Ethical Teachings of Amos And Hosea Discussed Application

[GoldenEagle]

How do the ethical teachings of prophets like Amos and Hosea apply today? Please give examples.

[gdemoss]

Amo 5:18-20 ¶ Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end [is] it for you? the day of the LORD [is] darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. [shall] not the day of the LORD [be] darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

Luk 18:1-8 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Rev 6:9-11 ¶ And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.

The three passages selected above reveal something about the nature of crying out to the Lord to come and avenge his children. The passage in Luke reveals that God is bearing long with those crying out. The Revelation text shows how the ones crying out had lost their own heads. Amos simply taught long ago that to cry out for God to come judge others was a bad idea. He probably took his cue from Sodom who cried out against each other until God came down and destroyed them all but Lot and his family.

Have we learned our lesson and become intercessors like Jesus or will we call down fire from heaven upon our own heads like those who came before us?

Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Peace in Christ, pray for your enemies today!