Verse 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:”
The Lord God, who is the Creator of
heaven and earth, continues His indictment against
the nation Israel, expressed through the Prophet Amos. God is
our Judge, and every nation, every individual is under the
Judgment of God. His Judgment is this: He has given us
everything, and not only have we given Him NOTHING in
return, but even worse, we are ungrateful for what He has
done, even denying, in many cases, that He has done it!
There is nothing like "time" in
eternity, the place where God resides, and so, the Judgment
of God is going on right now! YOUR life is under the
scrutiny of the prosecuting attorney at precisely this minute.
In this verse in Amos, evidence against the nation Israel is
being presented. This is the nation that God "brought
up from the land of Egypt."
They were literally slaves and it was GOD, the testimony
continues, who brought them out!
Verse 2. “You only
have I chosen among all the families of the earth; therefore
I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
Israel, the "you" of this verse,
can be seen as a model, an example of the way God deals
with nations. Quite a few nations are described in the
Book of Amos and it's interesting that God is displeased
with all of them. Also interesting is God's handling
of the city-state of Ninevah. He sent the reluctant
prophet named Jonah to them, announcing impending doom.
They repented and "God saw...
that they turned from their
evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He said He
would bring upon them and He did not do it" (Jonah 3:10).
As to ALL the nations listed in the Book of Amos - if they
had repented, He would have spared them.
The "you," the Israel of these
verses, is not truly quite the same as other nations,
however. Even though it is a model that tells us how
God regards us all, nevertheless Israel is special. In
Deuteronomy 7:6, God said to them through Moses, "You are a
holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord you God has
chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure
above all the peoples on the face of the earth." The
church should be warned by this: where much is given by God,
to a nation or other people, much is expected in return.
Verse 3. “Do two men
walk together unless they have made an appointment?”
The direct answer to the question of
this verse is: NO! God has an "appointment" with
mankind, with you and me. There is an appointed time
for you to live and - to die. On a tombstone there
often is a dash (-) between the birth and death years.
Within the "dash" of your life, you have many choices and
one of them, the most important of all, is the choice you
are given by God to walk with Him or not, to live in His
presence, or not - forever.
The prophets, such as Amos, "walk
together" with God and show us our need. Amos was
walking with God when he left his livelihood in Judah and
followed the call of God to become a prophet in Israel.
He walked with God as He called out loudly to the people
that the Lord God has an "appointment" with us all.
God is calling you, and He has an "appointment" with you.
Will you find the time to fit Him into your schedule? It is suggested that you say "yes" to Him and "walk" with Him
- forever.
Verse 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?”
Have you ever heard a lion roar?
His roar is LOUD and he utters that sound for a REASON.
He roars when his prey is in sight and he is about to
spring. He also roars when he is hungry, which tends
to "freeze" for a moment, anything or anyone within hearing.
And the "young lion" growls in his "den" over his helpless
prey. God, in roaring at His people through the
prophet, is presenting His case against them.
The lion has specific prey. He
typically does not eat ants or flowers, but instead is
interested in elands (antelopes) and zebras. God does
not "roar" at the the one who repents or the humble in
heart, but instead His "roar" is directed at those who sin
against His holy name. Israel at that time was a
nation of sinners and His "growl" should have been a
reminder of their utterly helpless condition before Him.
Verse 5. “Does a
bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in
it? Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures
nothing at all?”
There is a REASON why there is a
trap on the ground and there is a reason why the bird is
taken by the trap. The "trap" in this verse is a rope
with "bait" in the center of it. When the
"bird" entered
the place of the trap and took the bait, the rope would
suddenly close and the bird became prey that was in danger
of its life. Just like Israel, all of us should leave
the bait alone and walk with our God who will sustain us.
There was a REASON why God roared
out to His beloved people, Israel, through His servants, the
prophets, just as there is a reason why God is displeased
today. There is much "bait" in this world that draws
many to destruction. Such actions and desires as
adultery, fornication, lies, lust, greed, covetousness,
theft, and unresolved anger draw us into a trap of our own
making and lead us into great trouble.
Father, no matter who we are:
Israel, the church, nations, simply as individuals - we have
a choice. We can either walk with You or not, serve
You or not, love You or choose not to. We choose to
follow Your ways right now. Forgive us the times we
have tried to do it on our own. We trust in You and
look to You now. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study – Amos 3:6-10
Verse 6. “If a
trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? If a
calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it?”
The reference is to the city-state,
which was a typical form of government in many parts of
the world. A large area would be controlled by one
city, which was both the capital and the last line of
defense for empires of that time. A "trumpet" would
blow in the city when word was received that the army of an
enemy was coming near and preparations must be made for
impending war. The "trumpet" signaled that
doom was fast approaching.
God is stating in this verse that He
was the One who would bring armies against Israel.
The Lord is not shy about admitting His part in the
difficulties of this world. The words in this verse
were to help Israel recognize that the armies would come because
they had
sinned against God and would not repent. The Judgments
that come upon this world are intended to be curative in
nature. If God's love hasn't reached us or convinced us, then maybe
His judgments will.
Verse 7. “Surely the
Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel
to His servants the prophets.”
"Prophesy" is a gift from God, in
which He reveals His observations and intentions to the
people of this world, through "His servants the prophets."
We know from a variety of Chapters and verses in Scripture
that prophesy continued into New Testament times. John
the Baptist had the gift from his mother's womb (Luke
1:11-15). Previously there were one or two or perhaps
several prophets in a generation, but at the Day of
Pentecost, prophesy was given to MANY in the Early Church
(Acts 2).
The gift continued, with some
approving its use and others not, as we can see within
glimpses like 1st Thessalonians 5:20 ("Do not despise
prophesies"). The suggestion of Scripture is that the
gift of prophesy is available today, for we read in Romans
11:29 - "The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
God has a "secret counsel" (His will) for every nation,
group and individual that has ever lived on earth. His
intentions are only "secret" because we as a race are dumb
of understanding and reluctant to hear His word.
Verse 8. “A lion has
roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can
but prophesy?”
When a lion roars, the sound is loud
and penetrating to the extent that EVERYTHING seems to STOP
as that sound reverberates through the land. To the
question, "Who will not fear?", the answer is: No one!
Everybody is reasonably afraid when a lion roars, especially
when it is considered that anyone within hearing of his roar might become
his lunch!
And yet we know that the "roar" of
God through His prophets was not intended to destroy Israel
or anyone else, but instead it was meant to be curative in
nature. Ninevah was the enemy of Israel. God
pronounced judgment upon them, and yet when they repented
from their sinful ways, "God relented from the disaster that
He had said He would bring upon them" (Jonah 3:10).
Jesus Christ is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation
5:5) and through Him, God intends GOOD for you and me.
Verse 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 tumults within her and the
oppressions in her midst.’”
God, through His prophet, was
calling the leaders of Israel "oppressors" of the poor.
Israel ("Samaria")
did not agree with God's observations and
His decision to judge them, and therefore God called "witnesses" against
them, including "Ashdod" as
a representative of the
Philistines, and "Egypt," Israel's former
human masters.
Since the original fall of man, "ALL have sinned and come
short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and ALL are
defendants in God's Court of Law. God doesn't need
witnesses, but He provides them so we might finally
understand our need and then repent of our sins.
The Philistines and the Egyptians
had been ancient enemies of Israel for centuries. They
were witnesses of the many times God had delivered the
Hebrew nation(s) and could testify about the ingratitude of
Israel. God had done much for his people and they responded
by rebelling against Him and His will. It's a lesson
to us all - God will Judge the ones who commit "oppressions" against
others, even those who, like Israel, He especially loves.
Verse 10. “‘But they
do not know how to do what is right,’ declares the Lord,
‘these who hoard up violence and devastation in their
citadels.’”
Often people who have been given
much by the Lord will lose their perspective. God has
given us everything we have, including our bodies and our
lives, and few
thank Him for all He has done. Somehow, we have tended to lose all sense
of justice, as in Jeremiah 4:22 - "My people are foolish,
they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they
have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do
good they have no knowledge."
An example of ingratitude in the "modern" world is
right in front of us. God has given much and
mankind has responded with "oppressions" (verse 9), and with
"violence and devastation" (this verse), as expressed in the
act called "abortion," wherein millions of innocent children
are killed each year. Demonstrating that they lack
"understanding," many
describe children by such words as
"tissue" and "fetus," dehumanizing a whole class of humanity
for the convenience of those who no longer "know
how to do what is right."
Father, help us as individuals
and help our leaders and our nations to look to YOU, for we
truly do not know what to do. We surrender to Your
will. Teach us to love one another and stop the
violence that is all around. Help us to love and
protect our innocent little ones. In Jesus
Name. Amen.
Friday Study 1/6/06 – Amos 3:11-15
Verse 11.
“Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘An enemy, even one
surrounding the land, will pull down your strength from you
and your citadels will be looted.’”
God is continuing His indictment,
His warning to the people called "Israel."
The country had split into two parts after the death of
Solomon the King. The southern Hebrew nation was
called Judah, the home of the Prophet Amos, and the northern
country was Israel. A few of the kings of Judah truly
loved Almighty God and served Him, but many did not.
Essentially NONE of Israel's kings loved and served Him.
In much the same manner as a judge
has paused as he is about to pronounce sentence on a convicted
criminal, God, through Amos, now resumes sentencing Israel to
death as a nation. "An enemy"
surrounded them and was about to destroy them. Israel
had been attacked and threatened by Assyria many times, a
nation that would surround them and eventually conquer them
(2 Kings 17:6-41). Israel would be left in ruins by
the fierce Assyrians.
Verse 12. “Thus says
the Lord, ‘Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion's
mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, so will the
sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away – with
the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch!’”
The shepherd may impulsively reach
out and try to grab back the sheep that was taken by the
lion, but it is too late. The sheep is dead and though
a couple of legs and the piece of an ear may fall to the
brave shepherd, it is too late for the sheep. The ten
tribes to the north that had taken the name "Israel"
would be "dead" to this world. And it was - the nation
that now calls itself "Israel,"
is actually a revival of the country to the south, called
"Judah" (the Jews). Israel, the tribes of these verses would
be no more.
The phrase "a couple of legs or a
piece of an ear," meant that which was considered the best
of Israel would be gone. The leaders, the royal
family, the wise scholars, the brave army leaders - all
would be in captivity or dead. God would use the Assyrians to strip
away the leadership of that nation, and only "the corner of
a bed and the cover of a couch" would be left.
Some would survive, but not many, and those who had the gift
of leading Israel would be no more.
Verse 13. “’Hear and
testify against the house of Jacob,’ Declares the Lord God,
the God of hosts.”
Through the words of the Prophet
Amos, we are actually within the Highest Courtroom of all -
the Court of God. Witnesses have been brought forth,
testimony has been given, evidence has been presented, and a
Judgment of "Guilty as Charged" has been pronounced upon the
nation Israel. As we saw in verse 9, this
pronouncement is directed to the nations that surrounded the
"defendant" in this case.
They would be warned and you and I
should be warned as well. Israel thought they could
substitute idolatry for the worship of the true God, but He
would have none of it, then and now. An enemy is "surrounding"
YOUR land (verse 11) and a "lion"
is crouching outside of YOUR sheepfold (verse 12), and your
only hope is to "humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God" (1 Peter 5:6).
Israel did not humble themselves and they were destroyed.
Verse 14. “For on
the day that I punish Israel's transgressions, I will also
punish the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be
cut off and they will fall to the ground.”
When the ten Hebrew tribes to the
north split off from Judah and called themselves "Israel,"
they had a problem. The Temple was in Jerusalem, in
Judah, and the new king Jeroboam of Israel, was afraid that
his people would continue to go south into Judah for the
religious festivals required by God. So he caused two
"calves of gold" to be made,
directing one of them to be placed in Dan and the other on
an "altar" in
Bethel (1 Kings 12:25-33).
As it has often happened in history,
politics captured religion and turned it into idolatry.
Jeroboam created feast days that rivaled the God-ordained
feasts that were within the Temple at Jerusalem. He
installed a false priesthood and invented sacrificial
offerings for the people and himself. God was not
pleased and we should all examine our religion to see if we
are following God or responding to the whims of mere people. Our
religion should draw us to love, trust and serve the Lord.
Anything else is idolatry and will be judged. Bethel
(and Dan) would be destroyed.
Verse 15. “’I will
also smite the winter house together with the summer house;
the houses of ivory will also perish and the great houses
will come to an end,’ declares the Lord.
We often "grade" people based on
their possessions. "He who has
the most toys wins" has tended to sum up our
decisions about who is successful and who is not, in the
various cultures and nations of this world. "Money talks"
is another expression that reveals the definition of success
that underlies the thinking of just about everyone on earth.
Jesus said, "Do
not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and
steal, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also" (Matthew 6:19-21). We should be warned by
the words of Jesus, and also warned by Israel - all too
often those in countries everywhere measure themselves on the basis of
affluence, when they should look to the Lord.
Our "houses of ivory,"
our "great houses will come to an end."
Father, help us to hear and to
heed the words of the prophet Amos, understanding they are
from You. Cause us to look to God and not to the
things of this world. Help us to love, trust and serve
the Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Ron
Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
The First Church On The Net
www.FridayStudy.org
www.FirstChurchOnTheNet.org "While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
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