Scripture

“The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.” Amos: 8:7

Reflections

Have you ever felt conflicted?  You feel like doing one thing but at the same time you are not sure you should do it?

The Lord God, in the book of Amos, was justifiably angry.  The people were lying, cheating, and stealing in order to make a fast buck at the expense of the poor.  They deserved his wrath.  “The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob” that he would never forget their deeds (v. 7).

But there is more to this.  Many scholars believe “the pride of Jacob” is a way the Lord God is speaking of himself.  “The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob” would mean that the Lord has sworn by himself.  It is like the Lord God, was engaging his inner self on this topic.  He was conflicted.  Wreak judgement or have mercy?

Hundreds of years later, we see the fulfillment of the word of the Lord God; “On that day, I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight.” (v. 9)  The day Christ Jesus was crucified, the sun went down at noon and the earth was darkened.  The cross is the final word, mercy over judgement.

We are forgiven by the Christ who loves us, but were we not in Christ and standing forgiven in him, all would be remembered.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for the forgiveness I’ve come to know through Jesus Christ.  Help me, through the power of your Spirit, to do the right thing and lean heavily upon your mercy when I don’t.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Amos 8:4-7