Old Testament Wednesday

Scripture of the Day:

Amos 3:4-8

4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?

5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no ^agin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be ^aevil in a city, and the Lord hath not ^bdone it?

7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, ^abut he ^brevealeth his ^csecret unto his servants the ^dprophets.

8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but ^aprophesy?

Historical Background:

Here is the Bible Dictionary background on Amos-

Burden.

The prophet Amos prophesied in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah (died about 740 B.C.), and Jeroboam II, king of Israel (died about 750 B.C.). He was a shepherd (Amos 1: 1; Amos 7: 14) and a native of Tekoa, 12 miles south of Jerusalem, but his ministry was among those of the northern kingdom of Israel. His emphasis was upon the moral character of Jehovah, the righteous ruler of all nations and men. Amos shows that the offering the Lord most cares for is a righteous life - the sacrifice of animals lose their meaning if offered as substitutes for personal righteousness (Amos 5: 21-27). The fact that Israel is the covenant people would make their punishment the heavier (Amos 3: 2; Amos 9: 7). Yet Israel will not be utterly destroyed (Amos 9: 8), and in the last days the kingdom will return to and even surpass its ancient glory (Amos 9: 11-15). Amos emphasizes that the Lord speaks through his prophets in warning mankind (Amos 3: 7).

Gospel Principles Outlined:

1) Prophets are essential to God's plan.

2) Things happen for a reason.

3) When God speaks, the prophets testify.

4) Your life and action should have a purpose.

5) Pay attention to the counsel of the prophets.

What I Learned Today:

I think the examples that Amos uses to demonstrate the need for a prophet are interesting. A lion searching for food, a warning trumpet and a fall bird or animal in a trap. Prophets are critical to the plan of salvation and the Lord focuses on providing to God's children access to the prophets. We should focus our search on learning their counsel as a necessary sustaining force for our spirits.

Additional Resources-

"Continuing Revelation" by President James E. Faust

Things I Will Implement:

As a part of my gospel study, I will focus more on trying to understand what the Lord is teaching me through His prophets. This will allow me to gain a deeper understanding on who I am and what the Lord needs me to accomplish.