SOAP 04/10/2016; Amos 8:11

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 8, 9, 10; 2 Corinthians 10*

S) "¹¹ 'Behold, days are coming,' declares the Lord God,
'When I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,
But rather for hearing the words of the Lord.'"

Amos 8:11 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Amos 8

O) Without losing context, this passage takes a whole new dimension when we consider that Jesus is the word of God made flesh (see John 1). Israel had gone too far, and God was sending them prophets to declare the sentencing, so to speak, of His judgment that was about to take place. In the previous chapter, Amos saw a few different visions of things happening to Israel, but after talking with the LORD about it, God declared that the thing to happen would be the exile. Despite the ravishes of war being as heavy and difficult as they were, it is the verse above that seems the most staggering to the people. Indeed, the very next line says the people will stagger, because they will have been cut off from God in such a way as they have never experienced.

A) I've heard people theorize that hell is so terrible because of the absence of God's presence. Although that could be true, doesn't have much biblical foundation. I've also heard people theorize that Jesus asked the Father why He'd forsaken Jesus, because God's presence was severed from Him when the sins of the world came upon Him. Again, I'm not sure there is as much biblical support for that as some seem to think, although it could have been the way it really happened. Here is what I do know, though: I can barely fathom existing without access to my Bible. Whether it's through some devastating cultural rebellion against God, where the Bible becomes contraband, or some kind of post-apocalyptic dystopia where printed materials are gone, imagining how to live my life without access to the certain words of God - this is a frightening and difficult thing to imagine. When I do try, though, it highlights the importance of studying His word. It drives home the truth that I don't live on bread alone, but on the very word of God. It scares me straight. It also makes me realize how blessed I am to live when I do. I have six Bibles in my house, there are countless copies at my church, and I have innumerable ways to read it digitally. My access to the words of God could not really be much greater. So, I cannot take that for granted. I need to take advantage of this blessing every day. I need to work to memorize more Scripture. I need to pray and meditate on it constantly. It is precious, and I can't let myself be lulled into believing it has lost value, just because it's so available to me.

P) Father, Thank You for Your precious words, God. Thank You for the Bible, for the prophets who recorded Your words, for Your apostles who wrote holy Scriptures to the church. Thank You for speaking to me through the Holy Spirit. Let me know Your words more, God. Help me place a premium on them, to the point where I have realized they are invaluable. Help me to protect them, both physically and politically. Thank You for the promise, that if I am ever hard pressed, the Holy Spirit will recall everything to mind that I need. Open my eyes and ears, Lord. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.