Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of the Prophet Amos, Chapter 7, verses 2-3, “Amos cried out, ‘Sovereign Lord, Forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!’ So the Lord relented, ‘This will not happen,’ said the Lord,” (NRSVB). Amos was a God-fearing man who lived in the southern kingdom of Judah, in the city of Tekoa. He was called by God to go to the northern kingdom, Israel, and prophesy that the clouds of doom are gathering above the heads of the people of this kingdom, despite their outwardly prosperity, due to their pride and their oppression of the poor. Amos was not born in a family of prophets, nor was he trained up as a prophet, but God called him from the land where he was dressing fig trees and herding a small flock. In visions God showed Amos the punishment that the people were accumulating due to the way that they were conducting their lives. There was no concern for the Word of God, neither for the words of the true prophets, and the subjects were sorely oppressed by the rich who reclined on their ivory beds, ate lambs from the flock and entertained themselves with idle songs and games.
In a vision from God, Amos saw a swarm of locusts descending on the lands, devouring all the food. Amos prayed to the Lord and asked him that this calamity would be taken away from the land of Israel, for they would not be able to withstand this drought. God, in his great wisdom, shows the final outcomes of people’s plans, works and the trajectory that these follow, to his faithful servants. These servant prophets call out to the leaders and the nations to stop their plans for their own prosperity and to share the bounty of God. However, they are usually quietened with harsh words, acts, seclusion, jail and death. Despite the reality of the lives of the prophets and the hostility that they endure, they still intercede for the leaders and the people and continue to bring them before God, and plead for mercy on their behalf. God sees the prophets, past, present and future, and he is consoled and comforted that there are people, who, like his Son, would still intercede, notwithstanding the personal and professional cost. Amos continued pleading for the people who told him to leave their land, or only tell of good outcomes, despite the ominous truth rearing its head in every corner. God saw Amos faithfulness and listened to his prayers, as God listened to Abraham’s intercessions, and Moses’ pleadings for the people. God gave a new chance for the people to return to him and be merciful to one another, however, they did not regard the prophet, nor saw God’s mercy and continued to follow flawed, false prophets.
History repeats itself relentlessly. It is always the same story, a story of leaders rising from the ashes to become powerful and rich, promising equality and liberty for all. Then they are tripped by their own hubris, the thought that through their own might and power, they will be able to sustain growth and wealth to profit themselves first, and then those who are subjected to them. Without having to be accountable to one who is greater than oneself, the lines between truth, half-truth and false are blurred, and soon a most unequal situation arises. The only way to suppress the coming insurrection is by fear and forceful policy. The once proud people, who lived their liberty and equality, are caught in a down-ward spiral of political, economical and social decline, and the hard-fought gains of liberty seem to be dashed, vanishing like a mere vapour. Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. However, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said, “You have heard these things foretold, now you see this fulfilment. I show you specified new things from this time forth, even hidden things, kept in reserve, which you have not known,” (Amplified Bible). God came to earth in human form, Christ continued to intercede to the point of his own death, also for those who did not heed his call. We live in times of turmoil and fear, as it has been throughout the histories of the world. The only recourse and resource that we have is the creative and prophetic word that God spoke, this word is operative and active. It saves and restores the people to their God and to one another and banishes the locust years.
The Apostle Paul, in his teachings to the new pastor, Timothy, reminds him of his duty as a pastor, as well as the duty of the congregation, to be intercessors and come to ask God not to punish, but to restore and bless the people, “First of all, then, I urge that supplication, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,” First Letter to Timothy, Chapter Two verse One, “(NRSVB). This is the calling of the church and her members and of all those who yearn for righteousness to reign on earth, that we come to our Lord and bring our supplications.
Father, we come to you and we call out to you, for the world and her people are weak and sorely oppressed. They cannot withstand the relentless attacks without your intervention and your protection. We thank you that your words create all things new, things too wonderful for us to comprehend. Your words will perform and bring the new heaven and the new earth, for you have promised, through the word and work of your Son, our Lord Jesus, Amen.