Amos 3:1-10
1 Hear this word which the Lord has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt:
2 “You only have I known among all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you for all your wrongdoing.”
3 Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something?
5 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no device in it?
Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?
6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will the people not tremble?
If a disaster occurs in a city, has the Lord not brought it about?
7 Certainly the Lord God does nothing
Unless He reveals His secret plan
To His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken! Who can do anything but prophesy?
9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say,
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria
And see the great panic within her
And the oppressions in her midst.
10 But they do not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord,
“These who store up violence and devastation in their citadels.”
The Prophecy of Judgement that Begins with “Hear this Word” (1)
The second section of the Book of Amos
Chapters 1-2, which we have already seen, were the first section of the Book of Amos. There, judgment against the nations was prophesied, and its conclusion was directed against the northern kingdom of Israel. Chapters 3-6, which we are about to address, are the second section (the main part of this book), and are prophecies spoken especially against the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos points out the sinfulness of the people of Israel and calls for true repentance. He prophesies that if they do not repent, destruction and captivity await them. Three prophecies of judgment follow, each beginning with the phrase, “Hear this word” (3:1; 4:1; 5:1). In addition, two prophecies of judgment follow, each beginning with “Woe” (5:18; 6:1). In other words, a total of five prophecies of judgment will be spoken. Let us look at these prophecies in order.
Isreal’s three sins
Israel will be judged because of three sins. (1) Israel was given a special status among the nations of the earth. They are the people brought out of Egypt by the Lord, the people chosen by the Lord. In the original language, “chosen” is the word “known.” That is, the Lord entered into a covenant relationship with the people of Israel. Those who have been given privileges also bear great responsibility. This is a spiritual principle that is still true today. Because they were not walking in a manner worthy of that privilege, the people of Israel will be judged. Moreover, that judgment will be more severe than that against the other nations. (2) Every phenomenon has a cause-and-effect relationship. In verses 3-6a, various cause-and-effect relationships are illustrated. In verses 6b-8, that principle of cause and effect is applied to the activity of the prophet. That is, the prophet speaks (the result) because God has spoken (the cause), and God brings judgment (the result) because the people of Israel have sinned (the cause). (3) The people of Israel were “storing up violence and destruction” in the palaces in Samaria. The city of Samaria was surrounded by high mountains. The Philistines (the palaces of Ashdod) and the Egyptians (the palaces in the land of Egypt) are summoned as witnesses. They are to go up on those mountains to witness the sins of the palaces of Samaria. Have you become complacent and fallen into laziness simply because of the fact that you have been saved? Let us learn a lesson from the sins of the people of Israel. The Lord’s choosing is accompanied by “responsibilities as a Christian.” Let us pray and act so that our lives may become something that displays “the glory of God.”
Today's prayer
O God of Israel, please help me to walk with “the glory of God” as my first goal. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.