I'd like to invite you to turn with me in your Bibles to the minor prophet Amos.

And if you can find the big prophet Ezekiel, it goes Ezekiel, Daniel, Josea, Joel, Amos.

So if you can find Amos, Chapter 4

Versus 4 to 13.

And the text begins with a stinging irony about the sacred shrine of the Northern Kingdom

located at the city of Bethel. So follow along with me as I read Amos

Chapter 4 verses 4 to 13.

Come to Bethel and transgress, to Gilgol and multiply transgression.

Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days, offer a sacrifice of

Thanksgiving of that which is leavened and proclaim free will offerings, publish

them for so you love to do, O people of Israel, says the Lord God.

I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities and lack of bread in all your places.

Yet you did not return to me, says the Lord.

And I also withheld the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest. I would send rain

upon the city and not send rain on another city. One field would be rained upon and the

field on which it did not rain withered.

So two or three cities wandered to one city to drink water and were not satisfied.

Yet you did not return to me, says the Lord.

I smote you with blight in mildew.

I laid waste your gardens and your vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees the locust

devoured. Yet you did not return to me, says the Lord. I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt. I slew your young men with

the sword. I carried away your horses and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils.

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