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"Hear the word of the LORD"

Text: Amos 7:16

SERVING THE LORD

Anyone can claim to serve the Lord. Amaziah was known as “the priest at Bethel”. He had a good number of followers. He also had the ear of King Jeroboam II. But does that mean that he was anointed in serving the Lord?

THE WORD OF THE LORD

The key thing about serving the Lord must involve the reality of having a word from the Lord time and time again!

“Now therefore, hear the word of the LORD:
You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel,
And do not spout against the house of Isaac.'”
Amos 7:16

1. “Now therefore, hear the word of the LORD”

a) It is unlikely that Amaziah ever had a personal word from the Lord.

b) He would never have received a word from the Lord directly.

2. “You say”

a) “Do not prophesy against Israel”

i) This certainly was not a word from the Lord.

ii) There was no divine authority behind these words.

iii) Amaziah spoke out of his own authority.

iv) He was politically motivated when he spoke against Amos.

v) He was the priest of the shrine at Bethel where king Jeroboam II worshipped.

b) “And do not spout against the house of Isaac”

i) Amaziah sought to restrain the ministry of Amos.

ii) He used every means possible to curb the message of Amos.

iii) Legal authority, negative personal feelings… all were employed to stop Amos from fulfilling his ministry as a prophet of the Lord.

WHAT WAS MISSING IN THE MINISTRY OF AMAZIAH?

A number of things were missing in the ministry of Amaziah. Five things may be noted:

1. The lack of the knowledge of the Word of God.

2. The lack of a personal, dynamic and vibrant relationship with God.

3. The lack of intercessory prayer.

4. The lack of moral courage to speak up against sins committed by the rulers and the people in general.

5. The lack of spiritual discernment and wisdom to fathom the inevitable judgment of God.