September 23 Thought for the day

Amos 3:8

The lion has roared;

who will not fear?

The Lord God has spoken;

who can but prophesy?”

Amos uses a series of rhetorical questions to announce judgment on the disobedient Israelites.

A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy? These two lines are parallel, suggesting that the word “lion” refers to the LORD. That is, the all-powerful God roared like a lion to announce judgment on His covenant people. The people of Israel would be filled with fear and terror because God is a consuming fire (Deut. 4:24). And since the LORD had clearly revealed His intentions to the prophet Amos, he [Amos] was compelled to prophesy. God raised up His prophet to warn the people about His judgment, calling them to repentance. God is always justified when He judges, but is not willing that any should perish (Ps. 51:4, 2 Peter 3:9).