November 28, 2023

When Amos the Prophet (765-755 BC) spoke the words in the above scripture, according to the preliminary introduction of the Book of Amos, in my King James Bible (The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible), AMG Publishers, it was said to be in a time of great prosperity and political success in Israel. Israel, here being the Northern Kingdom (10 tribes other than Judah and Benjamin known as Judah, the Southern Kingdom).

Amos’ pleads to the people to repent and stop their folly with paganism, which they were falling more addicted to as the years passed by. Their idolatry and hedonistic ways were foreseen by Moses, as he spoke a precautionary warning in Deuteronomy chapter 6, verses 10-15. The Prophet Hosea also admonished the people of similar dangers for falling away from the commandments and dictates of Yahweh’s way for them to prosper, or otherwise perish in their sins and unfaithfulness. Hos 2:5-13 nkjv Hosea also warns:

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. 7 “The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.” hos 4:6-7 nkjv

Whether it be Israel’s demise in Amos and Hosea’s day, because of careless sin and unfaithfulness to the instructions of Yahweh, or similar downfall of any nation which was once founded and prospered upon Yahweh’s Word, our own nation America, for example, the cause and effect of sin and its destructive end is always a certain outcome, I think because of the righteousness of Yahweh, who is not a respecter of persons… nor is He not faithful to His word in judgment upon unrepentant sinners. If you are not really sure what sin is, and how it deceives you, review it at this link.

I think we live in a time of “famine of hearing Yahweh’s Word.” Although we do hear a lot of blabber from Hollywood and twisted thinking of the entertainment world, and distorted facts and untruth from news media and political prognosticators… and worthless opinions of people on social media. Yes, we are truly suffering from anemic spiritual health and we “lack knowledge,” we have even rejected it. Both these conditions just as the ancient prophets said. Tragically we see the popular choice is to pursue ignorance and corrupted words of men.

This past week was Thanksgiving in America. It has always been one of my favorite times of the year… it is also near the calendar day of my birth, November 28. In 1942, 81 years ago, I arrived to teach my parents how to raise children (smile). I have seen a great many Thanksgiving family gatherings, and it is always a very special time; I have also witnessed a sad and tragic decline in thankfulness and appreciation for the great nation Yahweh gave us to “keep and tend to.”

For a great many years now, perhaps 35 or more, for one of the traditions for our family Thanksgiving gathering, I have read the same historic “story” of Pilgrim's Thanksgiving in America, [The Desolate Wilderness] and its companion article [And the Fair Land], both published in the Wall Street Journal each year since 1961… The year Judy and I got married, just a few week prior, in September of 1961.

Now as the years have swiftly passed by, I think things seem to be going the way of the failed nation of Israel when they decided to disrespect and disobey the laws and statutes Yahweh had provided to prosper and protect them… they simply wanted to do things their own way. As you know, that did not go well for them… and I grieve for our loss of favor with Yahweh because of what our nation has chosen to embrace.

For your reading experience, should you choose to read this message, the following link will provide you the link to the message I shared with my family and loved ones on Thanksgiving.

Link to the “family message.”

Link to “The Desolate Wilderness.” and “And the Fair Land.”

Shalom, John