I’ve been working my way through the Minor Prophets. No beating around the bush with those guys. They don’t have a lot of papyrus to fill so they get their message out fast and they get their message out hard. A lot of judgment prophesied in these morning readings — getting kind of commonplace. But this morning, Amos lays down a judgment that sends chills down my spine.

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD,
       “when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
       but of hearing the words of the LORD.
They shall wander from sea to sea,
       and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the LORD,
       but they shall not find it.”

(Amos 8:11-12 ESV)

Famine. A pretty common tool in God’s toolkit of judgment. A “go to” retribution designed to get the attention of a hard-hearted, stiff-necked, rebellious people. Sometimes a result of God withholding the natural elements needed for food to be found, sometimes because God calls a foreign army to lay siege to a city. Whatever the cause, something about not eating that’s linked to encouraging a people to have ears to hear what the Lord has to say.

But what if the Lord stops speaking? What if that famine is not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. What if, though they should awake to their wretched condition, come to their senses, and though they run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, they shall not find it?

No more prophecy. No more preaching. No more pleading for wayward souls to return. No more promises of gracious redemption. Just silence. Nothing but nothing. Kind of makes me shudder!

Oh, the abundance that is ours when it comes to the words of the LORD. Those written words — God-breathed (2Tim. 3:16), living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). Ready to bear much fruit when it is planted on good soil (Mt. 13:23). So many words, so available, that we can so easily take them for granted. So many words and yet we can find ourselves going days, weeks, and even longer without longing for their taste — fasting from the words of the LORD rather than feasting on them.

Oh, the flood that is ours through the word of the LORD. The living Word. The Word who was in the beginning. The Word who was with God. The Word who was God. The Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word from whom we have received grace upon grace (Jn. 1:1, 14, 16). Why would we be content to not seek to hear His voice, and open the door, so that we might eat with Him and He with us (Rev. 3:20)?

What would it be to have a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD? I can’t even imagine.

Oh, that we would never take for granted the words or the Word of the LORD. That we would come to the table often. That we would come to the table famished. That we would come to the table and be filled.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
       reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
       making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
       rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
       enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
       enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
       and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
       even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
       and drippings of the honeycomb.

(Psalm 19:7-10 ESV)

How sweet are Your words to my taste,
       sweeter than honey to my mouth!

(Psalm 119:103 ESV)

No famine in the land.

By His grace. For His glory.