The Lion Roars

Michael Card has a song called “Will You Not Listen?”.  Following is a portion of the lyrics:  “Is not He who formed the ear worth the time it takes to hear?  Should He who formed our lips for speaking, be not heeded when He speaks?  Will you not listen?  Why won’t you listen?  God has spoken love to us, why will you not listen?  Listen to the sacred silence.  Listen to the Holy Word.  Listen as He speaks through living parables that must be heard.”

I thought of this song recently as I was reading the book of Amos.   Verse eight of chapter three says, “A lion has roared! Who will not fear?”  Now I cannot relate the reality of a lion roaring in the woods as I hike.  Because we do not live in an area where that is going to happen, I don’t think about it.  But years ago, I spent the night on occasion with a relative who lived down the alley from the cage of a lion who was the local college mascot.  There were times at night when he did a pulsating, low roar.  I’m telling you, I think the house vibrated!  It was pretty impressive and greatly unsettling.  The effect of a solid, unrestrained roar, I’ve never heard apart from T.V.  But reflecting on the possibility makes me shudder.  Ok, get the picture? 
“A lion has roared!  WHO will not fear?”

Now, the next part of the verse is the part we have to get serious about!!  “The Lord GOD has spoken!  Who can but prophesy?”  We must speak.  Whether they listen now or not is not our job.  God has spoken.  We have His “Holy Word”.  Listen to it.  Live it.  Proclaim it.  Pray for listeners.  They will listen one day because WAY louder and more unsettling than a lion, the sound will be unmistakeable!