the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Amos 7:1-17
In Amos 3:7 the LORD had promised to do nothing without having first revealed His secret to His servants the prophets. Thus He informs Amos of His intentions and the prophet responds to this mark of confidence, as did Abraham of old (Genesis 18:17-23), by persevering intercession. He speaks with the liberty of one who knows his God intimately: "Is not Thy punishment too severe? Do not forget how small Jacob is" (God Himself calls him a worm in Isaiah 41:14). This is just the opposite of the boasting of the poor people who claimed, "Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?" (Amos 6:13).
After pleading for his people in such a touching manner, Amos is treated as a conspirator by one of the religious leaders! How much like the Lord Jesus he is, the One whom the priests accused before Pilate: "We found this fellow perverting the nation . . ." (Luke 23:2).
Far from getting upset, or from insisting on the honour due to a prophet, Amos willingly recognises his humble origin. His authority is derived neither from his birth nor from his education, but exclusively from a divine call (cf. Galatians 1:1). Then he declares to the ungodly priest just what the LORD has in store for him.
