Here, There & Everywhere; Brilliant Disguise; Shelter from the Storm & Into the Mystic

Isn’t it funny how people can see or pick up on different things from a piece of art? I read Graham Willmott’s book about my beloved Jam (Sounds from the Street) while on holiday and was somewhat surprised that, although Willmott clearly loved Weller, Foxton & Butler every bit as much as I do, his reviews of virtually every Jam album highlighted different “must hear” classic tracks from the ones I would have chosen. Equally, if I was to ask the lads across the breakfast table to name the most memorable track on, say Revolver, Tunnel of Love, Blood on the Tracks or Moondance for example, I would have started an argument so long that the Bibles would never get opened before 10:00 am! And guess what? If I asked the same question a month later everyone would pick different songs and still argue passionately for them!

So what’s all this got to do with Amos? Well I’ve found that each time I re-read my favourite single book from the Bible (John’s Gospel) I tend to pick up different and sometimes new things. Is this because I’m older? My mood is different? It’s a different time of year or even of the day? I’ve no idea at all but the chef’ll probably tell me next time I see him.

Anyway, we worked through Amos Chapter 3 last Saturday and one verse/image has stuck with me throughout this week. Verse 12 states:

“This is what the Lord says: ‘As a shepherd saves from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites be saved’”

Although what is happening in the Lebanon this week might lead one to conclude that the verse is frighteningly prophetic, to my mind what God has said to Amos here is that no matter how worthless and useless they might appear to the world (can you get more useless that a chewed bone and a piece of ear? – England football fans need not answer), these are still my people and I will love and value them.

How humbling – especially when we know now that God sent His only Son to die on the cross to pay for the sins that Amos has outlined in such graphic detail in Chapters one and two.

And isn’t the image of the shepherd putting his life at risk to pull the useless remnants from the Lion’s mouth a powerful one?

During his sermon last Sunday, the young preacher (and what a preacher!) reminded me how bad I would feel if someone I loved passed away an unbeliever and I then reflected on the many lost opportunities to witness to them – how pathetic would “it’s never really been my gift” sound then!

Moreover, Jesus tells us to love all our neighbours – even the chewed bones and pieces of ear – and there are a few of those around our neighbourhood. So how am I to answer him now?

Justcoffeeforme