Amos 3
Notes
Transcript
The Word of the Lord against Israel
The Word of the Lord against Israel
We’ve dealt with the nations, then moved in closer to Judah the southern kingdom, then hit our main target for Amos, Israel. Now that we’ve moved past our patterned list of sin and declaration of judgment for all of them we’re going to focus on Israel here.
We start by using an important word. Shema it means Hear, or Listen! It’s the word that starts what every good Jew knows by heart and has memorized as a prayer to this day. Deut 6:4-5 ““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהוָ֥ה׀ אֶחָֽד׃
וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶֽךָ׃
But we’re past that… they did not listen they did not love the Lord Their God with everything. Lets read it together.
Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
“You only have I known
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
for all your iniquities.
Oh, that’s harsh. We’re reminded of the greatest commandment in the first word of the chapter, we’re reminded of God’s provision that saved them from Egypt. They are the ones God “knew” he had an intimate relationship with this family. It’s because of how close they have been that he will certainly pay attention and punish when iniquity is found. You see someone else’s kid behaving badly and you’re more likely to let it slide because they’re not your kid. But when you’ve brought up a child rightly and they still choose wrong it’s extra upsetting, and you’ll certainly address it with them. You’re also far more likely to look into what your children are doing.
And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
There is a sense of proportional justice. God is Just and will not punish for mere ignorance.
Then we move on to a setup that brings the reader/hearer into the logic of Amos’ point.
“Do two walk together,
unless they have agreed to meet?
We’re not talking about just walking with a neighbor who happened to be walking to the same store. We’re talking about someone travelling somewhere with someone. Do you think that was just a coincidence? I still very much like the rabbinical saying that “Coincidence is not a kosher word.”
Does a lion roar in the forest,
when he has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from his den,
if he has taken nothing?
Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth,
when there is no trap for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground,
when it has taken nothing?
Is a trumpet blown in a city,
and the people are not afraid?
Does disaster come to a city,
unless the Lord has done it?
The expectation as an answer for all of these questions is obviously a No. There are no accidents or coincidences, there is cause and effect in the world. These logical principles are evident to Amos and all thinking people once pointed out.
If there is cause and effect, if there is no coincidence, then disaster coming to the city must be sanctioned by God. Keep in mind the alternative is some other deity overcoming the power of God’s protection of His chosen people. This is obviously not the case and so with God’s sovereignty and promises in place it must be his will for bad things to happen to a city in Israel.
This message has walked the people right into knowing the truth and logic of the judgment of God in reality and in particular. We have 7 questions now a statement for completion.
“For the Lord God does nothing
without revealing his secret
to his servants the prophets.
The bad things coming won’t be a surprise to his people. They will always be warned, there is always individual repentance. The nation is already doomed at this point but people can always be saved.
Next we shift into the statement of fact with rhetorical question.
The lion has roared;
who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;
who can but prophesy?”
Here we have a parallel back to chapter one in verse two
Amos 1:2a (ESV)
And he said:
“The Lord roars from Zion
and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
The Lord is the Lion he has already roared. Amos is the prophet, His voice who came up from Jerusalem.
Now we have proclamation of the downfall of Israel.
Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod
and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt,
and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria,
and see the great tumults within her,
and the oppressed in her midst.”
“They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord,
“those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.”
This is like calling out the biggest baddest dudes and telling them to settle in and grab the popcorn because they’re about to see what whoopin’ someone really looks like.
Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“An adversary shall surround the land
and bring down your defenses from you,
and your strongholds shall be plundered.”
Thus says the Lord: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.
The therefore begins the description of Judgment. They will be destroyed and only a small bit will be saved, certainly not a nation out of it but pieces, individuals will be rescued. We know those who put their trust in the Lord will be saved. If they aren’t obedient to God’s commands they aren’t trusting the Lord.
The remainder of the chapter describes the punishment that goes to all aspects of life.
“Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,”
declares the Lord God, the God of hosts,
“that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions,
I will punish the altars of Bethel,
and the horns of the altar shall be cut off
and fall to the ground.
I will strike the winter house along with the summer house,
and the houses of ivory shall perish,
and the great houses shall come to an end,”
declares the Lord.
Testify against the house of Jacob - this is not just the northern kingdom but the covenant people of God. The top of the list for punishment is the altars of idol worship. All luxury will end, the summer and winter houses, the ivory and great houses come to an end.
I think as we looked at this chapter tonight we’ll see two things up front. God will punish iniquity and it won’t be in secret. The Lord has told us his expectations. God has revealed himself to us. Do not take that for granted. Worship God alone, and obey him wholly.
Then of course we end tonight with “declares the Lord.”