GOD NOSE The Book of AMOS JUNE BLOG 2025
If you have arrived at this page you are one of three people: 1) those who are my friends and read this whenever they want to catch up with what I’m studying 2) those who are studying the book of Amos and want to dig deeper and 3) those who are trying to figure out why an apologist and Biblical teacher would spell “nose” instead of “knows” on a public website. Whichever category you fall in- welcome! You will be intrigued by some of the things Amos teaches as well.
The author of this fine book Amos was a hayseed country boy. He lived about twelve miles south of Jerusalem and tended sheep. He pruned sycamore fruit- fig mulberry’s and took care of little exquisite sheep. He probably wore herdsman clothes and felt more comfortable in the wilderness than in a fancy church. Imagine if one Sunday some guy or gal or teen) with a flannel shirt and Levis walked in and wanted to tell the leadership a thing or two about God. Would he be received? Amos was selected by God – not man, not committee or decree. God uses the unusual and unique and whoever He chooses to speak for Him. If we reject the packaging we may just be rejecting God Himself.
The leader Amaziah rejected him, kicked him out and convinced the King that Amos was conspiring against him- in league to harm him. What an old filthy trick of the devil. This was an early version of conspiracy theory and fake news. It’s common even today. Amos basically tells him, “hey, I did not choose myself, I was busy herding sheep.” God called him to say what he said. Amos rebukes Amaziah and follows the Lord instead. Smart man.
This book / word was not just for the Heathen, it was for Gods’ chosen people and the Gentiles He would bring in the fold. Judgement begins at the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17). This book is to be read looking in our own hearts – not our neighbors.
Amos shared eight judgements against Gods’ people. It was the last straw and their punishment was imminent. Seven times the Lord (the sovereign, compassionate God) warns them that He will send a fire. God was behind the disaster? Yes. Serious warning! It wasn’t just a threat – their crimes are pretty serious such as beating and burning people, cheating, lying, despising the law and more. Then Amos’ resume tells us he preached three sermons to get their attention – still no response. This is God’s children and family – they of all people, should obey the covenant and God. All of these disciplines are coming from God to get them to return, come back to Him – but they refuse. They have better things to do.
The imperatives in this book are many but the two that ring loudest are SEEK GOD and LIVE! That was such a simple request. We find out that this awesome group of people we’ve studied since childhood, left Egypt with the Lord’s help but here we hear the “rest of the story” the truth that needs to be told. Yes they left Egypt but Egypt did not leave them. They not only brought the things of God but they carried with them a pagan deity named Sikkuth. UGH! Why do we just find this out in Amos? These were seriously bad guys. All this time the “faithful remnant” coming out to worship God in the wilderness, continued to be syncretistic (meaning mixed) and idolatrous. No wonder God was mad.
God does see and know everything.
He knew their feasts were bogus and offerings tepid. He states that He will reject their peace offerings, meat offerings and burnt offerings. To summarize God tells them
I will not smell them, savor them, breathe them in
I will not regard or accept them
I will not hear you
Gods nose – knows better.
You know what the “smell test” is? Something just smells fishy or funny. My mom used to say, “Somethings rotten in Denmark”. My dad would say his “baloney meter” is going boing, boing. Why? These religious people were anything but holy. They were insecure, jealous, petty, at ease, arrogant and just going thru the motions. They were actually committing crimes and pretending like they were innocent. Their religious observances were for show, competition and entertainment and GOD knew better. He would not breathe in the putrid aroma of their false worship and offerings. Not gonna smell it, taste it, touch it, accept it. NOPE.
But He doesn’t leave them there hopeless, He directs them to what He will accept- listen to this with your heart:
LET justice run down like water and
righteousness like a mighty stream.
That is what God prefers we focus on. Integrity, Veracity, Faithfulness, Justice.
To simplify:
Do what God says to do and choose holiness over selfish interests. Be just as God is just.
Maybe it would look like this in 2025:
Don’t tell me you’re MAGA and then never vote or help your neighbor
Don’t tell me you’re a democrat and never feed the homeless
Don’t tell me you are for life and never support adopted or blended families
Don’t tell me you love Jesus and ignore the widow, prisoner or poor.
Weighing scales for one and not another –(favoritism) God can smell that a mile away. His nose knows! It smells pretty stinky when we call ourselves believers and then act like the world. Popularity, egomania, clickish behavior – it’s not Gods economy.
I’m sure I’ve left out many and I’m not making a political statement here so please don’t send the emails. As balanced as I can say it, AMOS is for social justice because GOD is for social justice. That doesn’t mean freaking out and acting like a criminal. I’m just giving modern day issues that I think Amos would have addressed. His name means “One who lifts up a burden or care”. That fit him because he lifted up the injustices of the people to a holy God and then carried a burden of a prophetic life from God to the people so they would act. The poor, the disenfranchised, the falsely accused, the widow, the prisoner, the weak- those are Gods’ special kind of people and He cares how they are treated, then and now. White, Latino, Black, Haitian, Canadian, woman, men, Jewish, Muslim, French – yes those He cares about too. At the end of book God will do the “heavy lifting” because He is a lifter who likes to rebuild, renew and restore. OOO those are good promises.
The words may seem harsh but these folks would rather eat a feast than offer a feast of food, they would rather jump and dance for themselves than to worship and honor a holy God. It was by themselves and for themselves, and God was left out.
There are several statements where God asks Amos, “What do you see?” My favorite is the last one where Amos finally sees the One giving him the visions and He is standing (A place of judgement and authority) by the altar. The advocate will now rise. The judge will now adjudicate. The day is near – prepare to meet your God. Scary stuff is we are not in relationship, right relationship with Jesus.
In Amos 9:2-4, God goes on to tell us every place He can see people who have gone away from Him – a pretty complete list. “Prepare to meet your God” should cause us all to stir.
Jesus, forgive me for my sins
I repent for my wrong doing
Cleanse me and wash me and make me new
I give you my heart and soul and life today.
Thank you for paying for my sins and forgiving me. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer- let me know. I’d like to encourage and support you in your walk.
Please read this book – it is timely and very needed in our culture. The last verses contain promises of God rebuilding, renewing, restoring and repairing. When we come back to Him – He will work on our behalf and come near.
Hypocrisy, tepid faith, pretend Christianity – is putrid to God and Christ. Real devotion and sincere faith is a sweet smelling offering that draws God near. God nose = is accurate. God knows and sees everything and is waiting for all of us to return.
Praying with you, Renae Roche 2025
p.s. To the young man God is calling to be a prophet in our nation through his career – He will be with you. Pray for this young man.