Today’s Reading: Amos 8 & 9
Imagine
a bustling marketplace, booths laden with bread and water, yet hunger gnaws at
the people. But it's not for physical sustenance; it's a hunger for the words
of the Lord that goes unanswered. Amos, the farmer-turned-prophet, saw this
spiritual famine looming, where the well of divine revelation runs dry, leaving
hearts parched. “Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.”
During
the time of Amos, the people of Israel had strayed far from God's ways. They
had become complacent, engaging in social injustice, idol worship, and various
forms of disobedience. Amos delivered this prophecy as a warning of God's
impending judgment. The historical fulfillment of this prophecy can be seen in
the exile of the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 BC. This
event resulted in a literal famine of God's words as the people were taken away
from their land and temple worship was disrupted.
The
fulfillment of this prophecy also has a spiritual dimension. Throughout
history, there have been periods when God's revelation and spiritual
understanding were scarce among His people. One notable example is the
intertestamental period (the time between the Old and New Testaments), often
referred to as the "silent years." During this time, there were no
prophets, and God's direct communication with His people seemed to be on hold.
Another
spiritual fulfillment can be seen in the rise of spiritual dryness and apathy
among God's people in our modern day. These are times when individuals,
communities, or entire churches have turned away from diligent study and
application of the Scriptures, leading to a famine of God's Word. Despite the
abundance of Bibles, books, commentaries, online resources, and sermons, many
individuals and even entire cultures are experiencing a spiritual famine.
This
famine isn't a mere scarcity; it's a dire warning to you and me to cherish and
consume God's Word. It's a wake-up call to unplug from the noise of the world
and tune in to heaven's frequency. J. Vernon McGee's voice echoes, "Get
the Word into ya!" If you take the time now to absorb and internalize
God’s word on a regular basis, you’ll always have His words with you.
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