Chapter 2
Good Monday Morning to this week 2 of 2023
Behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed. And the mountains will drop sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it. Amos 9:13
A young man in a wheel chair, discouraged by his condition, asked his physical therapist, “Do you think I have a future?” The therapist replied, “As a pole-vaulter, no! As a man, yes!”
In light of the dire predictions of the prophet Amos, the people of Israel and Judah might have asked, “Do we have a future?” Amos replied, “As a continuation of the way things are now, now! As a remnant, sifted by the judgment of God and purified into a new people, yes!”
That was the word of hope with which Amos concluded his prophecy. This word of hope may seem contradictory, in light of Amos’ prophecies of utter destruction. However, hope in the midst of despair was the common prophetic stance, because they spoke not from the perspective of man’s problems but from the perspective of God’s eternal plan. In the darkest of times, the light of God’s grace breaks through to give us hope for the future.
As Amos struck this positive note of hope, he firmly rooted this hope in God.
Amos ends the book on a note of high hope, looking forward to a day of great prosperity and abundance in Israel. When God releases blessing and restoration, fruit comes quickly. “Ploughman and reaper laboured separately, but here they bump into each other, so abundant are the crops and so eager is the land to grow more.” (Hubbard)
When God releases blessing and restoration, fruit comes from unexpected places. Normally, grapevines don’t grow well on mountains or high hills, but in the days of Israel’s restoration even the mountains shall drip with sweet wine and all the hills shall flow with it.
When God releases blessing and restoration, fruit comes with great quality (drip with sweet wine).
When God releases blessing and restoration, the work is blessed – but it is still work. The plowman, the reaper, the treader of grapes, and him who sows seed still have their work to do. God doesn’t just do it all for them, but under God’s blessing and restoration the work is done with energy and joy. The plowman doesn’t just wait around; he gets busy even if he starts bumping into the reaper! D. Guzik
However, we are not to think, if God withholds the dew, that we are to withhold the plough. We are not to imagine that, if unfruitful seasons come, we are therefore to cease from sowing our seed.
I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land, God promised restoration and looked forward to the day when Israel would never again be pulled up from the land.
Wishing you blessing and restoration where needed to start this week.
Philemon