Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from Radical.net.

Amos chapter one, verse two, and he said, the Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem.

The pastures of the shepherd's mourn and the top of Carmel withers. What a picture of God

as the judge of all the earth like a lion roaring in judgment. And the picture here in Amos

chapter one is specifically God's judgment upon all the nations upon the people who have worked

against his people Israel in the Old Testament. But the reality is we see this all over the Bible

that all people, including every single person, stands before God as judge think Romans chapter three

versus 19 and 20. Talk about how every mouth is silenced before God. The whole world, it says,

is accountable to God. And it's you that's me that's everyone around us. This is very similar to

the imagery we saw in Joel chapter three, but the picture here of God roaring in judgment.

And in one sense, this is terrifying for sinful people in light of the justice of God, the

roaring judgment that we deserve. Oh, we need Jesus. God's son, God's gift that makes possible

salvation from judgment. Praise God that the one who is holy and just has made a way for us to

receive his mercy and grace, not by anything we do, but by trust in him and his love for us.

Yes, praise God for the gospel. Yet don't let the terror of this verse be lost as we think about

people all around us and multitudes of people around the world who don't know this grace and

this mercy. Many have never even heard of him. Others have rejected him. God, help us to be faithful

to proclaim this gospel in light of the roaring judgment of God to come. And then at the same time,

I would just add there is encouragement here in a world of sin and evil and injustice to be

reminded that the roaring judgment and justice of God is coming. So let's do justice work for justice

now, confident and ultimate justice to come. God, we pray all of this in light of Amos one, two,

we praise you for your grace and your mercy for your justice and your holiness and Jesus for how

...