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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