Amos’ Vision of Fire --- 2019/11/13

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 7:4-6. The LORD invites Amos into the heavenly council a second time to reveal to the prophet what is about to happen. The fire that was missing from the judgment against Israel in chapter 2 finally arrives. This fire is all-consuming and cosmic in scale. What the LORD did to the water on Elijah’s altar on Mt. Carmel He will do to even the waters of the great deep. This fire is a part of the LORD’s courtroom verdict. Will He declare His people innocent or guilty? Will He bring the fire or not? Amos intercedes yet again on the people’s behalf. He does not plead their worthiness before the God of all creation; he simply pleads for the LORD’s mercy. Astonishingly, the LORD relents at the prophet’s prayer. Amos fills the intercessory role that was first given to Abraham as a prophet, the role that is brought to fulfillment in the Son of God in our human flesh, Jesus Christ. As He hung on the cross in our place, the fiery wrath of God was spent and poured out upon Him. The living water that flowed forth from His pierced side and now poured upon us in Holy Baptism douses the wrath of God that would be directed toward us so that we are declared “Righteous” in God’s heavenly courtroom. As His forgiven, holy people, our prayers now ascend into His council to intercede for the world, knowing that He will hear and answer according to His grace.