(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
What’s a doxology?
Intro:
You know that the Bible has many different literary genres — historical narrative and biography and poetry and so on. What it also contains that is less obvious is music. And we might remember that it does when we think about Psalms, but it’s not terribly obvious that we recognize it when we read something like the book of Amos. And that sets up today’s focus question, “What is a doxology?”
New Testament segment:
Passage: Matthew 10
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 42
Words: ~888
As mentioned yesterday, justice for all is a key theme in Amos, but let’s explore a few additional themes.
1. The Lord (Yahweh) is the Creator of the universe; therefore his ethical norms are universal, and all people are subject to judgment in light of them.
2. Justice and righteousness in the treatment of other people are the key evidences of a right relationship to the Lord.
3. Religious ritual in the absence of just and righteous treatment of others is disgusting to God.(1)
Today we hear more of the judgment coming to Israel. Remember how yesterday we heard oracles of judgment on all the surrounding neighbors and then BAM!, “Yo, Israel, you knew better, so you get an extra can of whoop butt!?” Well that started in chapter 3 that we read yesterday and continues through everything today.
Now, about that doxology thing. A doxology is a fancy word for something delivered as praise to God, often, if not usually, as a hymn. <sing famous couple lines> I’m not going to stop to point out the one we go past in Amos, but listen for it — it’ll stand out, because you’ll otherwise be hearing some sermons talking about that whole judgment thing.
Old Testament segment:
Passage: Amos 4-6
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 54
Words: ~1497
Wisdom segment:
Passage:
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses:
Words: ~
The bottom line:
We don’t use the word “doxology” much anymore, but some of you may remember this…today we heard this praise right in the middle of some heavy stuff. And this should remind us that God’s justice and love go together. He wouldn’t be loving if he weren’t perfectly fair, and as you hear me often say…his perfect fairness is what makes grace so awesome.
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1658.