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"O Lord GOD, cease, I pray"

Text: Amos 7:5

NEEDED INTERCESSION

Amos loved his nation, though he must have grieved at the sins of its rulers and people. He knew that God’s judgment was altogether righteous. But his heart was deeply constrained to pray and to intercede.

“Then I said:
‘O Lord GOD, cease, I pray!
Oh, that Jacob may stand,
For he is small!’
So the LORD relented concerning this.
‘This also shall not be,’ said the Lord GOD.”
Amos 7:5-6

1. “Then I said: ‘O Lord GOD, cease, I pray'”

a) When addressing God in prayer great regard must be shown.

b) Nothing must be taken for granted.

c) The basis of prayer is to be found in the Person of the Lord God Himself.

d) The name of God was invoked.

e) His name is associated with what God Himself revealed to Moses (Exodus 34:6-7).

i) The LORD God is merciful

ii) And gracious

iii) Longsuffering

iv) Abounding in goodness and truth

v) Keeping mercy for thousands

f) Amos prayed that God’s grace and mercy would yet prevail.

i) He could cease what He intended to do.

ii) He could cease considering the conflict by fire.

2. “Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small”

a) Once again, the name of “Jacob” was used rather than “Israel”.

b) Jacob had once been wicked.

c) But God had shown grace and mercy to him.

Amos pleaded that God would once again show that same mercy.

3. “So the LORD relented concerning this. ‘This also shall not be,’ said the Lord GOD”

a) The intercessory prayer of Amos was heard.

b) God relented. The conflict of fire would not be visited upon erring and sinful Israel.