The Old Testament Scripture reading from this week’s Lectionary taken from the Book of Common Prayer is from the Prophet Amos. Before being called by God into the ministry, Amos had been a sheep rancher and also grew sycamore figs. He was initially from the southern kingdom of Judah, but most of his messages and preaching were for the northern kingdom during the years of 760 - 755 BC.
The “Day of the Lord” refers to a future day of God’s judgment. In the Old Testament times it often spoke of the imminent time when God would chasten either the nations of Israel or Judah, or bring judgment on other nations, for their sins. The New Testament’s usage of the term often refers to the return of the Lord Jesus and God’s judgment on the world.
As we read this passage, we see that the people of Israel were looking forward to the “Day of the Lord”, thinking that God would come to their aid, and swoop down on their enemies. Amos, though, says this will not be the case (vs. 18 - 20). The people that Amos was preaching to were wishing for the “day of the Lord”, thinking that God would come and rescue them from all of their troubles, solely because they were His children. Amos said that the Day of the Lord would bring justice, and because the people had, in reality, forsaken God’s Word, that justice would bring judgment for their sins. Even though the people were outwardly still practicing religious ceremonies, in reality they were continuing to worship false gods and reject God’s Word.
Amos proceeds to tell the people the gist of God’s message to them here in verses 21 - 23. God does not like the false worship of those who are just going through the motions, but whose hearts and minds are not truly given to Him. Outward shows of religiosity mean nothing if we aren’t obedient. That’s the same both back in Amos’s day and in ours today. If we are in sin, but thinking religious rituals and traditions will make us look good to God, we are wrong. God wants sincere worship from the heart. Our heart and attitude to God must change. We need to be concerned with what God thinks, not on how religious we appear to others.
The Day of the Lord, depending on one’s salvation, will be either a time to look forward to or not. As Amos was saying in verses 18 - 20, for the lost it will be a time of God’s judgment, a day of darkness and judgment, with no brightness. For those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus, the Day of the Lord will be wonderful. God will not just jump in and come to people’s aid if they are not saved, or are in active, willful sin (vs. 21-23).
God loves us so much, and He wants our hearts in return. Religious practices mean nothing to Him if our heart is not right. Let’s be sure that we give our whole self, including both our heart and mind, to the Lord God, and follow His Word. If you have never accepted the Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I urge you to ask Him into your heart today as your Lord and Savior. That way the Day of the Lord will not be darkness and judgment for you, but the glorious welcoming of the return of the Lord Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
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