The Life and Times of Joe Suttle

They weren't new marching orders. What Amos got was a clear image of just how bad things were and he was to "go and tell." In chapter 7, God put a plumb line up against his people. He said to Amos "Here is the line, and the people are not meeting the rules. They are not living the way I told them to."

That was a clear picture for Amos – clear enough that he went out and began saying "You are not meeting God's requirements. You haven't been and don't want to play by the rules, so you don't get to play anymore."

Needless to say, that really got some people a little upset with Amos. In fact, one king told Amos he needed to stop telling people how they ought to live and go back to his country. Period![more]

It's more than a little interesting that even today, people don't want to hear how God expects us to live. We want to interpret what He has said in light of some cultural, environmental or historical perspective.

But God has not changed!

History stands as witness to what Amos said. Everything he said for God actually happened to the Isrealites. Still we don't want to know that. We don't want to hear "someone" telling us how to live our lives, or what the punishment might be for not living that way. We can't believe that God would use "tough love" on us – that he would actually punish people for not following His rules. After all, we live in a different age, and know more, and have so much more, and besides, "He is a loving God."

Listen to the words of Amos in chapter 8 as he condemns the people for "not counting accurately, cheating on the scales, hiking prices and putting the dirt in with the wheat. Remember those "plumped chickens" in that commercial?

Once upon a time, I kicked a student out of one of my classes. He just happened to be a very good semi-pro boxer (had me by about 75 pounds and 3-4 inches). He wanted to fight me over being kicked out, and I agreed, saying "Okay, I'll fight you but we'll use my rules." His immediate response was "You can't do that, there are rules to boxing." My response was "Well, there are rules to attending this class, and you chose not to follow those rules, so why should you expect me to follow your rules in boxing."

Needless to say, he did not want to fight me under my rules, which we never even talked about.

What's your measure for living? Your rules or His?

I remember watching those poker tournaments on TV and the movies, where they got to the point of making their last bet. They thought they had the cards to win, and so the slid all their money across the table as their bet and said "All In!" That meant they did not have anything else and that they were willing to risk all that they had because of what they believed at that moment.

On the TV tournaments, you can see the supposed anguish on the faces of the players (gamblers). Many turn away totally disappointed and saddened. It's interesting that somehow they manage to come back the next week or month with another pile of money.

That was not the case with our friend Job however. After being lambasted [more]and put down by his older friends, he should have had no fire left in his belly. His will should have been crushed and his mouth left to babble in total frustration.

Not so!

Job laid out a scenario in chapter 31 that probably put his friends in a box. In effect, Job put it "all in." He put a big light on his life.

Would you be willing to utter the words of Job. They were more to the effect "If I have done anything wrong, then give me the punishment on the list!"

At every turn in this chapter, Job declares "here's the way to live, and here's the way I lived. I followed the rules, so why is all this happening to me?" Job decided he was going to wait for God to answer, and that he was going to wait patiently for Him to do that.

Job's words should be our guide. His analogies are easy to follow. He only asked that his life be judged with accurate scales. Job says, "If I have sinned, then let the punishment come." How many of us would be willing to yell that out while standing in the middle of our friends. More than likely, we would whisper it in our car or bathroom, and then add "but not yet!"

There was no unturned stone – Job held a light on his life that spoke of lust, falsehoods and adultery. He portrayed treatment of slaves, orphans and the poor. And then there were the "things" that life is all about.

Would you – could you speak the words that Job said here? Job's response to his problems was not a "maybe", it was that everything he had and ever did could stand as a witness. A witness to his belief that he served a just God, and he would leave his life on that altar.

It was like "If I have done anything wrong, strike me dead!"

Amos has the message down. Actually, it is more that he has "being a messenger" down. Not only down, the words just roll.

Having marked the end of my reading yesterday, I just had to go back to chapter 4 and read it again, and from there, on through the end of chapter seven. It's like looking in an historical mirror. Compare today to then.

Better yet, compare then to now!

Amos, speaking for the Lord God Almighty lays down some very heavy stuff for his listeners. It's surprising [more]that he has made it to chapter four. Anyone today who would dare speak this way would be labeled a "quack" or "ultra-right-wing conservative". You know, one of those Jesus Freaks. Somebody who wants us to believe that the Bible means what it actually says.

Today's world (the people) would be out for Amos on radio and TV and in newspapers as someone who doesn't care about how "hurtful" their words are to people who have worked hard. After all, those people he is condemning are "good people. Look how well they have done."

Take a look at the book of Amos for yourself, and start drawing comparisons to our world. People go to church and brag about it. They give to "causes" and boast about how great that makes them.

All God wanted was for His people to return to Him – to put Him first and worship Him. But they would not. He reminds them through Amos that even though they lack water and crops and their young men are dying in battle, they only need "return."

Many would say that God is mean or vengeful, but he gave warnings time and time again. Even here, Amos reminds me so much of our world today. He says "you hate the one who reproves in court and dispise people who tell the truth." (5:10) His admonition and promise are that if we "hate evil and love good and maintain justice in the court, then perhaps the Lord God will have mercy on us/them. (5:15)"

That was it!

All they had to do was change the way they were living! Nothing had changed about the God who gave them life – freed them from Egypt – gave them victories in the desert – enriched their nation! Nothing!

Changing means I have to be different. Is that really so hard?