Sunday, June 7, 2020

Yet you have not returned to me.

Amos 4:1-13
Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samariayou women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!
I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me," Declares the Lord.
I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me.
Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.
He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord God Almighty is his name.
"yet you have not returned to me". Here have five times.
The luxury-loving women of Samaria who have 'fattened' themselves, at the expense of the poor, will be led away with hooks. The Assyrians actually di this to their captives. At the same time as they were crushing the helpless those for whom God had special care, protected under God's law, the people still kept up the religious facade. But 'insurance policy' religion is a mockery of the real thing. By famine and drought, blight, and disease God had warned them where they were heading - all to no avail.
Why?
God is caring for Israelite, God gives warning to them by many disasters but their hearts is like stone and refuse return to the Lord. So their destiny is worse than any other.
Through Amos's word, reveal the way for salvation, return back to the Lor Almighty is the only way.
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指責以色列的貴婦,她們的罪惡,過奢華的生活。巴姍的母牛,吃的肥胖。透過指揮她們的丈夫,拿酒來喝吧,假公濟私,做神不喜悅的事。作威作福,將被家畜市場一樣被賣掉。
伯特利和吉甲都是獻祭的地方。去那裏增加罪過。生活見證更重於獻祭。故意叫人看見她們的獻祭,拿出十一奉獻,奉獻的動機不正確。奉獻是感恩,還是要希望神的回報呢?
雖然我們奉獻,敬拜中可以得到祝福,但是不是為了得祝福而做。我們本來不配,奉獻只是存感恩的心。
缺少糧食、乾枯、瘟疫、降雨不正常、亡國等五個災難。神降災難必有神的計劃,這些警訊都沒有看見嗎?
我們的信仰是否在生活中,不是僅僅在聚會,讀經禱告。
是否預備好?迎見你的神。神是一切的創造者,創山、造風的神掌管一切,這些都是神有話說。
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How?
Our hearts sometime will be covered by our desire and ambition. Be aware to obey God's command and humble ourselves.

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