Cover to Cover

Hello, I have started (in the middle) of a chronological reading of the Bible from "Cover to Cover" if you want more info go to Bev's Blog.


Well I am still not keeping all the Kings straight but we are posting about what lingers with each of us and this is what it was for me.

Amos' name means Burden Bearer and the book of Amos is referred to as the "Book of Judgement". Amos was sent to deliver the message that God was displeased with them and to persuade them to change. In 5:24 a change that would "let justice run down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream." God was angry and all nations are under God, but Israel and Judah broke a covenant. They wouldn't love their neighbor and they became materialistic, convincing themselves that their prosperity was a blessings from God. However instead of their prosperity being a blessing it lead some to being "Religious" and morally corrupt.

In Amos 2:4 "Because they have despised the law of the Lord" I always thought of Despised as being a very strong word. So I looked it up....yikes! To reject- to refuse- to disregard-spurn-regard as unimportant or worthless. Has anybody out there done any of these definitions towards Gods word? What came to me about this is how at times we or at least I have tried to justify a "minor" infraction by comparing it to what I would believe to be a greater injustice. These definitions above remind me that sin is sin, you are either for God or against Him and all sin is the same in His eyes.

In Amos 4:1 It talks about how the wives wanted so much that it pushed the husbands to be corrupt.

God wants a relationship not just a public display that looks good.

Then I go to Hosea- Well that's strange God tells him to marry the prostitute Gomer. But as she has the children God gives the specific names for them.
Hosea 1:4 Jazreel - meaning God scatters or God Sows
Hosea 1:6 Lo Ruhamah - meaning "No Mercy" indicated a lifting of Gods compassion on a nation that was rebellious.
Hosea 1:9 Lo Ammi - means "Not my People"

God had a specific progression of their names,
Jazreel: active judgement
Lo Ruhamah: Passive tolerance
Lo Ammi: No Connection
However as it goes on notice in 1:11 that "for great will be the day of Jazreel" What was stated in vs 4 and vs 5 as God scatters now after some reconciliation takes on a more positive meaning of "God Plants".

I noted the similarities between Amos and Jonah; they were both sent to warn the people of corrupt, immoral cities to turn and repent or face Gods judgement.

Then I noted that after God gave them mercy and compassion as they turned from their evil, that Jonah was unhappy and pouting. God gave him the vine and then took it away the next morning and asked Jonah, basically what business is it of yours?
Jonah 2:9 God asks "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?

How many times has God shown us mercy, forgiveness and compassion when we needed it but didn't deserve it? And how many times have we turn to look as someone else and wanted them to pay for what they have done. Ouch!

Well there is so much more but - I will stop there.

Until next weeks reading and what lingers this is all for this weeks "Cover to Cover"
Be Blessed,
Lynn