It was sometime before 2008, and friend and I were out prayer driving and a vision came to me, a vision of my community and the precious people in it. The vision though was heartbreaking, even a tad scary…the Lord was revealing unto me the spiritual condition of the people of Saskatchewan.
It was a vision that I never forgot, it effected me greatly and caused a burden of prayer to come upon me and as I spoke what I saw to my prayer driving partner that vision transferred and became a great burden.
The Lord had arrested us… we were heart broken and prayed diligently for those of our community, our province and our country.
The vision was this, I saw people, emaciated, in a state of great famine, tummies blotted, skin over bones, but the meaning was different, they weren’t staving with hunger for bread, no it was a famine of the word of God!
They were starveling for the Word.
Later on another saint had a similar vision, not something a person forgets.
Today though something happened that stirred this vision up yet again.
Many times as we read the Word of God, we see things clearer, something that we have read every year for decades, all of a sudden becomes new and fresh and we pause over the text with a new understanding and revelation.
That happened this morning…
I was doing my morning devotions and in the book of Amos this spoke to me instantly, I have read this text many times, but today the Lord wanted me to really see it….it was shocking,,, it arrested me much like the vision I had of old.
Amos is writing and prophesying to the children of Israel. they have committed sins that the Lord choses to deal with, is a very powerful way.
The following is a complimentary repost of https://www.bible-history.com/old-testament/bookofamos.html for informational purposes only to see all lick the link. @ retained by and for https://www.bible-history.com/old-testament/bookofamos.html
The Book of Amos
Introduction to the Book of Amos in the BibleAmos 1:1 – The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.
Amos 5:11-12 – Forasmuch therefore as your treading [is] upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate [from their right].
The Old Testament – A Brief Overview
Bible Survey – Amos
Hebrew Name – Ahmos “burden”
Greek Name – Amos (Greek form of the Hebrew)
Author – Amos (According to Tradition)
Date – 787 BC Approximately
Theme – The Kingdom of David
Types and Shadows – In Amos Jesus is the One who sees the great sinsSummary of The Book of Amos
Quick Overview of Amos. � � 1:1-2:5 � � God’s condemnation of the nations surrounding Israel � � 2:6-16 � � the people of Israel’s moral and social sins� � 3 � �God’s punishment � � 4 � � God’s warnings � � 5 � � “seek Me and live”
The prophet Amos was born in the territory of Judah but he prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel and the wicked King Jeroboam II. Amos prophesied against the nations around Israel and also condemned the northern kingdom of Israel for breaking God’s laws. He prophesied at the city of Bethel where King Jeroboam II resided, which had become a center for idol worship. He prophesied that the Israelites would be conquered by the Assyrians and removed from this place. Amos said that God could no more be in a relationship with the people of Israel that a man could be with an adulterous wife.
© Bible History OnlineAmos prophesied during “the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel” (Amos 1:1). The prophet Amos was from the city of Tekoa which was high in the hill country 5 miles north of Bethlehem overlooking the wilderness of Judah. It was a place of flocks and herds, and sheep and goats. Amos was perhaps the most unexpected of all the prophets, he had no background among the prophets, nor was he a son of a prophet. Amos was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore trees when he received his call from God “the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me ‘go, prophesy to my people Israel’ ” (Amos 7:15).
Because Amos prophesied during the time of King Uzziah of Judah there was no doubt much prosperity in the land. In fact even the northern kingdom had gained great prosperity during the reign of Jeroboam according to the book of Kings (2 Kings 14:23-29). The prophet Amos focused his message of the chief cities in the northern kingdom, Bethel, the residence of the king and Samaria, the capital city. These cities were greatly prosperous, they had been enlarged and were on the main trade routes. Amos directed his message on the wealthy who were robbing the poor, they were living in luxury in their sumptuous houses (Amos 3:15). He likened their materialistic wives as “cows of Bashan” (Amos 4:1). They were gloating in all of their lusts and pomp and yet God saw what they were doing, for they were lacking justice, they had lost mercy, and they disregarded the poor. They were careful to groom their shrines and altars, yet they had forgotten the Lord and were given over to the most grotesque sorts of immorality, abuse, fornication, and drunkenness especially at the places of worship. God would not tolerate their ways and the prophet Amos came to announce the wrath of God.
The contents of the book may be analyzed further as follows :
Outline of the Book of Amos
The message of Amos, except for the last chapter, is one of pure condemnation and judgment. In the first two chapters, he announces that the whole area of the northern kingdom of Israel was going to suffer punishment for its evil. He also named some of the most heinous crimes of the eight nations around Israel as he lamented who were also guilty. The depravity of these nations are spoken against and clearly described. The Ammonites are condemned “because they have ripped up women with child in Gilead that they might enlarge their border” (Amos 1:13); doom is promised to the Moabites because their taste for revenge was so strong that they burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom (Amos 2:1).
After condemning the neighboring nations, Amos turns his attention to Israel. He scorns them for the wealth they have gained at the expense of the poor (Amos 2:6-7) and for the same excesses that he mentioned about the nations around them. In Amos 4 he reminds them of the punishments which God had formerly used to recall his people from sin and warns them that this generation shall not escape a like trial – “therefore this will I do unto thee, O Israel and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12). The Israelites were warned that the only course which they can follow to avert the imminent disaster is to seek the Lord and to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24).
The coming destruction is pictured in Amos 7 by the visions of a plague of locusts, a fire and a plumb line used for measuring the people for destruction. Israel is pictured as a basket of summer fruit (Amos 8:1), a graphic figure of the short lifespan of the northern kingdom of Israel.
The closing verses of Amos’ prophecy ring hope as he speaks of the restoration of the Davidic line, referring no doubt to the Messiah.
The influence of Amos’ rugged herdsman background is seen in his use of the many agricultural metaphors which he uses, as well as in the rough manner that he delivers his message, not caring who was trying to silence him (Amos 7:10-17).
Throughout the prophecy of Amos it is easy to see his unswerving message that God sees the greatest sins and they will not go unpunished, and the righteousness of God will ultimately triumph
The following is a complimentary repost of https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112277/jewish/The-Prophet-Amos.htm#The for informational purposes only to see all lick the link. @ retained by and for https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112277/jewish/The-Prophet-Amos.htm#The
Also this online article gives more insight into the times when Amos prophesied
In this article:
The Life and Times of Amos
The Prophet Amos lived during the long reign of King Jeroboam II. Jeroboam the son of Joash (not to be confused with Jeroboam the son of Nevat, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of the Ten Tribes) reigned over the Ten Tribes of Israel for forty years (from the year 3114 till 3153 after Creation). Under his reign the Northern Kingdom of Israel enjoyed one of its most happy and prosperous periods. He recovered every piece of land which had been lost by his forerunners. He subdued the Kingdom of Moab and captured parts of Syria (Aram) which had long been like a thorn in the flesh of his people. Even Damascus, Syria’s capital fell to him.
Relationship with the twin kingdom, the southern Kingdom of Judah, was still strained at first. Jeroboam maintained the stern control over it which his father had exerted; he also held members of the Royal family of Judah as hostages to ensure that the southern neighbor would make no trouble. later, however, he realized that friendship and mutual help between the two Jewish kingdoms would be better for both. He helped repair the damage which his father had done to Judah, and he gave part of the land which he had taken from Syria to the king of Judah, Amatziah.
Together with the good political situation came economic prosperity. Many people in the Northern Kingdom became very wealthy, and began to lead a luxurious life. Friendly relations with the Phoenicians, who were the greatest merchants and seafaring people of those days, brought things of rare beauty and luxury into the Jewish Kingdom. Unfortunately, the unusual prosperity brought a collapse of moral standards. Ignored were the great ideals and commandments of the Torah to help the poor, and to practice justice and loving kindness. The rich oppressed the poor; might was right; it was an age of corruption. Hand in hand with this degeneration of the morals of the people went increased idolatry. People built many altars on mountains to serve the Canaanite gods, the Baal and Ashtarte. The Golden Calves, which the first Jeroboam set up in the north and south of the country to turn the people away from the Beth Hamikdosh in Jerusalem, were worshipped more than before and the teachings of the Torah and the holy commandments were viewed with contempt.
Again and again, G‑d sent His messengers, the prophets, to admonish the people and to warn them that unless they mended their ways, they and the land would be doomed. Yet the admonitions were, for the most part, unheeded. The people went their own way.
One of the great prophets at this time was Hosea; another one was Amos.
Prophecies of Amos
Amos was a shepherd before the spirit of prophecy came over him. He was a herdsman from the village of Tekoa, and a dresser of sycamore trees. He began his prophecies “in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, the king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.”
His fearless and outspoken words came thundering and stirred the people. Characteristic are his opening words: “G‑d will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.”
By “the shepherds” he must have meant the leaders of Israel, who failed their “flock;” and “the top of Carmel” were likewise those sitting at the top, who will be first to be stricken down.
But before admonishing the Jewish people, he had much to say about the transgressions of Damascus, Gaza, Tyrus, Edom, Ammon and Moab – all the neighbors of the two Jewish kingdoms, who would suffer the consequences of their evil ways.
Then he addresses himself to Judah:
“Thus with G‑d, ‘For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not withhold My punishment: because they have despised the Torah of G‑d, and have not kept His commandments…'”
In similar words he begins his prophecy against the Northern Kingdom:
Thus saith G‑d, ‘For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not withhold My punishment: because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals…'”
Fearlessly, the prophet admonishes the “Kine (beasts) of Bashan, that are in the mountains of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy.” He warned the rich who had amassed their fortunes by cheating and robbery, that they would not enjoy their riches, but would lose everything when the land went down in doom. Said he: “Thus hath said G‑d to the House of Israel: ‘Seek for Me, and you shall live. Seek for the good, and not evil, in order that you may live; that G‑d the Lord of Hosts, be with you. Hate evil and love good; and establish justice firmly in the courts. Then, perhaps, G‑d the Lord of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnants of Joseph.” By the “remnants of Joseph” the prophet meant the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes, for it was out of the Tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph, that Jeroboam the First came to establish the new kingdom, in opposition to the Kingdom of Judah.
Amos was not afraid to appear in Bethel at the very time when crowds were gathered there to worship the Golden Calf which Jeroboam the First, had set up in a special temple. In the very midst of the celebration, Amos announced the terrible punishment that G‑d would bring upon the sinful people of Israel. The crowd became angry, and their leader, the false priest Amaziah, incited the people to do violence to Amos. However, King Jeroboam protected the prophet, and let no harm befall him. Amaziah ridiculed the prophet, warning him to flee to Judah, where people of his kind would be more welcome, and never return to Bethel. But Amos replied that he was no professional prophet, nor a prophet’s disciple, but a simple man from the land, a breeder of sheep. Amos declared boldly and fearlessly that G‑d had sent him to Bethel to speak in His Name and warn the people of their impending doom.
The prophet reminded the people of the many kindnesses which G‑d had shown them since the beginning of their history as a people. “You only, have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your sins.” the prophet said, telling them that because G‑d has chosen them as His people, He demands of them higher standards, and, like a loving father punishes his erring son just because he loves him, so G‑d would punish them for their sins.
The Book of Amos
The Book of Amos consists of nine chapters, but despite his severe admonitions in most of the book, he finishes his prophecies on a happy note, of the wonderful things that will happen to the Jewish people on “That Day,” on the day of the true Redemption:
“In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old…
“Behold, the days come, saith G‑d, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring back the captivity of My people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith G‑d thy G‑d.”
.
Judgement was about to fall, the Lord was so clear what their sin was and what the consequences of that sin would be.
Israel had in the words of the Lord…
Amos 8:4 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? 7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: 10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day
If you want to upset the Lord, the easiest way to do that, is to not look after the pastor, the widows, the orphans and the stranger be selfish, have egosim working in your spirit, worship the almighty “$” with no thought for anyone else than yourself and your family.
Mammon had become their god.
In an online article by he writes
You Cannot Serve God and Mammon – So What is Mammon?
What does the Bible say?
Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Most of this verse is pretty straight forward and easy to understand. But what about the last part… you cannot serve God and mammon.
What is the mammon thing? Many translations will end this verse “you cannot serve both God and money” but that falls short of the real meaning. Mammon is much more than money.
Mammon is defined as materialism, and worldly gain. It is material wealth regarded as having an evil influence. More importantly it is personified as a false god in the New Testament.
So to rephrase the verse, it could say “you cannot serve both God and the false god of money, materialism and worldly gain.”
How do we know if we are serving this false god?
In the excellent book Wealth, Riches & Money the author says there are 10 symptoms of mammon’s influence in our lives. See if any of this ring true in your life:
- Worry and anxiety over money
- Money mismanagement
- Consistent Financial Lack “I don’t ever have enough”
- I can’t afford it mentality
- Impulse buying
- Stinginess – which is often exemplified by lack of tithing
- Greed. An inordinate desire to acquire or possess
- Discontentment
- Bondage to debt
- Exaggerated emphasis on money – including an overestimate of it’s true power… or overstating the benefits of having it.
The commandment the Lord laid out in the Torah was so clear, this was God’s will to care for those in need and for others to love their neighbour as themselves. so people would prosper and be well financially. keeping the love of money and mammon under our feet.
Deut; 14:28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: 29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
When Israel broke this commandment – that was one thing, they could have repented and turned back to the Lord…things would have been different but that didn’t happen instead look at their attitude.
When it came to the loving the Lord and serving the Lord… look at what they said…
, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
Wow, there is no other word for that than – wow! These people were so money hungry, so full of commerce, so exasperated and tired with the things of God that they complained … greatly…lets put it in todays language so we can get it…
The Message
Amos 8:4-6 Listen to this, you who walk all over the weak, you who treat poor people as less than nothing, Who say, “When’s my next paycheck coming so I can go out and live it up?
How long till the weekend when I can go out and have a good time?”
Who give little and take much, and never do an honest day’s work.
You exploit the poor, using them—
and then, when they’re used up, you discard them.
They hounded the poor, exploited the poor, oppressed the poor and needy, were totally board with God and the feasts, and any type of worship and if that wasn’t enough they changed weights and measurements to make them more wealthy and cheat the poor. Listen to what they are saying…
“When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?”
Why… because it got in their way of making a dollar!
They didn’t want to care for the Levite, (or in our day the Pastor), they didn’t care about the widows (today this would include single parents, or the disabled) and orphans, or those in need, no “those kind of people” were in their way, in fact the bought and sold them like cattle!
The Lord had had enough!
Look at the judgement he imposes upon the people.
Amos 8;7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: 10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.
That sounds bad enough but then look at this and think back to the vision of those in my area, province and country … a vision that some in the church have experienced… it was this scripture that arrested me this morning…
Amos 8;11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. 13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
It became so clear to me what the Lord was saying, for the tremendous sin loving (mammon) and for making money and work their god, for not caring for the pastor, and those in need…the Lord will bring about a powerful judgement – a famine of “hearing” the Word of God.
But, you say. “We help the poor, we have social services, we care for the disabled and those in need.
We, as Saskatchewanians and Canadians have many programs for those who are in financial straights”
Well… lets look at just what we do to help those in need..
Complimentary epost from: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/family-and-social-support/financial-help/saskatchewan-income-support-sis#benefits
Benefits and Rates
Basic Benefit – includes food, clothing, travel, personal and household items (monthly rate)
Outside Northern Administration District
Adult Basic Benefit $285
Within Northern Administration District
Adult Basic Benefit $350
Children’s Basic Benefit $65/child
Shelter Benefit – includes rent, mortgage payments, utilities, taxes and all other shelter-related costs (monthly rate)
Singles-
$575
Rent, heat, lights, water and sewer
Within Saskatoon and Regina,
Couples (without dependent children)
Families$750
(1-2 children)
Families$975
(3+ children)
$1,150
Remainder of the province $525 $650 $750 $850
Health and Safety
Household Health and Safety Benefit up to $500 to help replace household items or set up a new residence due to a disaster or interpersonal violence.
An additional shelter Stabilization Benefit ($150/month) can be provided to support clients who have difficulty maintaining stable housing.
Short Term Emergency Assistance may be considered to address emergency situations that are unforeseen and when failing to do so would result in harm.
Prescribed Diet Benefit for clients whose medical conditions require additional nutritional supplements or food. The benefit ranges from $50 to $150 depending on the conditions.
Travel Benefit outside of community for medical purposes, at pre-determined rates for mileage, meals and shelter.
Alternate Heating Benefit ($130/month) can be provided for clients who reside in a household where natural gas is not accessible and are required to heat their home with an alternate heat source.
Change in Circumstances
Employment and Training Benefit ($140) to help with costs of starting a career or beginning a training program.Children’s Benefit ($400) for a parent who is not eligible to receive the Canada Child Benefit for food, clothing, household items, and other child-related costs.
Child Care Benefit ($30/day) to help in the short term when looking for employment or going to a job interview.
Relocation Benefit of $200 or $300 depending on household size to assist with moving costs due to health and emergencies, evictions for reasons beyond client’s control, starting a job outside of the community or finding a more affordable place to live within the Shelter Benefit rates.
Travel Benefit outside of the community for job interviews or beginning training/employment at pre-determined rates for mileage, meals and shelter.
Security Deposit can be provided up to amount of the Shelter Benefit.
Funeral Benefits will be provided to support the costs of funerals.
We can clearly see from this… people are going hungry, people are living on the streets, people are suffering greatly…
The recent information coming out from the University Of Regina on poverty is staggering.
Conclusion
In previous reports, we have asserted that the
federal government must demonstrate with facts
rather than ineffective measures such as MBM
that “sunny days” have come for all children and
families living in poverty in Canada. The federal
and provincial governments can eliminate child
poverty immediately. Using the available
statistics (i.e., depth of poverty), the federal
government can calculate the amount of money
required to lift all children and families above the
poverty line, and increase by that amount the
funding for child benefits and the Canada Social
Transfer.
Government transfers have proven to be a very
effective way to reduce poverty. Their inadequacy is in the amount of money made available to families and children. The depth of poverty rates indicates how inadequate the present benefits levels are.
We are concerned. In Saskatchewan, as in every
prior year we have reported, the child poverty rate for 2019 is discouraging and frustrating. This report shows the reality of child and family
poverty in 2019. It does not consider the already
visible adverse health and economic effects the
COVID 19 pandemic has brought to the entire
population, especially those living in poverty
throughout the world. The current benefit levels
available in the province have demonstrated their inadequacy year after year. The future does not bode well for low-income residents of the
province – it seems likely that when data about the province’s poverty rate for 2020 become available, there will be a significant increase in poverty.
Children will experience the effects of the
pandemic for a long time. To continue the current
low level of spending on cash transfers, social
services, and tax breaks for families equals to
setting more than 1 million children in Canada for failure. We will be responsible for allowing this huge inequality to grow.
Evidence demonstrates there is indifference to the plight of children living below the poverty line. In the present climate of “limited resources” people must ask their representatives that both federal and provincial governments be accountable for meeting their human rights obligations to provide adequate income support for all low income Canadianshttps://www.uregina.ca/socialwork/swrc/assets/docs/pdf/Child-Poverty-Report-2021.pdf
So what can we do… as an individual, as a married couple, or as a person whose husband or wife may not share these values, as a church?
We know we are no longer under the law, so the curse for not giving to the poor is not there, and thank God because that curse is over the top…
Consequences of Disobedience
15 “But it shall come about, if you do not listen to and obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, then all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
16 “You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the field.
17 “Your basket and your kneading bowl will be cursed.
18 “The offspring of your body and the produce of your land, the offspring of your herd and the young of your flock will be cursed.
19 “You will be cursed when you come in and you will be cursed when you go out.
20 “The Lord will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke in everything that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed, perishing quickly because of the evil of your deeds, because you have [d]turned away from Me. 21 The Lord will make the pestilence and plague cling to you until He has consumed and eliminated you from the land which you are entering to possess. 22 The Lord will strike you with consumption [causing you to waste away] and with fever and with inflammation and with fiery heat and with the sword and with blight and with mildew [on your crops]; and they will pursue you until you perish. 23 The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze [giving no rain and blocking all prayers], and the earth which is under you, iron [hard to plow and yielding no produce]. 24 The Lord will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it will come down on you until you are destroyed.
25 “The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you will go out against them one way, but flee before them seven ways, and you will be an example of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth [when they see your destruction]. 26 Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.
27 “The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors and with the scab and the itch that you cannot heal. 28 The Lord will strike you with madness and with blindness and with bewilderment of heart and mind; 29 and you will be groping at noon [in broad daylight], just as the blind grope in the darkness, and nothing you do will prosper; but you will only be oppressed and exploited and robbed continually, with no one to save you. 30 You will be pledged to marry a wife, but another man will be intimate with her [before you]; you will build a house, but you will not live in it; you will plant a vineyard, but you will not use its fruit. 31 Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat any of it; your donkey will be torn away from you, and it will not be returned to you; your sheep will be given to your enemies, and you will have no one to save you. 32 Your sons and daughters will be given to another people, while your eyes look on and long for them continually; but there will be nothing you can do. 33 A people whom you do not know will eat the produce of your land and all the products of your labors, and you will never be anything but oppressed and exploited and crushed continually. 34 You shall be driven mad by the sight of [e]the things you see. 35 The Lord will strike you on the knees and on the legs with sore boils that you cannot heal, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head. 36 The Lord will bring you and your king, whom you appoint over you, to a nation which you and your fathers have never known; there you will [be forced to] serve other gods, [lifeless gods of] wood and stone. 37 And you will become a horror, a proverb [a mere object lesson], and a taunt [a derisive joke] among all the people to which the Lord drives you.
38 “You will bring out a great quantity of seed to the field, but you will gather in little, because the locusts will consume it. 39 You will plant vineyards and cultivate them, but you will not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because the worm will eat them. 40 You will have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not [f]anoint yourselves with the oil, because your olives will drop off. 41 You will have sons and daughters, but they will not be yours [for long], because they will go into captivity. 42 The cricket will take possession of all your trees and the produce of your ground. 43 The stranger who lives among you will rise above you higher and higher, and you will go down lower and lower. 44 He will lend to you [out of his affluence], but you will not lend to him [because of your poverty]; he will be the head, and you the tail.
45 “So all these curses will come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He has commanded you. 46 They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever.
47 “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with a heart full of joy and gladness for the abundance of all things [with which He blessed you], 48 you will therefore serve your enemies whom the Lord sends against you, in hunger and in thirst, in nakedness and in lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke [of slavery] on your neck until He has destroyed you.
49 “The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, [as swift] as the eagle swoops down [to attack], a nation whose language you will not understand, 50 a [g]defiant nation who will [h]have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young, 51 and it will eat the offspring of your herd and the produce of your ground until you are destroyed, who will leave you no grain, new wine, or oil, nor the offspring of your herd or the young of your flock until they have caused you to perish. 52 They will besiege you in all your cities until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout your land; and they will besiege you in all your cities throughout your land which the Lord your God has given you. 53 Then you will eat the offspring of your own body [to avoid starvation], the flesh of your sons and daughters whom the Lord your God has given you, during the siege and the misery by which your enemy will oppress you. 54 The man who is most refined and well-bred among you [i]will be cruel and hostile toward his brother and toward [j]the wife he cherishes and toward the rest of his children who remain, 55 so that he will not give even one of them any of the flesh of his children [k]which he will eat, [l]because he has nothing else left, during the siege and the misery by which your enemy will oppress you in all your cities. 56 The most refined and well-bred woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because she is so delicate and pampered, [m]will be cruel and hostile toward [n]the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter, 57 and toward her afterbirth that comes from between her legs and toward the children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of anything else, during the siege and the misery by which your enemy will oppress you in your cities.
58 “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, to fear and honor with reverence this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, 59 then the Lord will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses. 60 Moreover, He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you. 61 Also the Lord will bring on you every sickness and every plague which is not written in this book of this law, until you are destroyed. 62 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, you who were as numerous as the stars of heaven shall be left few in number. 63 It shall come about that just as the Lord delighted over you to make you prosper and multiply, so the Lord will delight over you to bring you to ruin and destruction; and you will be [o]uprooted [violently] from the land which you are entering to possess. 64 And the Lord will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other; and there you will [be forced to] serve other gods, [lifeless gods of] wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. 65 Among those nations you will find no peace (rest), and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despairing soul. 66 Your life will hang in doubt before you; night and day you will be filled with anxiety and have no assurance of living. 67 In the morning you will say, ‘I wish it were evening!’ and in the evening you will say, ‘I wish it were morning!’—because of the dread in your heart with which you tremble, and because of the sight of your eyes which you will see. 68 The Lord will bring you back to Egypt in ships, by the way about which I said to you, ‘You will never see it again!’ And there you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no one to buy you.Jesus set us free from the curse of the Law
Thankfully though the Lord Jesus Christ has set us free from that curse.
(Deuteronomy 21:22-23)
10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
BUT – Jesus also said this…
John 14:12-18 KJV
12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
What can we do… we want the people in our community to hear the word of the Lord, we don’t want a famine of hearing the Word of God, we want our community cared for… so lets start here…
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If you have been serving more of mammon than the Lord… Repent, turn and acknowledge the funds coming into your home are not yours but the Lords to be a god steward over.
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The Lord gives you a check or an income every month, begin by honoring him first – many teach that the Lord gets the 10% that is his due. That’s not Bible. All 100% is the Lords, you are a steward to care for that 100 %. When you get that mindset that you are caring for the Lord’s money he has entrusted you with, and act on that, riches will soon follow because the Lord can trust you.
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Make sure you are giving to the church, the pastor, the poor and needy, giving can come in many forms clothing, finances, time, goods just help someone today. Christmas is an excellent time to help those in need . but don’t just do it once a year, Every check that comes into your house, place a portion aside for the pastor, the widow, the fatherless and the Stanger.. make it a life style, not an obligation.
We can’t change the whole world, but we can change ourselves, and pray for those we love to be set free from Mammon and we can share the truth of why some are suffering.
Just because the curse of the not obeying the law has been removed, there are still Spiritual principles in place that if you break them knowingly or unknowingly, spiritual consequeses follow.
This is a vast topic but for many more scriptures check out this post on Ministering to the Saints
How to be a good steward of the money the Lord entrusts you with. Look at this simple Jewish Five Jar Method
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