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INTRODUCTION  

This   series   of   messages   was   developed   in   an   a:empt   to  

communicate   the   responsibility   that   is   invariably   associated  with   the  

receipt   of   God’s   gracious   blessings.   Throughout   the   Scripture,   God  

proves   Eme   and   again   that   there   is   no  way   to   earn   His   divine   favor.  

However,   receiving   such   mercies   from   God   should   alter   our   lives  

forever.   At   the   point   when   Israel   had   been   spared,   once   again,   and  

received  the  wealth  of  God’s  blessing,  again,  we  see  them  engaged  in  

idolatry  and  consumed  with  greed.    

It   is   in   this  moment   that  God  roars   from  Zion.  Calling  Amos,  a  

simple  shepherd,  away   from  his  flocks   to  minister   to   the  people,  God  

transforms  him   into  a   fortune  teller.  Not  the  kind  of   fortune  teller  we  

may  associate  with   that   term.   Instead,  we   should   idenEfy   that  Amos’  

calling  marks  the  beginning  of  the  classical  prophets  that  will  be  used  

by   God   to   proclaim   coming   judgment.   AddiEonally,   Amos   will  

consistently   condemn   the   fortunes   the   people   had   accumulated   in  

insaEable   greed,   while   consistently   neglecEng   their   relaEonship   with  

God,  in  which  lay  their  true  treasure.  

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MESSAGESEVEN  

Revisionist  History  A  Recreated  Past  Leads  to  a  Dismal  Future.  Amos  6:1-­‐14  

Introduc-on  

On  the  morning  of  April  14,  1912,  the  Caronia  sent  a  message  

to  Cpt.  Edward  J.  Smith  onboard  the  maiden  voyage  of  the  Titanic.  The  

message  was  a  warning  of  icebergs  in  the  path  of  the  ship.  Cpt.  Smith  

posted   the   message   in   the   bridge,   then   went   to   lead   the   first   class  

passengers  in  a  worship  service.  

Later  in  the  aUernoon,  a  similar  message  was  received  from  the  

Bal>c.  The  captain  took  this  message  and  gave  it  to  Joseph  Bruce  Ismay,  

chairman   of   the   White   Star   Line   and   president   of   the   InternaEonal  

MercanEle   Marine   Company.   This   message   was   later   posted   in   the  

bridge  around  7pm.  The  captain   then   leU   to  a:end  a  private  party   in  

the  ship’s  restaurant.  

SomeEme   during   the   fesEviEes   of   the   party,   the   crew   of   the  

Titanic  overheard  a   correspondence   sent   from   the  nearby  Californian  

to   another   vessel   in   the   fleet.   This   message   was   a   warning   of   the  

dangerous  condiEons  created  by  the  ice  present  in  the  area.    

AUer  the  party,  the  captain  met  with  his  second  officer,  Charles  

Lightoller,   aboard   the   bridge.   AUer   their   conversaEon   ,   Cpt.   Smith  

reEred   for   the   evening.   However,   the   operators   aboard   the   Titanic  

received  another  warning  from  the  Mesaba  that  was  neglected  due  to  

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the   sheer   volume   of   telegraphs   being   sent   to   passengers   aboard   the  

ship.   Another   message   from   the   Californian   was   cut   off   by   the  

operators.    

At   11:40pm   a   crewman   aboard   the   Titanic   finally   saw   the  

danger  for  himself,  but  it  was  too  late.  The  ship  struck  the  iceberg.  Cpt.  

Smith  was   roused   and   brought   to   the   bridge.   The   first   distress   signal  

was  sent  shortly  aUer  midnight.  And  the  ship  finally  went  down  shortly  

aUer  2am.  1

Throughout  that  day  warnings  had  been  received,  five  of  them  

in  fact,  but  the  potenEal  for  disaster  could  not  be  allowed  to  interfere  

with   the   worship   and   parEes   aboard   the   ship.   This   was   a   ship   that  

many  thought  couldn’t  sink.  Add  to  that  the  opinion  of  some  that  Cpt.  

Smith,  who  had  45  years  of  experience,  including  many  traveling  across  

the  AtlanEc  aboard  cargo  and  passenger  ships.  

In   fact,   his   history  was   viewed   by   some   to   be   the   reason   the  

Titanic   sank.   In   James   Cameron’s   1997   film,   Titanic,   one   of   his   main  

characters,   Brock   Love:,   states   regarding   Cpt.   Smith,   “…26   years   of  

experience  working  against  him.  He  figures  anything  big  enough  to  sink  

the  ship  they're  gonna  see  in  Eme  to  turn.  The  ship's  too  big  with  too  

"Edward J. Smith." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. (Accessed June 1

19, 2015), http://www.biography.com/people/edward-j-smith-283822#death-at-sea.

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small  a  rudder.  It  doesn't  corner  worth  a  [dime].  Everything  he  knows  is  

wrong.”  2

History  can  work  against  us  when  our  experiences  lead  us  to  a  

level  of  familiarity  that  causes  neglect  of  the  present.  The  Israelites  are  

guilty   of   this   very   noEon.   Historically,   they   had   been   God’s   chosen  

people.  Now,  they  are  experiencing  prosperity.  Pugng  these  two  things  

together,   they   have   problems.   Amos   is   crying   out   to   them   with  

warnings  of  the  pending  danger,  but  they  just  keep  a:ending  worship  

services  and  going  to  parEes.  In  short,  they’re  complacent  and  content  

with  only  a  nominal  relaEonship  with  God.  

They  have  reconfigured  their  history.   Instead  of  embracing  the  

truth   that   they   are   people   who   desperately   need   God,   they   have  

revised   their   history   to   suit   the   idea   that   they   are   self-­‐made   and  

independent   from  God.   As   a   result,  we   see   today   three   outcomes   of  

revising  our  history  with  God.  

Exposi-on  

I. Blissful  Ignorance  (1-­‐7)  

Woe.  This  is  not  a  good  word.  It  speaks  of  doom  and  disaster.  It  

hints   of   devastaEon   to   come.  Why   is   this   woe   to   come?   Because   of  

their  blissful   ignorance.  What  do   I  mean?  The  first  verse   tells  of   their  

Brock Lovett (Character), Titanic, 1997, (Accessed June 18, 2015), http://2

www.imdb.com/character/ch0002342/quotes. ! 5

complacency.  They  are  smugly  saEsfied  with  the  way  things  are.  Think  

about  that.  They  are  saEsfied  with  the  oppression  of  the  poor.  They  are  

saEsfied   in   the   midst   of   injusEce.   They   are   saEsfied   because   these  

things   are   not   happening   to   them.   As   long   as   this   is   the   case,   the  

wealthy  and  privileged  will  conEnue  in  their  false  sense  of  security.  

  Verse   2   seems   to   imply   that   they   have   this   false   sense   of  

security   because   they   think   they   are   different,   no,   be:er,   than   the  

naEons  surrounding  them,  but  they  aren’t.  The  one  thing  that  had  set  

them  apart  was   their   relaEonship  with  God,   but   they’ve   thrown   that  

away.   Now,   they   are   the   same   as   any   other   naEon:   twisted   and  

corrupted  by  sin.  

They  couldn’t  even  imagine  a  day  in  which  they  would  have  to  

answer  for  the  injusEces  of  their  culture,  so  they  rule  in  violence.  They  

enjoy   the   best   of   material   goods:   ivory   beds,   couches,   feasEng   on  

lambs  and  calves,  the  arts,  wine,  and  oils.  However,  they  couldn’t  care  

less   about   the   “ruin   of   Joseph.”   The   self-­‐centered   agtudes   of   the  

people  cause   them  to  be  completely  callous   to   the  pain  of  others,   so  

long  as  they  have  their  hearts’  desires.  

This   blissful   ignorance   is   an   outcome   of   revising   their   history  

with  God.  They  had  neglected  the  Law  that  commanded  them  to  care  

for  others.  They  had  corrupted  their  culture  in  which  restoraEon  was  a  

moEvator  for  social  interacEon.  They  had  forgo:en  the  mercy  of  God,  

His   grace,   and  His   love   expressed   in   the  Covenant.   And   so   they   lived  

self-­‐centered  lives  focused  on  self-­‐indulgent  pursuits.  

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This  is  not  the  way  of  God.  There  is  nothing  selfish  about  God,  

even   though   He   is   the   only   One   who   could   righteous   in   being   self-­‐

centered.  Think  about  that.  God   is  and  should  be  the  most   important  

being   in   all   creaEon.   He   would   be   jusEfied   in   pursuing   selfish  

ambiEons.   Instead,   He   pursues   us.   Adam   and   Eve   sinned,   and   God  

vowed   restoraEon.   The   Israelites   rebelled,   but  God   lead  on.  Mankind  

strayed  far  away,  and  God  moved  closer.    

The   Bible   is   the   story   of   a   selfless   God’s   love   for   a   selfish  

crea-on   that   drove  Him   to   the   ul-mate   expression   of   sacrifice   that  

His  followers  are  called  to  imitate  daily.  That  is  exactly  what  Christ  was  

saying  when  He  said,  “If  anyone  wants  to  be  My  follower,  he  must  deny  

himself,  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow  Me.”  (Mark  8:34)    

Paul  echoes  this  teaching  in  GalaEans  2:19-­‐20  where  we  read,  “I  

have  been  crucified  with  Christ  20  and  I  no  longer  live,  but  Christ  lives  

in  me.  The  life  I  now  live  in  the  body,  I  live  by  faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  

who  loved  me  and  gave  Himself  for  me.”  To  be  a  believer,  to  walk  with  

God,  to  follow  Christ  means  to  crucify  self.  How  can  Christ   live  in  us  if  

we   live   only   for   ourselves?  When  we   revise   who  we   are   in   God,   we  

forget  who  we  are  in  God.  

II.Awkward  Pride  (8-­‐10)  

The   implicaEon  of  these  verses   is   that  Jacob,  another  term  for  

Israel,  was  prideful  and  arrogant  in  their  own  strength.  They  looked  to  

their  citadels  for  security.  These  citadels  were  strongholds  or  castles  in  

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the   King   James   Version.   The   thought   here   is   that   they   looked   at  

themselves,  what  they  had  built  and  accomplished,  and  felt  strong  and  

secure.  These  castles  would  prove  pointless  to  the  coming  judgment  of  

God.  When  God  decreed  that  they  would  go  into  exile,  there  would  not  

be  a  fortress  strong  enough  to  save  them.    

This   is   interesEng.   Look   at   the   end   of   verse   10,   “Then   he  will  

say,   ‘Silence,   because   Yehweh’s   name   must   not   be   invoked.”   (Amos  

6:10)  Let’s  ask  ourselves  a  quesEon:  why?  Why  shouldn’t   they  call  on  

God   when   this   judgment   found   them?   This   is   scary.   It   was   because  

their  faith  wasn’t  in  God,  it  was  in  their  own  abiliEes.  They  trusted  their  

strongholds,  not  God.  They  trusted  their  wealth,  not  God.  They  trusted  

their  own   ingenuity,  not  God.  For   this,  when   trouble  did  come,  when  

they  realized  how  laughable  their  strongest  safety  net  was,  God  would  

not  answer  them,  because  their  faith  was  not  in  Him.  

This  awkward  pride  was  a  result  of  revisionist  history.  They  had  

overlooked  how  oUen  God  had  rescued  them.  They  had  forgo:en  the  

truth  proclaimed  by  David,  “1  I  love  You,  Lord,  my  strength.  2  The  Lord  

is  my  rock,  my  fortress,  and  my  deliverer,  my  God,  my  mountain  where  

I  seek  refuge,  my  shield  and  the  horn  of  my  salvaEon,  my  stronghold.  

3  I  called  to  the  Lord,  who  is  worthy  of  praise,  and  I  was  saved  from  my  

enemies.”  (Psalm  18:1-­‐3).  

It’s  hard  to  fault  them  when  we  do  exactly  the  same  thing.  You  

and   I   very  oUen  have  more   faith   in  our   checkbooks   than  we  do  God.  

We   trust   doctors   instead   of   the   Great   Physician.  We   trust   our  works  

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instead  of  His  promise.  We  trust  our  iniEaEve  instead  of  His  provision.  

We   trust   our   deadbolts   instead   of   His   decrees.   We   trust   our   own  

moralisEc  laws  than  His  unending  love.  

Don’t   get   me   wrong,   none   of   those   things   are   intrinsically  

wrong.  We  should  be  good  stewards  of  the  resources  He  provides.  We  

should  allow  those  giUed   in  healing  to  use  their  God-­‐given  abiliEes   in  

ministering  to  us.  We  should  have  works  that  accompany  our  faith.  We  

should  develop  a  strong  work  ethic,  employ  common  sense  for  safety,  

and  live  in  accordance  with  His  expectaEons.  But  none  of  these  things  

should  ever   replace  God  as   the  object  of   our   faith.  Ul-mately,  when  

we  trust  any  of  these  things  more  than  God,  we  are  making  ourselves  

our  own  gods.  

I  ask  you  today,  where  is  your  faith?  Where  is  your  trust?  When  

our   faith   is   not   in   God,   two   things   can   happen:   idolatry   and   anxiety.  

Jesus  taught  on  this  in  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount:  

25  “This   is  why   I   tell   you:  Don’t  worry  about   your  life,   what   you   will   eat   or   what   you   will   drink;   or  about  your  body,  what  you  will  wear.  Isn’t  life  more  than   food   and   the   body   more   than   clothing?  26  Look  at  the  birds  of  the  sky:  They  don’t  sow  or  reap  or  gather  into  barns,  yet  your  heavenly  Father  feeds   them.   Aren’t   you   worth   more   than   they?  27  Can  any  of  you  add  a  single  cubit  to  his  height  by  worrying?  28  And  why  do  you  worry  about  clothes?  Learn  how   the  wildflowers   of   the  field   grow:   they  don’t  labor  or  spin  thread.  29  Yet  I  tell  you  that  not  even  Solomon   in  all  his   splendor  was  adorned   like  one  of  these!  30  If  that’s  how  God  clothes  the  grass  of   the   field,   which   is   here   today   and   thrown   into  

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the  furnace  tomorrow,  won’t  He  do  much  more  for  you—you  of   li:le   faith?  31  So  don’t  worry,   saying,  ‘What   will   we   eat?’   or   ‘What   will   we   drink?’   or  ‘What  will   we  wear?’  32   For   the   idolaters   eagerly  seek   all   these   things,   and   your   heavenly   Father  knows   that   you   need   them.   33   But   seek   first   the  kingdom   of   God   and   His   righteousness,   and   all  these  things  will  be  provided  for  you.  

Just  as  many  of  us  need  to  repent  of  our  blissful  ignorance  that  

is   the   result   of   complacency   and   selfishness,   many   others   need   to  

repent   for   the   pride   that   causes   them   to   trust   themselves   and   their  

provision  more  than  God.  

III.Impossible  Logic  (11-­‐14)  

Finally,  as   this  secEon  concludes  we  see  these  verses   illustrate  

the   root   of   our   awkward   pride   that   blossoms   into   blissful   ignorance:  

impossible  logic.  This  impossible  logic  is  due  to  revising  our  history  with  

God.   Judgment   is   coming   because   of   the   backward   thinking   of   the  

Israelites.  

Just   as   it   doesn’t   make   any   sense   that   horses   should   try   to  

gallop   on   cliffs   or   that   oxen   should   try   to   plow   rows   on   cliff   faces,   it  

doesn’t  make  any  sense  that  the  people  of  God  should  be  so  divorced  

from  Him   that   they   actually   do   the  opposite   of  what  He  desired   and  

designed.  Specifically,  they  turned  jusEce  into  poison,  something  to  be  

avoided  personally,  and  righteousness  (right  relaEonships  with  God  and  

others)  to  wormwood,  something  bi:er  like  a  curse.  They  congratulate  

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themselves  for  having  reclaimed  these  two  ciEes  in  their  own  strength.  

Yet  their  military  might  is  nothing  compared  with  the  God  of  Hosts,  the  

Lord.    

They  have  become  so  twisted  in  their  minds  that  they  no  longer  

see   clearly.   They   look   to   themselves   as   the   masters   of   their   own  

desEnies  without  a  care  or  consideraEon  for  God.  They  pat  themselves  

on  the  back,  and  have  completely  forgo:en  who  they  were  before  God  

intervened   in   their   lives.   I   wonder   how   many   of   us   are   exactly   like  

them?  

A   sixteenth   century   English   evangelical   preacher   and   martyr  

named   John   Bradford   is   said   to   have   been   standing,   watching   men  

being  taken  to  their  execuEon.  As  they  ascended  the  scaffold,  it  is  said  

the   preacher   stated,   “There   but   by   the   grace   of   God,   goes   John  

Bradford.”  He  meant,  very   simply,   that   if  not   for   the  grace  of  God,   it  3

could  always  be  worse.  All  logic  is  impossible  logic  when  we  subs-tute  

our  ability  for  the  ac-ve,  persistent,  and  powerful  grace  of  God.  

No  one   is   immune   from   this   deformed   logic.   Churches   can  be  

guilty  of  thinking  they  can  cause  growth  by  building,  or  programming,  

or  markeEng,  or  changing  the  music,  or  keeping  everything  the  same.  

Nothing  brings  growth  to  the  Kingdom  of  God  except  the  work  of  God.  

Individuals  can  think  they  are  more   important   than  they  are;   thinking  

“There but by the Grace of God, go I,” The Phrase Finder, (Accessed June 18, 3

2015), http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/there-but-for-the-grace-of-god.html. ! 11

they  can  earn  their  salvaEon  or  God’s   love,  or,  even  worse,  by  fooling  

themselves  into  thinking  that  they  need  neither.  

Conclusion  

This   revisionist   history   starts   with   the   impossible   logic   that   I  

have   accomplished   those   things   that   only  God   could   have.   This   gives  

rise  to  an  awkward  pride  that  establishes  me  and  my  abiliEes  as  an  idol  

in   my   life.   This   blossoms   into   a   complacency   that   creates   a   self-­‐

centered   and   selfish   blissful   ignorance   that   only   removes  me   further  

from  God  and  His  ways.  What   is   the  answer?  We  must  come  back   to  

the  foundaEonal  truth  of  the  centrality  of  God.  

To  do  this  brings  us  face  to  face  with  the  gospel.  Paul  wrote  to  

the   church   in   Colossae,   “21  Once   you   were   alienated   and   hosEle   in  

your  minds  because  of  your  evil  acEons.  22  But  now  He  has  reconciled  

you   by   His   physical   body   through   His   death,   to   present   you   holy,  

faultless,   and   blameless   before   Him—   23   if   indeed   you   remain  

grounded  and  steadfast  in  the  faith  and  are  not  shiUed  away  from  the  

hope  of  the  gospel  that  you  heard.  This  gospel  has  been  proclaimed  in  

all   creaEon   under   heaven,   and   I,   Paul,   have   become   a   servant   of  

it.”  (Colossians  1:21-­‐23)  

What   Paul   is   saying   is   that   there   is   hope.  We  were   separated  

from  God   because   of   our   impossible   logic,   the   hosElity   of   our  minds  

that  rebelled  against  Him,  and  the  outworking  of  that  logic,  which  were  

sinful  acEons  founded  in  selfishness  and  drenched  in  pride.  But  we  can  

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be   reconciled   through   the   selfless   sacrifice  of  Christ.   This   is   the   good  

news  of  the  gospel.  

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