After some challenging words to the Israelite people (through the prophecy of Amos), God pivots to a message of future hope (see previous articles, or read Amos 9:1-12). However, in verse 13, God’s description of future blessings gets downright lavish, to the point where He’s the only one who could deliver on these promises.
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman
and the planter by the one treading grapes.
New wine will drip from the mountains
and flow from all the hills,
and I will bring my people Israel back from exile.“They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.
They will plant vineyards and drink their wine;
they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
I will plant Israel in their own land,
never again to be uprooted
from the land I have given them,”says the LORD your God.
Amos 9:13-15 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/amo.9.13-15.NIV
God promises not only that His people will return to their land, but also that they will have abundance.
Can you imagine a harvest that is so great that those who are “bringing in the sheaves” can’t get all of the crops in until the planting season starts again? The Lookout suggests that crops are still growing when planting time arrives again. Imagine the conversation in the fields: “Hey, can’t you get all of last year’s crops harvested already? I’m trying to get the ground ready to plant this year’s seeds!” “Sorry, I’m doing the best that I can. There’s just so much to get out of these fields!” Or, “Say, can you help me plant this year?” “Sorry, friend. I’m still stomping out last year’s grapes.”
The Lookout mentions Amos 8:11, and while that is talking about a spiritual famine, I wonder if God’s promised abundance here stands in even starker contrast to a physical famine in Israel at the time? I think that we appreciate some of God’s blessings even more when we’ve been away from them after a while. If you feel like things haven’t been good lately, just imagine how much greater God’s fulfilled promises will be when we see them.
Remember that the Promised Land was really important to the Israelites. It is what they had been promised and given by God, and it helped to define them as a nation. Yes, they could trace their genealogies back to Jacob, and had a culture that they could maintain in exile, but an individual land to call your own – especially a sovereign land – is often important for a people group to feel recognized and respected.
God promises that His people won’t just be present in the land, though, as casual residents. They will be planted there, and won’t be uprooted. That’s a serious promise, and cause for hope to a nation who will have to deal with great griefs in the years after Amos prophesied. Remember, those who don’t repent should expect to be destroyed if they don’t turn things around, but some times will still be challenging even for the righteous and/or repentant remnant. The difference during that suffering for those who endure is that the remnant can bank on God’s promises of hope for the future.
So, let us hold to God’s promises when times are tough. In these times, it is appropriate to evaluate our current decisions, to make sure that we are actively seeking out and following His will. However, trials are not always a sign of sin. Sometimes, we’re the remnant, sifted out of a sinful world, but still struggling until God’s amazing promises are fulfilled. However, when we’ve been hungry for more of God’s blessings (and more of Him), when we receive what we seek, it’s going to be that much better!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 19, 2023
References:
- The Lookout, March 19, 2023, © 2022 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Minor Prophets Volume 1 – Hosea-Micah, by Harold Shank. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 