A Word of Hope
“In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the LORD who does this. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the LORD your God.
Amos 9:11–15
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A Word of Hope
“It’s always darkest before the dawn.” “When it rains, look for rainbows, when it’s dark, look for stars.” These platitudes are often given when we are at our lowest, by well-meaning friends, but don’t offer much really in the way of consolation. Because in this fallen and broken world, we need something more concrete to trust in. For the people of Amo’s day, even though they chose to ignore God, they knew He was real. Amos was called to warn them and to bring them to repentance. Not all would listen, but for those who were convicted by the Law and brought to repentance by the many oracles and visions threatening judgment, Amos’s prophecy unexpectedly ends with a word of hope, with the Gospel. A day of rich blessing would be coming. The Lord does not forget His promises and always fulfills His Word to His people. The covenant He cut with His people would be upheld by Him, even if they did not. God would bring about restoration and establish the eternal kingdom of His Messiah. As perilous as it is to despise God’s threats of judgment and punishment, as did the people of Amos’s day, it is even more foolish to reject such gracious promises from our God. All of His Holy Word was He caused to be written for our learning. Therefore, we take heed to hear it, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it that, by patience and comfort of His holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, given to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amos 9:11–15
+
A Word of Hope
“It’s always darkest before the dawn.” “When it rains, look for rainbows, when it’s dark, look for stars.” These platitudes are often given when we are at our lowest, by well-meaning friends, but don’t offer much really in the way of consolation. Because in this fallen and broken world, we need something more concrete to trust in. For the people of Amo’s day, even though they chose to ignore God, they knew He was real. Amos was called to warn them and to bring them to repentance. Not all would listen, but for those who were convicted by the Law and brought to repentance by the many oracles and visions threatening judgment, Amos’s prophecy unexpectedly ends with a word of hope, with the Gospel. A day of rich blessing would be coming. The Lord does not forget His promises and always fulfills His Word to His people. The covenant He cut with His people would be upheld by Him, even if they did not. God would bring about restoration and establish the eternal kingdom of His Messiah. As perilous as it is to despise God’s threats of judgment and punishment, as did the people of Amos’s day, it is even more foolish to reject such gracious promises from our God. All of His Holy Word was He caused to be written for our learning. Therefore, we take heed to hear it, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it that, by patience and comfort of His holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, given to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
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Responding to GodLamentationSeek GodThe Day of the LordA Matter of FaithThe Secure and the ComplacentThe Pride of the PeopleFrom Depths of WoeVisions of FireA Plumb LineAmaziahSummer FruitA Final VisionA Word of HopeA VisionHumiliationDisplacedStanding AloofHouse of FireRestorationHeeding God’s CallOverboardInside the Great FishFor a Second TimeMessage ReceivedNot FairA Lesson on MercyWho Is Like the Lord?O Earth!Then and NowLament
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March
Waiting for an AnswerA Dire SituationA Twisting of the TruthIn His Image and In His LikenessThe Lord’s NameThe Sin of ManFear, Love, and TrustThe Day of SalvationThe Word of the LordThe Lord’s JudgmentClear and to the PointBe SilentThe Day of WrathSeek the LordGardensRunning After Other GodsSwordsThe Kingdoms of this WorldWhere is Your Trust?The Lord’s RemnantThe Truth of His WordThe Human HeartA Song of VictoryRebuildingObedienceSurpassing GloryA Faithful ResponseLooking to the FutureReturn to the Lord!A Performative WordFour Horns