Bible Reading:
Amos 3:1-11
1Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
9Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
11Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
Devotional:
Punishment must be regarded by God's people as a sign that we stand in a special relationship to Him: 'You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities' (3:2).
We have previously pointed out that the word to know in the languages of Scripture does not mean simply to recognize or have cognizance of. It means to love. Because God loved Israel He punished her! Punishment in this context is an evidence of caring. If parents do not care what trouble their children get into or how badly they mess up their lives and the lives of others, if they do not care to what extent their children will incur the wrath of God, then they need not go through all the emotional anguish of punishing and training and disciplining. Parents who love their children must punish them and point them to God.
Can two walk together except they be agreed? (3:3). God wants us to be able to walk with Him, to have day-by-day fellowship with Him. This we cannot do if we are estranged. Because He loves us and wants us to be able to walk with Him, He punishes our sin. This punishment is designed to alert us to our sin and its seriousness and to bring us back to the path of obedience. This punishment is for our sanctification.
God does not punish us so that we may thereby pay for the wrong we have done or atone for our sins! This we can never do. This we need never do, either. God sent His Son to do this for us. And His Son willingly came and obtained our redemption.
Thank You, God, for Your great plan! Thank You for loving us enough to save us. Thank You for loving us enough to punish us and to sanctify us so that we may walk with You!
We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."
Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.
Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.
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