The God of Amos

I've recently been reading through the minor prophets in my personal devotions and I've truly been blessed during these times, so I thought I would record some of the things that I've been meditating on.

I finished the book of Amos, not long ago, and I was just struck again by the mercies of God! The book of Amos is filled with God's judgments on his people, the Israelites, yet at the same time the pages are brimming with unimaginable mercy and compassion. During the prophetic ministry of Amos, both kingdoms are in the midst of enjoying prosperity and stability, which seems to lead to their downfall. Oppression of the poor, idolatry and corruption are also rampant at this time. God is angry and quite obviously so.

Chapter 4 in particular lists many of the plagues that the Lord inflicted upon his people for their sin. Now this would have been enough. The people sinned, God punished, end of story. Justice is served. But as we Christians know, God didn't end the story here, for which I personally am so grateful. At the end of each infliction in this chapter, the Lord declares 'yet you did not return to me.' And this is where I saw a glimpse of the heart of my God.

God could have judged the Israelites and punished them for their transgressions for no other reason than the fact that they sinned and deserved punishment. It was their due! But no, he did not punish merely because he must be just, but he punished in mercy. He desired their return to him. He desired that they repent of their sin. He desired that they forsake other gods and serve him alone.

So often you hear people say that the God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath, but the God of the New Testament is a God of love and mercy. I don't know about you, but I see a God of love and mercy in the Old Testament! It was this God who prepared beforehand the death of Christ, to purchase our salvation! It pleased this God to bruise his only son for our transgressions!

The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6,7)