July 20, 2025
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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What does God's judgment upon a people look like? Would we even recognize it if we stood on the brink of destruction? These are the tantalizing questions that Amos chapter 8 answers for us in a shocking manner. Amos, like many other Old Testament prophets, found out that the problem of being a prophet is that no one listens to them. Amos warned that God's judgment was coming, and indeed, was already upon them. But Israel treated God's word as a joke. "How can you say we are under judgment? We are blessed! How can you say disaster is before us? We only foresee good things!" There is no greater tragedy than being in grave danger, while thinking you are safe. Because, soon or later, the reality comes crashing down and you will be found woefully unprepared. Indeed, despite all the warnings, when the Assyrians invaded Israel and took her people away as captives, it seemed to them that as though it came out of nowhere!
Yet no one can blame God and say he never warned them. God showed Amos three visions in ch. 7. God shows him one more in ch. 8: "Amos, what do you see?" "A basket of summer fruit." "Then the LORD said to me, "The end has come upon my people Israel"". The vision's meaning depends on a word play: the Hebrew words for "summer fruit" and the "end" sound similar. The basket full of ripe summer fruit conveys that Israel is ripe for judgment. Very soon, the "songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day". There will be no more joyful sound heard in the temple, but the sound of bitter weeping, and horrified voices saying, "So many dead bodies … They are thrown everywhere!" The shell-shocked people will then say "Silence!" The horror will be so great that words will fail.
But judgment is not yet over. ""Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land — not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run and fro, to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it."" Judgment is both just and well-deserved. To the people who have said, "We will not listen to God's word," God now says, "I will not speak to you anymore." That is, the famine of the word of God is the evidence of God's judgment, and a sure proof we stand on the brink of destruction.
We are not exempt today. From the society that relentlessly works to silence God's word, to churches that give lip service to Scripture but bad teaching and willful neglect leave the congregation ignorant of God's word, from professing Christians with self-imposed famine of God's word and regularly neglect to attend worship service where God's word is taught, to those who don't read the Bible, there is a famine "of hearing the words of the LORD." It is hard to draw any other conclusion than that many people today live under self-imposed judgment. They have treated God’s word as nothing, and God has taken his word away from them.
In view of these things, can you see what a singular blessing it is to have God's word? God's word is feast for our souls. So, then, famine or feast? Feast or famine? Learn to say as young Samuel once did, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." And the word of the Lord will be feast for your souls.
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Growth Resources
This year: Please see the full list of 2025 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage.
In July we are reading “The Consequences of Ideas” by R.C. Sproul.
This week: We are reflecting upon Shorter Catechism Q. 28.
Everyday: Noted pastor and theologian Sinclair Ferguson posts a short reflection every day, each around 5 minutes long. "Things Unseen" cover various aspects of the Christian life, worship, and theological topics in a very accessible and edifying way. We encourage you to incorporate this into your daily life. Please see this page for more information. There you will find links to various podcast platforms as well as YouTube page.
Upcoming Events and Notices
July 20 (Lord’s Day): Please welcome Rev. Mark George, who will be ministering God’s Word to us. Rev. George will also give a presentation about the progress of the gospel ministry in Sri Lanka.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).