What does "do not prophesy against Israel" reveal about resisting God's message? Context of “Do not prophesy against Israel” • Amos 7:16 – “Now therefore hear the word of the LORD: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.’” • Amaziah the priest at Bethel tries to silence Amos because Amos’ words confront the nation’s sin and predict coming judgment. • The command “do not prophesy” is not God’s voice but the human attempt to shut God’s mouth. The Heart Attitude Exposed • Pride – Israel prefers affirmation to correction. • Self-preservation – Leaders fear political and economic fallout if Amos keeps speaking. • Unbelief – By rejecting the prophet, they reveal distrust of God’s authority behind the message (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Patterns of Resistance in Scripture • Northern Israel: “Do not prophesy about these things” (Micah 2:6). • Judah’s kings: Jehoiakim cuts and burns Jeremiah’s scroll (Jeremiah 36:23). • Ahab jails Micaiah for predicting defeat (1 Kings 22:26-27). • New-Testament echo: “They will not tolerate sound doctrine… they will gather teachers to suit their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3). • Stephen’s indictment: “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). Consequences of Silencing the Word • Loss of divine protection – “The lion has roared—who will not fear?” (Amos 3:8). Ignoring the roar does not stop the lion. • Hardened hearts – Continual rejection deadens sensitivity (Jeremiah 6:10). • Inevitable judgment – Israel goes into exile exactly as Amos foretold (Amos 7:17). Receiving, Not Resisting, God’s Message • Humility – “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). • Repentance – Nineveh heard Jonah and turned; judgment was delayed (Jonah 3:5-10). • Obedience – “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test all things; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). Takeaways for Us Today • God still speaks through Scripture and faithful proclamation; our response reveals our heart. • Silencing convicting truth may feel safe, but it brings spiritual peril. • Welcoming even hard words positions us for grace, restoration, and renewed fellowship with the Lord. |
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