Prayers from Amos

Amos 2:9-16

“Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them,
    though they were tall as the cedars
    and strong as the oaks.
I destroyed their fruit above
    and their roots below.
¹⁰ I brought you up out of Egypt
    and led you forty years in the wilderness
    to give you the land of the Amorites.

¹¹ “I also raised up prophets from among your children
    and Nazirites from among your youths.
Is this not true, people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.
¹² “But you made the Nazirites drink wine
    and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

¹³ “Now then, I will crush you
    as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.
¹⁴ The swift will not escape,
    the strong will not muster their strength,
    and the warrior will not save his life.
¹⁵ The archer will not stand his ground,
    the fleet-footed soldier will not get away,
    and the horseman will not save his life.
¹⁶ Even the bravest warriors
    will flee naked on that day,”
declares the Lord.

Further words of God for Israel. Any smugness and cheering they were doing as God’s word was spoken against their enemies is gone. Not only does God say He will punish them, He reminds them of all that He has done for them. How He has rescued and provided for them. There is nothing within themselves that will be a source of rescue from God’s wrath.  I am reminded of the verses in Deuteronomy to tell your children and your children’s children all that God has done. It’s not just for the benefit of future generations, but so they themselves do not forget. We need to do the same, we need to share the way God has worked through the Bible, to read and listen to biographies of Christians past and present, to be open to talking of how God is working in our own lives. God didn’t simply work in history but is active today.

Father in Heaven, may we not forget that you are Father over all. Father may we not simply ask for daily bread and help to avoid temptation but may we ask for hearts that seek Your kingdom through Your word, Your people and in the places we dwell today. May we not depend upon ourselves but rely on You in and for all things, both for mercy and daily bread. In Jesus name we pray.