December 10

Amos 1:1-3:15; Revelation 2:1-17; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 29:19-20

The Bible Knowledge Commentary is my favorite Bible commentary. And not just because my husband wrote the commentary on Amos! Although his contribution plays a part, too, in my choice of this two-volume set.

According to Dr. Don, the book of Amos was written during a time of prosperity in Judah and Israel around 762 B.C. In fact, the Northern Kingdom (Israel) was at the zenith of its power (pg. 1425). Amos, who modestly describes himself as a ‘shepherd’ (though the word used is ‘sheep breeder,’ which means he probably headed up a large sheep-ranching operation), is sounding a warning for Israel: judgment is coming. They are prosperous and they say that God is with them, but they have forsaken his ways.

We read in Amos 1:2 and 3:4 & 8 about a lion that roars and the Lord is identified as that lion. The lion proclaims judgment and the roar begins with the nations around Israel and Judah. Seven nations are proclaimed to be doomed, including Judah, and then Israel herself is the eighth and last (pgs. 1428-1431).

“The Lord always revealed His major plans in advance to His servants, the prophets. The prediction could precede the event by years or even centuries, but the fulfillment was always certain. Since the Lord has now roared His judgment like a lion, who could but fear the outcome? And since He had revealed His intentions to Amos, what could he do but prophesy God’s message?” pg. 1434.

Don wrote this commentary while our children were growing up in our large home in Dallas. He’d go to his large study where books were piled up on his desk and children were thronging in the nearby family room. Those were good days of work, both of us busy with what God had called us to do, running on parallel tracks. Not usually intersecting tracks, but parallel, heading in the same direction and with the same goal: serving the Lord side by side with him focused on the ministry of teaching and writing this commentary and with me focused on raising the children. These decades later, it makes me happy to read the Amos commentary and to see the fruit of what he was doing in that study.

“The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken—who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8) Amos could not help speaking prophecy for the Sovereign Lord who had spoken to him. We are also called to speak and live for the Sovereign Lord—writing a commentary, raising children, serving in our churches and neighborhoods, telling others about our God, using our money for God’s glory, and living righteously in a sinful culture.

Lord, give us ears to hear when You roar. May we take your roar seriously for you are indeed a Lion and Your Word will come true.

- Nell Sunukjian

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