Psalm 26, 28; Amos 7:10-17; Rev. 1:9-16; Matt. 22:34-46
Amaziah is priest at Bethel, where Samuel was priest. This, however, is not God’s chosen city or dwelling place and the worship at Bethel was corrupt. Amaziah determines he doesn’t wish to hear what Amos has to say and so approaches the king concerning the prophet in order to cause the king to come against him. His second approach was to Amos himself to warn him that the king was angry and he should, therefore, flee Israel and go on back to Judah. Amos’ response is interesting, more or less saying, this wasn’t my idea, I had a decent, quiet life but then God told me to go and prophesy so I did. Had Amos actually prophesied what Amaziah accused him of speaking? Since he brought it up, Amos says, that will be your lot, what you have spoken on my behalf is in fact prophetic and it is more personal than you realize.
What did the Pharisees think Jesus would say about the greatest commandment? Given the Shema, Deuteronomy 6.4f, how could Jesus have answered that question any other way? Even linking the love of God and the love of neighbor wasn’t unique to Jesus, His answer is a nice, succinct summary of the Ten Commandments. After they approve of His reply, however, it is only fair that He ask them a question. What is the relationship between David and the Christ? That one is indeed a puzzler as they presumed that the fact that Messiah would come from David’s line was quite literal and that therefore David would be the greater as he precedes the Messianic king. Jesus, however, says that may not be a good interpretation since David refers to Messiah as Lord, and how can David bow before his own progeny? John 1 is the answer to the question.
John saw the voice that was speaking to him, an interesting turn of phrase. What he saw was certainly a captivating vision. One like a son of man surely calls to mind Daniel 7,13 where one like a son of man is presented to the ancient of days who we meet in the preceding verses, “his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool…” John’s vision seems to conflate Daniel’s vision of two, the ancient of days and the one like a son of man, into one person. John also says that his face was like the sun shining at full strength, sort of like what happened to Moses but more like what John saw at the Transfiguration. Now, he sees the fullness of the revelation of Jesus, as even he hadn’t seen on the mount of Transfiguration that day. Oh, my!
Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
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