The Lutheran Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 6 July 2014 "God Pause Daily Devotion" Scripture: Amos 7:7-15

The Lutheran Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 6 July 2014 "God Pause Daily Devotion" Scripture: Amos 7:7 Then he showed me this: Adonai was standing by a wall made with a plumbline, and he had a plumbline in his hand. 8 Adonai asked me, “‘Amos, what do you see?” I answered, “A plumbline.” Then Adonai said,

“I am going to put a plumbline in

among my people Isra’el;

I will never again overlook their offenses.

9 The high places of Yitz’chak will be desolate,

Isra’el’s sanctuaries will be destroyed,

and I will attack the house

of Yarov‘am with the sword.”

10 Then Amatzyah the priest of Beit-El sent this message to Yarov‘am king of Isra’el, “‘Amos is conspiring against you there among the people of Isra’el, and the land can’t bear all that he’s saying. 11 For ‘Amos says: ‘Yarov‘am will die by the sword, and Isra’el will be led away from their land into exile.’” 12 Amatzyah also said to ‘Amos, “Go away, seer! Go back to the land of Y’hudah! Earn your living there; and prophesy there; 13 but don’t prophesy any more at Beit-El; for this is the king’s sanctuary, a royal temple.”

14 ‘Amos gave this answer to Amatzyah: “I am not trained as a prophet, and I’m not one of the guild prophets — I own sheep and grow figs. 15 But Adonai took me away from following the flock, and Adonai said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Isra’el.’[Complete Jewish Bible]

I thought the truth was supposed to set people free. Isn't that what Jesus taught? Maybe someone should have told Amaziah that. Seems to me that when Amos spoke God's truth to Israel, Amaziah was offended—not freed. Like a child throwing a tantrum, Amaziah whined to the king. He didn't like what he heard and so he complained. If we're really honest with ourselves, we still do the same today. When the truth hurts, we deny, deflect, and defend ourselves. Like a bug hiding from the light, we scurry to find the safety of dark corners so we can hide from the change to which we are being called. But even the darkness is as light to our Lord Jesus who followed us to the very depths of death itself that we might yet be freed to walk in the light.
Lord Jesus, when the truth hurts and I try to justify my actions, help me yet to walk by faith. Help me to trust your word and face my sin, that I might honestly repent and live a new life. Thank you for coming to find me in the dark places that I hide and continually raising me from death into life. Amen.
Krista Vingelis
Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church of Porterville, Calif.
Master of Divinity , 2006
Amos 7:7 This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.
8 And the Lord said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by;
9 the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."
10 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the very centerof the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words.
11 For thus Amos has said, "Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.' "
12 And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there;
13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."
14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees,
15 and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, "Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'[New Revised Standard Verssion]

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