Israel's Restoration

Amos 9:11-15

Of the Old Testament Minor Prophets, Amos one of the twelve began to prophesy by calling out God's anger against Syria, Gaza, Ammon and Moab.  Descendants of these middle-eastern nations bordering Israel and Judah remain there today.

Considering social justice as the core of Amos’ teachings, his message is fresh 2,700 years later as refugees flee war-torn countries as a result of radical social injustice.

Amos’ prediction of the restoration of the Davidic kingdom and the return of the Exiles was shocking to his contemporaries.  They were contemptuous of his wake-up/shake-up call to prayerful repentance.  

Chapter 9 is a departure from the apocalyptic harbinger of doom and destruction for Israel.  But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Amos5:24

Now, poetically Amos speaks of God’s longing to restore His unrepentant people.  Amos 9:14-15

I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;
They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.

I will plant them in their land,
And no longer shall they be pulled up
From the land I have given them,”
Says the Lord your God.

Amos’ universalistic prophesies spoke not only to the doom of Judaism but ultimately to the rise of the Gentiles as Christ would die to unite all of the children of God scattered abroad.

Loving parents seldom make good their warning - “and this is the last time I’m going to tell you!” We prevail time and again to keep our children from harm’s way and the consequences of disobedience. 

At such times we are in the very heart of God who gave His Son to restore and redeem those who come humbly to Him in repentance.

Restore us oh Lord, we humbly pray!