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:21.159 is still 00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.559 with you 00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:22.939 and he's 00:37:22.939 --> 00:37:23.159 got an 00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:23.480 opportunity 00:37:23.480 --> 00:37:23.939 to repent. 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:26.159 If we seek 00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:26.559 to live 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.039 in obedience 00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:28.740 we will 00:37:28.740 --> 00:37:29.700 often fail 00:37:29.700 --> 00:37:30.039 we will 00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:31.000 often fall 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:32.720 but if our 00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:33.240 lives are 00:37:33.240 --> 00:37:33.659 characterized 00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:34.880 by repentance 00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:36.400 by trust 00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:37.280 by obedience 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:38.260 God turns 00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:39.679 towards us 00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:40.460 in compassion 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:41.300 and mercy 00:37:41.300 --> 00:37:42.639 and the 00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:43.159 lion who 00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:43.740 roars 00:37:43.740 --> 00:37:45.039 becomes our 00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:45.880 safe refuge. 00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:47.139 Amen.