David & Goliath

Richard reflects on Amos 7:10-17 and the amazingly named Amaziah.Amos and Amaziah10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: "Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. 11 For this is what Amos is saying: " 'Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile...

"There are a lot of us out there — people who know what they SHOULD think about the Bible, but who actually think something quite different. We're told the Bible is the inspired word of God; then we read bits which are violent, disgusting or utterly weird. We're told it should fill us with joy and gratitude, only to encounter significant chunks that seem irrelevant, incomprehensible...

David gives us background and reflection on this reading from Amos 7:1-9.Locusts, Fire and a Plumb Line1 This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king's share had been harvested and just as the late crops were coming up. 2 When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, "Sovereign LORD, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so...