Supplications and Snares

O. T. #2110  "Supplications and Snares"

Jan. 18, 2022

Amos 3-Part 5

LET IT GLOW

Looking at Psalm 143, we find God's faithfulness to answer our prayers.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness. (verse 1)

David's prayer began with acknowledging the attributes of God, His faithfulness and righteousness. Because God is holy, God is righteous in all He does. He is faithful to His promises and covenant. We need the righteousness of Jesus to cover us because we have none. None are righteous, no not one. So when we confess our sins, we know He if faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all righteousness, as 1 John 1:9 says.

As David called upon the LORD to save him from divine judgment, so can we. Friend, have you called upon the name of Jesus to forgive you of your sins? If you do, you will also escape divine judgment. Will you ask Him to be your Savior today? He loves you so much that Jesus died taking your place for the punishment of your sins.

 

LET IT GROW

We have had our share of skunks wandering into our yard. So we borrowed a trap from a friend. Now, I don't think we thought ahead as to what we would do with it if we actually caught one. Bait was placed inside the trap anyway. And one was caught. The guys put an old blanket over the trap and carried it away from our yard. Not sure it did any good, for the next fall another skunk came through our yard. If we had not set the trap, we sure would not have caught one. So it is in today's lesson.

Amos continues two more questions with a cause-effect relationship, found in verse 5:

4. Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him?

In other words, does a bird ever get caught in a trap that has no bait? Unless there is bait in a trap (cause), a flying bird will not be caught (effect).  

5. Shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

Does a trap spring shut when there's nothing to catch? So unless it has captured something (cause), a trap will not spring (effect).

Does a trap spring shut when there's nothing to catch? If one sets a trap, they expect to catch something. However, if nothing is caught, then one would move the trap to another location. God's justice is going to move on His people Israel.

Those five questions rhetorically point to a "no" answer. Israel does not see themselves in Amos's questions, so they are not expecting disaster. Their sins will eventually catch up with them, and God's patience will end, sending Assyria to conquer them. Sad isn't it?

Do we take God's Word seriously? Oh, we like to find His promises and blessings, but do we listen when God warns us if we wander into sin?

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for taking my place on the cross, paying my sin-debt.

May You receive glory and honor today in my life.