Do you rulers in Jerusalem and in the city of Samaria feel safe and at ease? Everyone bows down to you, and you think you are better than any other nation. But you are in for trouble! Look what happened to the cities of Calneh, powerful Hamath, and Gath in Philistia. Are you greater than any of those kingdoms? You are cruel, and you forget the coming day of judgment. You rich people lounge around on beds with ivory posts, while dining on the meat of your lambs and calves. You sing foolish songs to the music of harps, and you make up new tunes, just as David used to do. You drink all the wine you want and wear expensive perfume, but you don't care about the ruin of your nation. So you will be the first to be dragged off as captives; your good times will end. The LORD God All-Powerful has sworn by his own name: "You descendants of Jacob make me angry by your pride, and I hate your fortresses. And so I will surrender your city and possessions to your enemies."
Amos 6:1-8 The Message
The words of Amos and God's pending judgement tend to hit a little too close to home - they sound eerily familiar.
It is easy too assume when things are going well that God is pleased with you - that was the mistake the Isrealites were making.
Money, fame, success, etc. can come and go . . . don't blame the coming or the going on God.
Don't make the mistake and think that God still judges nations . . . God is about relationships with individual people - YOU to be specific.
Don't make the mistake of reading America into the story of Amos . . . but equally don't make the mistake of seeing yourself in the story.
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