Sermon Illustrations

When Amos speakes of God swearing by His holiness, it’s like buying a home or car. When I bought my first car, I spent a good deal of time looking for the right model and then haggling with the salesman over a price. When it came time to complete the sale he produce forms--not a form, but a pile of forms for me to sign. With each signature I scribbled, I felt a little more of my control slip away. I realized that I was putting my reputation and financial record on the line. I was essentially swearing by my very being that I would pay off that car loan. Similarly, when God swore by his holines He was putting Himself up as the guarantee. His reputation and holiness were signed on the dotted line and He promised to destroy the indignant nation.