Do We Listen?

Amos 3:1-8

There are some people who are authorities in their chosen field.  They know their material backward and forward, and when they say something, people listen.  Once in awhile you come across a news broadcaster whose word can be thoroughly trusted, and when they come on the air you know that their message is reliable.  Or maybe you are fortunate to know a financial adviser or stockbroker whose word is true and should be heeded. When a top doctor or even a meteorologist who knows his field well speaks up, wise people will listen.  What about when God speaks? Do people listen as they do to these other folks? Today’s Old Testament reading from this week’s Lectionary comes from the prophet Amos. Let’s look into it and see what message we can receive.

There are some people whose words and voice we ought to heed when we hear what they say.  Not only people’s voices, as verses 4 - 6 indicate. If you were walking in a jungle and heard the roar of a lion, it would be best to get out of there right away!  The sound of a rattlesnake is one to be heeded at the risk of one’s life. Living where I do, I’ve learned to pay attention to the tornado sirens that could sound at any time during the late spring and summer.  They give a warning that is important to act upon. In ancient times the people of any city needed to listen carefully for the warning of the trumpets that would sound from the guards upon the city wall (vs. 6).  The trumpets would warn of an approaching enemy, and when one heard them they needed to get to the safety of the city’s tower or else face certain death.

During the years of the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was privileged to have prophets who brought them the Word of God.  They had God’s Law, promises, and blessings, which the prophets faithfully spoke to them of. One would think that with this unique privilege, and since they had the direct Word of God given to them, that they would pay attention and follow what He said to them.  However this was not the case. Despite having prophets and priests to teach them the Scriptures, most of the people failed to heed God’s message. They were just like people who go out into the jungle, hear the sound of wild beasts, and ignore them. They were like people who paid no attention to the warning sounds the watchmen on the city walls would give.  The people of Israel ignored God’s Word and deliberately went down the paths of sin. They did not obey His laws, they failed to bring justice and mercy to others, and they worshipped the false gods of the nations around them.

The prophet Amos came to the people with God’s Word, just like many prophets before him, and many after him would.  He told them that they had been given this special privilege, but because of their disobedience and sins, God was going to punish them (vs. 2).  God had spoken, but they had not listened and followed (vs. 8). Now they would face judgment.

God gives His Word to His servants to bring to the people (vs. 7).  He did back in the days of Amos, and we have His Word today in the Bible, which godly men and women preach.  Do we heed God’s Word today? When we hear the message from Scriptures, are we like those who hear a warning and ignore it?  What do we think when we hear of someone who, even though they heard the dog barking and snarling, continued to approach him to pet it, and then got badly bit?  Why didn’t they obey the warning? The weatherman warns of a dangerous blizzard coming, but someone still decides to go driving out into a rural area, and then gets caught, trapped in their car, unable to get anywhere because of the snow.  Why didn’t they listen?

God has spoken! (vs. 8)  We have His Word! We have His message!  Are we listening to it? Will we believe it?  When He tells us that salvation is only through His Son, Jesus Christ, (John 14:6), we need to heed that word.  When He tells us that without His Son, we have no hope, (Acts 4:12), we need to pay attention.  God’s judgment is coming, and we need to listen and heed the warning!