Devotions
The Haughty Woodpecker (Obadiah 1–21)
Corrie Ten Boom used to tell the story of a proud woodpecker tapping away at a dead tree. As he pecked, the sky turned black and thunder began to roll. Undaunted, the woodpecker went on working. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck the old tree, splintering it into...
Hope in Judgement (Amos 9)
The casual reader of the Minor Prophets might come away with the impression that the Old Testament prophets were nothing more than prophets of doom. Time and again, these men foretold God’s judgement on his people for their sin. While this is true, it is evident that...
Silent Judgement (Amos 8)
Like so many of the biblical prophets, Amos faithfully persevered with little to no visible fruit. His warnings of judgement to come largely fell on deaf ears. Far from receiving him as a prophet of Yahweh, Israel’s religious leadership drove him away. He was ordered...
Handling Conflict (Amos 7:10–17)
Every week, during our Sunday evening service, we highlight a specific Christian facing persecution, or an area in which persecution is experienced. In a country like South Africa, which enjoys relative freedom of religion and religious worship, we can easily forget...
Lessons from an Intercessor (Amos 7:1–9)
Does prayer change things? This question has been debated among Christians for centuries. On the one hand, some Christians believe that God is absolutely open to hearing our prayers and being swayed by them. We can change his mind if we pray fervently enough. On the...
The Problem with Security (Amos 6)
We have repeatedly noted in our study in Amos that, during the time that Amos ministered, Israel had never been more secure. King Jeroboam II had brought unprecedented peace for the nation. But Israel’s security became its curse. Chapter 6 brings the problem of...