RTW 2024

“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine on the land not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD."

Amos 8:11

Israel's judgment is pronounced. They played at religion and commitment to God. They adjusted His standards to take advantage of the poor. God said you will endure an earthquake, an eclipse, a funeral, and a famine… and the worst kind of famine… one of God’s Word.

It is not a lack of God’s word, but a famine…of hearing the words of the LORD. “The condition described is that of being deaf to the words of Jehovah, not able to hear them. It is not a case of God withholding His revelation; but of people being in such a state that they do not see it, do not hear the words.” - Morgan

It is true that there may come times when there is a famine of God’s word, either through neglect or unfaithfulness. But that isn’t what Amos meant here. This was a problem with the hearer, not with the preacher. The preacher may have his own problems and the hearer as well may have his.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 describes the right way to hear the word of God: When you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (NKJV)

“We may question ourselves, whether we feed enough on God’s Word. If we would grow strong, we must feed, not on condiments and sweetmeats, not on tit-bits and scraps, not on versicles and pious sentences; but on the strong meat of the Word, on the doctrines, histories, types of Scripture. Oh, for more hunger and thirst for these!” - F.B. Meyer

Questions to ask ourselves:

• What am I feasting on?
• Would I even notice a famine of the Word?
• Would I even care if there was such a famine?
• Can I imagine leaning in to listen and not hearing it?
• Hearing loudly before, but no more?

Verses about the nourishment and life of God’s Word

• Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
  Psalm 119:37‍
• I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.
  Psalm 119:59‍
• I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.
  Psalm 119:93‍
• But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
  Matthew 4:4 ‍
• Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
  1 Peter 2:2 

Uzziah was a great king. He did good, sought the Lord, and led God’s people to military success. We often ask, and perhaps Isaiah reflected, “Where is God when a good leader/person dies?”

He is in the same place He always is; on His throne.

It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the LORD. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.
Isaiah 6:1

Think on these Wendy 

• What am I feasting on?
• Would I even notice a famine of the Word?
• Would I even care if there was such a famine?
• Can I imagine leaning in to listen and not hearing it?