Sermons
Vander Kam on Amos 8:11-12
Sermons
Vander Kam on Amos 8:11-12Amos 8:11-12 – "'Behold, days are coming,' declares the Lord
God,
'When I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,
But rather for hearing the words of the Lord.
And people will stagger from sea to sea,
And from the north even to the east;
They will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord,
But they will not find it.'" (New American Standard
Bible)
Beloved in the Lord: it is an impossible task, of course, ever to measure what the influence of the Word of God has been upon human society. What is the influence of the Word of God in our present society in this land at the present time? It is simply impossible to measure it because of the fact that it is so great. And yet at the same time that it is spurned. Those are the kind of things that we see before us at the present time.
We see this, do we not, that it is the Word of God that has been given to us for our salvation. That it is the Word of God whereby our salvation has been made known. And there is no other way whereby we are going to come to the knowledge of salvation. So that for the church of Jesus Christ this is the Word that is absolutely essential; without it we cannot live. That is the Word that is basic through everything that consists of the church of Christ.
At the same time beloved, we must also realize that it is much broader in its function, much broader in its influence. That it is that upon which all western society has been built. That is the Word of God, it has not been built on the works of the Mormons, it has not been built on the works of the Mohammedans, it has not been built on the Koran, but it has been built on the Bible; and that has had a tremendous influence throughout this world. That is the thing that has brought prosperity, that is the thing that has brought freedom, that is the thing that has brought all the things that you and I are able now in this day and age to enjoy. All these things we owe to the Bible.
And these are the things that they are now trying to get rid of in ever so many places in our own land. They don't know what they're doing. They are thereby seeking to kill themselves. They don't know what they're doing because they are so dependent upon that Word of God. That Word of God is to give light, that Word is light, and there is no light outside of it. And thus we are totally dependent upon that Word, constantly, for everything in life, not only for our salvation, but also for everything else. For the work that we do, we are dependent upon the Scriptures. For the country in which we live, we are dependent upon the Scriptures. For the education we have, we are dependent upon the Scriptures. And so you can go on; all of life is based upon it. It is basic to everything else.
Now those are the things that were also made known to the Jews, of course, because there it came first. And this is the thing to which He now turns, in Amos' day, to show them what is going to be the danger if that is taken away.
And we speak therefore to you tonight on, "The Famine Of God's Word." Noticing in the first place, the reason for it; secondly, its severity; and finally, its results.
Now he is here speaking first of all to the Jewish nation because of the fact that they were the first to have the Word of God. And a famine of course, in the way in which he speaks of it here, can only come there where there has been that Word. The others will never feel it that that Word is taken away because they have never had it, but only here where the Word has come. That is the place where they are going to feel it, when it is absent.
That Word has been there with the Jews from the very beginning so that he has already told Moses the way, all the way back to Genesis 1. Concerning the creation of the world, concerning the creation of all things; all these things have been noted in the Word of God. Nowhere else are they found, it is only in that Word. That Word is that upon which they are dependent for all the things, all the knowledge that they have. And so He has also sent the prophets to them again and again in order to show them by means of that Word what was the way of life.
When you read carefully for example, that long Psalm 119, there you will find an ode to the Word of God, and it is an ode to the law of God. And these two are unmingled; they are one and the same in many respects. That is the way in which the Psalmist looks upon it and he shows what is the marvel of that Word of God. That Word is able to build us up, that Word gives light, that Word gives life, it is a lamp to our feet, light to our pathways, it shows us the way to the perfect day. That is the Word that we are dependent upon for all things.
So that it is not only for the future that we are dependent on that Word, not only for our religious life, but it is for everything else. Because religion is the very heart of the whole matter, whether they believe it or not, it is the heart of all things. And where your religion leads you, that is also the place where you are going to be, and that is the place where you are going to find light, or you are going to find darkness.
Now the reason for it is this, in Amos' time, that they had spurned that Word of God. Because it has come to Israel and it has come abundantly, so that they have had that Word and they have had it in every way. He has spoken to them again and again and He has sent to them the prophets, so that it might also be clear to them as Jeremiah says, or that He speaks through Jeremiah saying, "that they may know that the Lord is in this land." That the Word of the Lord is still there. And there are also the times among these latter kings, when they do not listen to that Word at all, but that they still come to Jeremiah and say, "Is there a word of the Lord?" Because, in the final analysis, that's the only thing that we can go by. This is true in the days of Ahab. "Is there also yet a word from the Lord?" Even though these 450 prophets of Baal have testified; yet it is something that you can't depend on. But is there yet a word of the Lord? And Micaiah comes and finally says, "This is the Word. This is the Word and it is the direct opposite of what these other so-called prophets have said." And thereby he is again plunged into the dungeon, but neither way, it is the Word of God that has come.
They will go to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, but they will not find it. They didn't want it! And they, no, no, they can't live without it. And they go from north to east, whatever that means, not from north to south, not from east to west, but north to east. They go in every direction to find that Word of God, but can't find it. And they need it so badly, because they now realize the hunger, the hunger for that Word.
That is the reason why He has taken it away from Israel in the days of Amos. They have spurned that Word of God and then He takes that about so long; there is an end to His patience. See, the attributes of God are tremendous, and the attributes of God are such that you are not able to measure them, but there is this, that there is a limit to His patience, and that finally He says, "Thus far, and no farther! And then I will send a famine into the world."
Then they won't be able to hear the Word of God, then they won't find it anywhere. And then they beat upon their breasts and they cry out for that Word, for the Bible, for the Word of God, because they need it. They realize that without it they would perish.
Now this beloved, is also very much akin to the kind of days in which we are living at the present time. Because you find this of course, that the Word of God is held in very low esteem. That it is not being placed on a pedestal; it is not being placed before us as that to which we ought to attain to the knowledge of that Word. No! If you want to believe it, all right, but it is antiquated, people. It is old, and therefore we are far beyond that, we know a whole lot more about the origins than what the Bible is able to tell you, even though it was only God who was there. But nevertheless, they believe that today they are able to speak more concerning the origin of man and of this world than what He Himself is able to tell us.
Or they have refused it out of hand. They say concerning that Word, you may not teach it. This is dangerous to teach that Word of God, mind you, in the schools of this land, to teach it, to live by it. Had the Congress of the United States lived by that Word of God; can you imagine! Had the state legislatures lived by it, be instructed in it; can you imagine! Where would it go? Except to that indefensible right, that right that is so far removed from reality. That is the way it is pictured constantly today. And that is the right that upholds the Word of God. Those are the reasons why He comes with a famine in the world, and it can happen here. It can happen again, that those who spurn that Word are finally going to beat upon their breasts wondering what they are going to be able to do without it. Because you can't live without it.
That is the sad situation today in ever so many churches where the Word is no longer preached, where it is no long proclaimed. There is a hunger for the Word. Yah, perhaps it hasn't come to that yet, hasn't come to a hunger yet. Oh, there is something stirring, something isn't right, and that ought to be satisfied; but it isn't. "And I will send a famine in the world, not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, no, no, but of the Word of God, so that you can't find it." That's what he sent.
We who have several Bibles in every home, if you didn't have any anymore! Those who were in concentration camps and had one or two pages of the Bible with them, and they safeguarded that, because that was a treasure. Yah, if they didn't know what the rest of the Bible was perhaps, anymore, but here was something to live by. "And then I'm going to send a famine." Famine from hearing the Word of God. That is awful when that comes.
Then notice in the second place, its severity. Now the very fact beloved, that He calls it a famine is already indicative of this, that it is going to be severe. A famine is always a very severe punishment. It is one of the severest punishments that comes, and you and I have all seen the pictures that have come to us for example, from those people who have suffered hunger, who have suffered starvation, who have starved in ever so many places in this world, in the time of plenty, in the time in which we didn't know what to do with all the grain that the United States of America raised. But at the same time, there were thousands and millions who were going hungry and died of hunger.
Famine is something which is serious, and the world leaders also began to realize that it is one of the most serious things that they are facing today. That it isn't only a matter of arms over against arms, but that it is also a matter of the haves over against the have-nots. That it is a matter of those who have sufficient and those who are starving, and that this is therefore a very severe situation. It is so severe that when men no longer are able to eat, when they no longer have enough, then they will even turn to cannibalism in order to satisfy the basic needs of the body, because of the fact that they are no longer able to live without it. So that man turns almost into an animal, in order that he may overcome hunger, that he may overcome thirst. These are the things that we have seen before our eyes in ever so many places in this world in recent years.
And now, says God, "I am going to send a famine in the land that is going to be a whole lot worse. It is not a famine of bread, and it is not a famine of water, but it is this, a famine of hearing the Word of God." That they won't hear that Word of God, that there's nothing said of Him anymore; that He is not proclaimed, that His Name is no longer found anywhere. He who has placed His Name on everything, and now it is no longer heard. And it is far more severe than a famine of bread and water; that is something that you can go without yet for awhile, but to go without the Word of God! Oh, there are so many who believe they can easily do that. That's what they want to do; they would love it if that Word were never heard again. And at the same time beloved, thereby they are committing suicide.
Because of the fact this is the one thing that man needs; to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. "We shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." That's what he has to live by, says Jesus. So then when you have a famine of that Word, that that Word is no longer heard, that that Word is nowhere to be found, what kind of a situation do you have! Except this, that it is most desperate. It is so desperate that people are trying to find their own way and are not able to find it, that they are then going as it were, in a maze, they don't know the way out. They don't know which way to turn anymore, because they are in that maze that has no openings, that has no ending.
And so it is when they no longer have the Word of God. That Word of God was to instruct them, that Word of God had instructed, and now He is going to send that kind of a famine, and it has come, it has come upon the Jews. They who had it in abundance, and nobody else had it. And now we have to send missionaries there because they don't know the Word of God. We have to send missionaries to those who were God's people, because they are now "not my people," says Hosea.
They are not His people anymore, there has come a famine of the Word, and they have gone in every direction. And someone has written about the "wandering Jew", but that is a reality. It has become a reality already for many years, that he doesn't know where to turn, that he doesn't know where to go. And well, He finally gave them a little spot in this world, called Israel, and now he has to defend that, and what do they have there? They have not the Word of God.
No, there they are still, some of the orthodox are still looking very carefully to the Hebrew Scriptures, and there they stare themselves blind in these Scriptures and do not see, and they deny Jesus Christ. He is sending a famine of the Word, and it is severe, it is so severe that it has ended in a holocaust because of the fact that they turned away from the living God. That is dangerous, dangerous life.
Yah, you can't live that way. Remember that, young people, you can't live that way. You have to live by that Word of God or by nothing. You have to have this as your guide and as your stay or you have nothing. And therefore it is so severe when He sends a famine of that Word. A famine of the Word comes and then they don't know where to turn anymore. They don't know where to go in order that there may even be the possibility of decent living. Because it is not only for our religious instruction of course, but it is for this, that a decent living among men is no longer possible, because the Word of God has been stopped, it has been silenced. And then He has sent a famine of it. So that you can't find it anywhere.
And also there among the Jews where they are still speaking in the Old Testament form and looking at the Old Testament Scriptures, the Hebrew, and are still instructing their young people in that Hebrew, have not seen the key to it, not Jesus Christ. These are the ones where the famine of the Word is already come. They think that they have life; they think they have food, and they don't. And so it is in so many churches of the present day; they think they have the Word, and they don't. They think they have the truth, and they don't. And they are led as sheep to the slaughter; and that has happened in so many churches. That has happened in Europe, it has happened in Asia, and it is happening in America, and it is happening more frequently today than ever before.
Because there is seemingly the outlook as though there is something that we can hold to, and there isn't. That His people may have discerning spirits, whether the spirits are of God; that is the important thing. Not that they mouth some kind of a proverb, not that they mouth some religiosity, but whether it is the Word of God. That Word of God that slices straight, and that aims straight, and that shows you the way, that shows you the way in every realm of life; that is the way. And when there comes a famine of that Word, and there's finally nothing left, then the pride of man is gone and the image of God becomes as it were, tarnished, and the image of God is almost eradicated; then you find this, that man goes about as though he doesn't know where he is, or where he is going. "And He sends a famine of the Word." That is to be dreaded, its severity. It is severe; it is horrible; it is the worst that can happen to a people. Let them be without bread, or with very little, and they will still get along; but without the Word of God, they are all going to die, both for this life and for the life to come; both.
And finally, notice the results. As I have already mentioned at the beginning, you have this situation, you know, that you would think that people would enjoy that situation. They are not cumbered with the Word of God anymore in that it is no longer a law that is binding them. And that they might not mind a famine of that Word. You could send a famine of certain foods that I wouldn't mind at all, because I don't like them. Now if it is that way also with the Word of God, wouldn't that be the same thing? Is it true that that might not even be felt, but that they have already hardened themselves against it and that they do not want it anyway? No, that's not the case. Because man is incurably religious; he is bound to his Maker, and he is bound to Him with bonds that he is never going to be able to sever. And consequently he is going to look from one end of the earth to the other in order to find Him.
The Jews looked upon this, that they had the Word of God and they were proud of that, that they had the Word. "What nation is there," says the Psalmist, "that has laws like Israel has?" What nation is there that has been so blest that God has spoken to them, and that He has spoken to them face to face. And they were proud of that, but then came the times when they had turned against it and then they were seeking it again and they couldn't find it.
Yet it is not as, for example, Christ speaks in the Sermon on the Mount, when He said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; they shall be filled." Yah, but this is an entirely different thing. Here is not "blessed are those who hunger and thirst for the Word of God, for they shall be filled." No! Here it is, "Woe to those who are hungering and thirsting for the Word of God, for it is going to get worse."
That is the meaning of Amos 8:11 and 12. Because it is going to be as with King Saul. He finally comes to that position; he has played with that Word of God time and again, and with all the various things that were accompanying it, with the sacrifices. "If Samuel does not come in time, then I'll do it myself." And he offers there before all Israel, before the Philistines are able to gather. And then Samuel comes! "Why have you done this?" And I had to; I had to. I had to be disobedient. Because I could see with my own eyes that it was going to go wrong otherwise. And then at the end of his life, he ends up in that witch's cave in Endor seeking the Word of God; he can't find it anymore. He doesn't know where to look. But that's where he ends up. That is given to us as an example.
Or if you want a far milder example it is this, that Job cries out concerning the same thing; that he has sought for God and he can't Him. And why is it that all of these disasters come to be, why is it that all these things have overcome, with these catastrophes. But God has hidden Himself, hidden Himself. So that the Word doesn't come through. That is somebody's famine in the world, but it is much milder than with King Saul. Here was a believer, but a believer who was here looking to the Word, looking to that Word in order that he might again find it, that again his God might speak to him, to show him the way of life, and he couldn't find it either. And so it has gone on in the history of the Jews. We have seen it in biblical times, and those are the things that are written for our instruction. And we see it in the church of the present day, that it comes again and again, people can't find it, and then wonder, wonder, where shall they go. And they must go from the one end of the earth to the other. Notice what he says in verse 12; "People will stagger from sea to sea." Now when you go from sea to sea in Palestine, then you're going a long way. And from the north even to the east, and will go to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and will not find it. They are looking everywhere for it and they can't find it.
They are looking everywhere to see if there is yet a word of the Lord. There that's what you live by. And if they might yet hear a morsel of that, if they might yet gain a morsel of that, might hear that Word speaking, whatever it might be, that would be great, that would be life; and they can't find it; shall not find it.
They won't find it at all; look wherever they may, because He has sent a famine of that Word. And He has given it to others, and He has given it to those who bow the knee to the Christ of God. And He has turned away from the Jews, and He has given it to a Saint Paul, and he brings it to Asia Minor, and he brings it to Rome, and he brings it to the islands of the sea. And these believe, and the Jews harden themselves yet the more that these others have it.
And these are the things that are written for our instruction. Because there you have something very similar to the things that are taking place today. The lights are going out in this world, the lights are going out, the light of understanding, the light of culture, the light of civilization. It is going out because they have turned against the Word of God. Where is civilization? Where is culture? When you look at those camps in Rwanda, where is there any culture or civilization left? When you see the holocaust, they have turned away from the Word of God, and that Word comes and slays them finally. "They shall not find it." No, they have to return, they have to return on bended knee, and they have to seek Him; seek Him who made the Orion and Pleiades, who hung them in the heavens, who sent His Son. God who has spoken, the God of grace, the God of love, the Father of Jesus Christ. And they have to seek Him again.
We still have that Word. What will we do with it? Away, fritter it away; so finally, there is nothing left. They are doing that in many places, you know. In the name of religion, in the name of coming to a better understanding of things, in the light of today's culture, "And then I will send a famine in the world. And that will not be of bread to eat, or of water to drink, but of hearing the Word of God, hearing the Word of the Most High." And when He speaks, he speaks peace, and when He speaks, it may also thunder. Because when He speaks, no one is unaffected, but when He turns away, it doesn't speak anymore. That is serious. That we may cling to that Word with everything that we have, and that we may give everything for the defense of that Word. "That Word, above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth." That Word shall stand! And that is the Word by which we live, and that is the Word by which we can die. And that alone, without it we have nothing. Amen!
We thank Thee, heavenly Father, for the Word wherein Thou hast again spoken to us. And we thank Thee that we may know that Thou dost not speak in vain. We thank Thee, oh God, for its warnings. We thank Thee for its instructions, and we pray apply Thou it unto our every heart. Grant us Thy blessing further; bless the young people as they meet. Bless us in the week to come, grant us Thy grace abundantly that in all things we may serve Thee, may worship Thee, may glorify Thy great and holy Name. And cause Thou Thy glory to be revealed in us. Forgive our sins and hear us in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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