Abused Privilege
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Introduction
Introduction
Position brings privilege but what do you do when someone abuses the privilege they have been given? We all enjoy seeing - those who come from a place of privilege get theirs when they try to abuse or flaunt their privilege. Abuse of privilege is described as the wrongful or unlawful misuse of power in one’s duties at the expense of others or to the advantage of the abuser.
Amos 3 is the first of 3 sermons or messages that Amos delivers to the nation of Israel. In this message Amos on behalf of God to Israel concerning His judgment coming to them. Amos delivers God’s reasoning for bringing judgment to Israel. God speaks against Israel for her abused privilege. Let’s focus in and hear this message so we may learn to avoid repeating Israel’s sin in abusing her privilege.
1 Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt: 2 I have known only you out of all the clans of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3 Can two walk together without agreeing to meet? 4 Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion growl from its lair unless it has captured something? 5 Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there is no bait for it? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has caught nothing?
6 If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the Lord done it? 7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his counsel to his servants the prophets. 8 A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?
9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt: Assemble on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great turmoil in the city and the acts of oppression within it. 10 The people are incapable of doing right— this is the Lord’s declaration— those who store up violence and destruction in their citadels.
11 Therefore, the Lord God says: An enemy will surround the land; he will destroy your strongholds and plunder your citadels. 12 The Lord says: As the shepherd snatches two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion’s mouth, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued with only the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.
13 Listen and testify against the house of Jacob— this is the declaration of the Lord God, the God of Armies. 14 I will punish the altars of Bethel on the day I punish Israel for its crimes; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.
15 I will demolish the winter house and the summer house; the houses inlaid with ivory will be destroyed, and the great houses will come to an end. This is the Lord’s declaration.
Unique Position
Unique Position
1 Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt: 2 I have known only you out of all the clans of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.
Amos starts by declaring “Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken...” The call is to listen or receive with understanding, pay attention and heed or obey this message. The message itself is spoken communication that comes from the Lord. In other words listen up and remember these are the words of God Himself - not of some mere man. That is what they are listening to - a prophet as the mouthpiece for the Lord Himself - declaring the living word of God. It is a privilege indeed to have the word of God spoken to you, but it comes with great responsibility to listen and obey. This message was against them - the Israelites. The responsibility and the necessity to listen to the message is greater because it is against them!
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
If we dont open our hearts to hear His word and obey we are in danger of hardening our own hearts and coming under the wrath of God.
The message is against the entire clan that the Lord has brought out of Egypt. The Lord furthers the indictment against Israel, by describing them as the clan whom He brought out of Egypt. God says I have known ONLY YOU out of all the clans of the earth. I have known (yada) known experientially only you Israel from all the clans, peoples of the earth. It is because of this special relationship - this place of privilege that God speaks the daunting words - therefore - I will punish you for all your iniquities. Israel would be punished because of her unique position with God. God chose a family, the seed of Abraham, to show the rest of the world how life should be lived. God chose Israel to be a model that the world could look upon and see that He is good and walking in His way would bring blessing. Of all the people I have known you, chosen you, given you a special calling, special revelation, and tremendous blessing.
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.
I have no choice but to chasten you
4 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, 6 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives.
Hebrews 12:10 (CSB)
10 He does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
Israel has taken her unique position with God and not only taken it for granted but abused it without a second thought
Accountability Required
Accountability Required
3 Can two walk together without agreeing to meet? 4 Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion growl from its lair unless it has captured something?
5 Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there is no bait for it? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has caught nothing? 6 If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the Lord done it?
7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his counsel to his servants the prophets. 8 A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?
God speaks to Israel and says I will punish you FOR all your iniquities. Iniquities are sins and sins must be punished. If one sins God will punish the sin. To illustrate this concept of necessary accountability for sinning against God, God speaks through several examples of things that necessitate actions.
Can two walk together without agreeing to meet? No - to walk together necessitates agreeing to meet
Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? No - the lion roars when it has its prey to warn others to stay away.
Does a young lion growl from its lair unless it has captured something? No the lion will growl when it has captured something
Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there is no bait in it? No bait is required otherwise the bird would not land
Does a trap spring from the ground when it has caught nothing? No it requires the prey to spring the trap.
If a ram’s horn is blown in a city arent people afraid? Yes - the horn warns of coming danger
If disaster occurs in a city hasnt the Lord done it? Yes - the Lord brings or allows the disaster
When judgement comes it wont be accidental, fate, or just bad “luck”. The judgment/ calamity coming is the hand of the Lord because of the iniquities - they require accountability. Israel didnt think they would be held accountable - their place of privilege they thought removed them from being accountable for God had chosen them and gave them a special position of privilege. Like cause and effect, so sin requires punishment even when in a place of privilege.
The prophet then speaks something we must take heed off and Israel would have been wise to heed as well. The Lord does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets.
17 Then the Lord said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham?
2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me.”
Even with the Gentile nations the Lord speaks forth what is coming.
A lion has roared who will not fear? The Lord has spoken who will not prophesy? Just as one event does not take place without the other necessary event happening so the Lord does nothing regarding the history of Israel without first revealing to His prophets. Once this revelation has occurred once the lion has roared once the Lord has spoken - Israel’s judgment is sure to follow. The prophesy of Amos came years before the calamity so that God provided time for repentance.
14 The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he reveals his covenant to them.
Israel needed to know that their place of privileged position with the Lord God required their accountability for their sin. Sin required punishment - cause and effect no matter their privilege and also because of privilege.
Disciplined As An Example
Disciplined As An Example
9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt: Assemble on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great turmoil in the city and the acts of oppression within it. 10 The people are incapable of doing right— this is the Lord’s declaration— those who store up violence and destruction in their citadels.
11 Therefore, the Lord God says: An enemy will surround the land; he will destroy your strongholds and plunder your citadels. 12 The Lord says: As the shepherd snatches two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion’s mouth, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued with only the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.
Amos continues in the words of the Lord. Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and citadels in Egypt for them to come and assemble on the mountains of Samaria. Once assembled there they would see the great turmoil in the city and the acts of oppression within it. Bring emissaries from Philistia and Egypt and have them assemble and gather on the mountains of Samaria and observe the city. These dignitaries from the places where injustice and oppression was developed as an art form. Gather and see with the idea that they even they would be astonished at the injustice and oppression they would observe in Israel’s capital (Samaria). The sin of Israel was so great that pagan nations would be appalled.
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles—a man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
Amos 2:7 - listed the same sin.
The Lord then pronounces His strongest indictment the people are incapable of doing right. They dont even know how to do right. So bound are they by greed and their idolatry that it is literally impossible for them to do right. They are so addicted to their affluence they dont care that others lacked basic necessities because they would have the luxuries. More tragic than that was the sense of security they thought their citadels - their fortresses brought.
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.” 13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 “Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Like Israel perhaps we have developed the attitude - like that of the church of Laodicea?
17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Therefore says God - Therefore because you dont think of anything but yourself, because you are comfortable in your selfishness, your wealth and your plenty — I will bring discipline while the other nations watch and see. As an example Israel will be punished so that other nations will know that not even their place of privilege gives them the right to sin and be unjust and oppress others.
An enemy will surround the land and he will destroy your strongholds and plunder your citadels.
You will come to ruin and be utterly overwhelmed and defeated God declares to Israel.
Verse 12 brings two different interpretations. One takes the two legs and the piece of an ear saved from the lion’s mouth only proves that the animal did not survive the attack from the wild beast. It does not indicate but further proves that the destruction from the Lord will be total and complete in relation to the Israelites living in Samaria. The other interpretation is that with the portion of the animal that the legs and the ear represent that indicates the portion of the Israelites from Samaria that will be retained ( as a remnant) will be saved.
Israel’s abused privilege meant that they must be disciplined as an example.
Empty Religion Will Fall
Empty Religion Will Fall
13 Listen and testify against the house of Jacob— this is the declaration of the Lord God, the God of Armies. 14 I will punish the altars of Bethel on the day I punish Israel for its crimes; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.
15 I will demolish the winter house and the summer house; the houses inlaid with ivory will be destroyed, and the great houses will come to an end. This is the Lord’s declaration.
The Lord finishes His first message against Israel with a plea for them to Listen and testify against the house of Jacob - this is the declaration of the Lord God the God of Armies. Hear with intention and testify as a witness in a case to prove guilty. God declares I will punish Bethel on the day I punish Israel for its crimes.
Bethel was the royal sanctuary of Jeroboam II the most popular religious center in Israel. Jeroboam I erected a golden calf there and had altars set up there. It was a representation of Israel’s largest abuse of privilege. The idea that they could worship however they wanted and it would be acceptable to God. The privilege to worship God doesnt mean God is privileged that we worship Him, but that we know how He desires to be worshipped.
They thought because they worshipped they would be protected and continue to enjoy privilege, but they lost the privilege when they turned against the Lord God. You cannot worship God except in the way He has prescribed. All other worship is just idolatry and empty false religion.
God declares the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. The horns of the altar were projections on the altars corners. Fugitives would grab these horns and claim asylum from their pursuers. Murderers however were not afforded the protection and were torn by force from the altar.
12 “Whoever strikes a person so that he dies must be put to death. 13 But if he did not intend any harm, and yet God allowed it to happen, I will appoint a place for you where he may flee.
14 If a person schemes and willfully acts against his neighbor to murder him, you must take him from my altar to be put to death.
So great was Israel’s sin God was cutting off their hope for asylum and there would be no sanctuary from their enemy who was coming. Their idolatrous ways and their vain empty religion would not save them.
All the wealth of their fake religious affection would be destroyed.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Israel indeed experienced privilege from God - privilege in relationship and in revelation.
Israel walked in privilege and began to take their position for granted and begin to believe their privilege was without requirement. Instead of being the light to other nations - they sought to be like other nations and even to sin like other nations all the while thinking they were not like other nations because they had privilege from God.
With privilege comes responsibility as they would find out
This serves as a warning for us as the church today - we havent replaced Israel, but we have been given the opportunity of privilege to be a light for the dark world an example and a message of the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
We take that privilege and we abuse it when we come to the cross for forgiveness but continue to live for self, choosing to worship God our own way and think that we have surrendered or that we follow Him - when we follow our own prosperity gospel and false religion empty and devoid of any commitment to God all the while reminding Him of His commitment to us.
It is a great privilege to have God not only speak to us but also dwell in us - but it is a great responsibility.
12 Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. 14 For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start. 15 As it is said: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.
Hear and listen to this message - do not abuse your privilege!