Amos 4:1-13

Introduction: In being introduced to Amos the shepherd from Tekoa, we are immediately confronted with the Lord’s judgment against the sins of the nations and then His people. The impression that one gets from the first two chapters is that the whole world is under God’s judgment against sin. In chapter 3, there’s an interesting verse that I think ties in well with our chapter today: Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.” In other words, the Lord reveals His plans to those who are going to proclaim His plans. In our chapter today, the Lord is confronting the heart of His people by calling out their behaviors and attitudes.

Amos 4:1 “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, “Bring now, that we may drink!””

“Hear this word,”

What is being communicated in employing the phrase, “Hear this word”?

This is more than just an invitation to listen.

This is an authoritative command to both hear and take heed to what follows.

It’s like the phrase, “Listen up”, meaning that you need to do more than just hear words but take note of the message that follows given its importance.

What is it about this phrase that gives it authority?

On account of the One Who has spoken this phrase.

Since the Lord has the last word in Amos 3 (cf. v. 15), then we expect that the Lord is speaking yet again.

“you cows of Bashan”

Who is this addressed to?

“cows of Bashan”

Is this a compliment?

No, it surely is not.

No one wants to be referred to as a cow.

Why Not?

Cows are primarily known for their nature as consumers.

If someone is known for being driven by the drive to consume, what is it that motivates them?

Their desires.

We can say that these individuals were selfish.

Are people still selfish today?

You bet!

Hence, there is wider application of this passage even to our own day.

Where are these “cows” from?

Bashan

The area of Bashan (NE of the Sea of Galilee) was known for its fertile pastures that would amply provide food for various animals, to include cows (ISBE, 1:436-7).

Thus, the cattle that came from this area were known for being well fed (BKC).

When someone or something is well fed, they normally give physical evidence of such.

Hence, these women given over to their desires were evidencing the results of such.

In referring to these individuals as the “cows of Bashan” then, what is in view are individuals with a healthy appetite to satisfy their desires.

“who are on the mountain of Samaria,”

Where is it that these individuals were located as of the Lord’s giving this message?

Samaria

What is Samaria known for?

It was the capitol of the Northern Kingdom, Israel.

Generally speaking, what kind of individuals live close to or within a capitol?

Wealthy individuals, politicians

In other words, these were “upper class” individuals.

This does not mean that all individuals who come from means are driven to satisfy their desires.

I’m sure that you know individuals who have wealth who are incredibly generous.

I know individuals who have wealth who are very generous.

However, what are the “upper class” known more for?

Their ability to acquire many possessions.

In other words, they are often admired for what they own (“lives of the rich and famous”).

Remember, the initial qualifier here is that they are given over to satisfy their desires.

So we know that these individuals were from a particular class of society given over to satisfying their desires.

“Who oppress the poor,”

What is the first behavior that is referenced here?

Oppression.

What does it mean to oppress someone?

Unjust actions that lead to mistreatment, or abuse (DBL Hebrew, 6943)

What did oppression look like according to Amos?

Demanding excessive rent for property (Am 5:11)

Imposing a heavy tax on food purchases (Am 5:11)

Enslaving the poor/helpless (Am 8:6)

Oppression in Amos, then, pertains to resources.

Very broadly speaking then, oppression looks like taking advantage of others, particularly the less fortunate as it relates to resources.

Who are the ones responsible for the oppression referenced?

“the cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria”

Thus, the individuals that we considered before who are given over to their desires are oppressing others.

Who is it that these individuals given over to their desires oppress?

“the poor”

The poor, in very general terms, refers to individuals who lack something.

Thus, it makes the crime of oppression even more heinous; these individuals are willing to take advantage of those who have little to nothing!

What is even worse is that the Lord expressly forbade this activity (cf. Lev 19:13; Dt 24:14).

This is not just a matter of mistreating someone.

This is breaking God’s Law!

“who crush the needy,”

What does it mean to “crush” someone?

Crushing can be figurative (eg. destroying one’s dreams of a better life) or physical (eg. violence).

Where the idea of oppression can imply taking resources, the idea of “crush” gives the impression of physically oppressing another, possibly beating inflicting pain.

How are we to understand “the needy”?

Similar to the poor, they are lacking in the resources that they need.

In other words, this is the same group; they are both poor and needy.

“Who say to your husbands, “Bring now, that we may drink!””

Who are the ones speaking to their husbands?

Wives, the cows of Bashan

Does this mean that only wives can be given over to their desires?

No, it certainly does not.

There’s an aspect here in which these women are inviting their husbands to take part in the same selfish activities.

However, it does also express something about how one treats others.

So far, these individuals given to their desires oppress and crush the poor/needy.

Yet, the extent of their mistreatment is not limited to the lowest members of society but also to their closest relationships.

In other words, if these individuals are willing to use the lowest members of society to find ways to satisfy their desires, why would we not expect to take advantage of their closest relationships also.

What is it that they are saying to their husbands?

“Bring now, that we may drink!”

In other words, these wives are ordering their husbands around to satisfy the desires of these wives (Wiersbe).

Thus, these wives look at their husbands only in terms of what they can get out of them, just like their taking advantage of the poor and needy.

Application: When given over to your desires, no relationship, regardless of how close, is safe from using that relationship to seek to satisfy your desires - being selfish is so dangerous to one’s relationships.

Amos 4:2 “The Lord God has sworn by His holiness, “Behold, the days are coming upon you When they will take you away with meat hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.”

“The Lord God”

Who is the One identified here?

Lord GOD

Lord references the authority that God has over His people; thus, the Lord has every right to indict the selfishness of His people.

Your translation my have “GOD” in capitals.

This is to draw our attention to the importance of this name.

This is the name that draws attention to the relationship that God has chosen to enter into with His people: YHWH.

When combining this title and name together, we see across the OT references to God’s power over all things, particularly the Psalmist’s appealing to God to intervene based on His sovereign power over all.

Thus, the One speaking is none other than the one Who has the authority to tell His people what to do; but, they have chosen to go their own way.

“has sworn”

This is the Lord’s commitment to do something.

“by His holiness,”

This references the solemness of God’s commitment.

He is bound by His utter abhorrence of sin to resolve it in His righteousness.

“Behold,”

The term “behold” is meant to call our attention to what happens next; a particularly emphasized event.

“the days are coming upon you When they will take you away with meat hooks,”

What does the phrase “the days are coming” refer to?

The reality of something happening.

You can guarantee that what is being spoken of will take place.

We know that this guarantee is sure because it is the Lord with all authority Who is speaking.

What does it mean to “take” something “away”?

To remove it from its natural place of habitation.

So what is this referring to?

The removal of the Northern Kingdom from its land.

What are the methods referenced here to be employed in removing the Northern Kingdom from their territory?

“meat hooks” and “fish hooks”.

The combination of these phrases refers to the nation that the Lord is going to use to remove the Northern Kingdom from their land.

The Assyrians were particularly known for their use of meat hooks and fish hooks in their imagery of leading captive nations and redistributing them across their empire.

Hence, this is referring to the successful Assyrian captivity of the Northern Kingdom.

What else is implied by the use of “meat hooks” and “fish hooks”.

Forceful removal.

Violence and Pain.

In other words, oppression; just like what they undertook against the poor and needy.

Amos 4:3 ““You will go out through breaches in the walls, Each one straight before her, And you will be cast to Harmon,” declares the Lord.”

What we’re seeing here is further elaboration on the imagery of the Northern Kingdom going into Assyrian captivity.

“You will go out through breaches in the walls,”

If you have a breach in the wall, what does that indicate concerning the integrity of the wall?

It’s not a good wall anymore in performing the function of protecting those inside.

It implies that something stronger has penetrated the wall and conquered those inside.

Thus, that which the people counted on for protection has now proven ineffective.

“Each one straight before her,”

What kind of image comes to mind in referencing “Each one straight before her,”?

A single file line.

I don’t know about you, but when I was in grade school, my teacher would use single file lines as we moved about the school building.

The purpose of such was to keep us under control as she/he led us about the building.

Thus, these women are being led about from their home under the control of another and, by implication, against their own will to a place that is not of their own choose but that of their captors.

“And you will be cast to Harmon,”

What does it mean to “be cast”?

One thing that is under the control of another is thrown from one place to another.

Thus, domination is further in view; that is, these individuals are being forcibly led away.

It also may be implying the death of the captives as it was used to refer to the treatment of dead bodies in 1 Ki 13:24-25 (BKC).

The reference to “Harmon” is likely Mt. Hermon that which would have been a landmark on the way to Assyria; thus suggesting even further the idea of Assyrian captivity (BKC).

“declares the Lord.”

Who is the One Who has spoken this?

The Lord.

Remember, this is the Lord speaking this word against His people.

This is how serious the Lord takes desire-driven oppression of others!

In what we have seen so far, the Lord has promised to punish the selfishness of these individuals expressed in their mistreatment of others.

We can’t escape the fact that the Lord expresses His utter contempt for the sin of selfishness; therefore, we need to beware of selfishness in our own lives.

Notice also that the Lord brought defeat to the people.

They would experience pain.

I find it highly ironic that the Lord here promises pain to those that were being selfish.

In being selfish, the goal is generally to be excessively comfortable.

However, the limited comfort that they received would not compare to the pain that they would experience.

They would also experience removal from their land, being displaced far away from what God had given them to do.

As Pastor Chad has been reminding us in our study of Judges, defeat in the lives of God’s people looks like the inability to do what God has given you to do.

Selfishness robs us being able to fulfill those responsibilities because we are consumed with what we want.

Amos 4:4 ““Enter Bethel and transgress; In Gilgal multiply transgression! Bring your sacrifices every morning, Your tithes every three days.”

What was it that they were doing in Bethel and Gilgal that would be considered transgression, even multiplying transgression?

Sacrifices and tithes

In other words, they were involved in worship.

How is it that they can both sin and worship the Lord?

Bethel in particular was not only a site of idolatry but also the residence of King Jeroboam II of the Northern Kingdom (Am 7:13)

As the people would worship the Lord in going through the motions, they would also be involved in idol worship (BKC, Wiersbe).

Why would the Lord tell His people to continue to sin and even multiply it?

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase, “It’s no use; they’re just going to do it anyway,”?

What is the implication of this phrase?

Circumstances are hopeless.

Thus, the Lord has identified that the people’s condition of selfishness is a hopeless one.

This really is ironic given that seeking to give in to one’s desires offers the hope of satisfaction.

What is hopeless about the people’s selfishness?

They are hopeless to change their selfishness.

Instead, one who has made their habit of constantly living according to their desires has no hope, not even of ever being satisfied with what they have given their life to.

While the Lord’s statement to His people is strange, it demonstrates that the problem lies with the people, not with the Lord.

The Lord has shared the evidence of their sinfulness.

The people have made the choice to be given over to their desires.

Amos 4:5 ““Offer a thank offering also from that which is leavened, And proclaim freewill offerings, make them known. For so you love to do, you sons of Israel,” Declares the Lord God.”

In v. 5, we see two indications of a problem with their heart as they worshipped the Lord.

They offered the wrong kind of offering that was expressly forbidden by the Law (Lv 2:11; 6:17; Wiersbe)

This was identified in the phrase “also from that which is leavened,”

What do we call a deliberate disregard of God’s instruction?

Disobedience

Disobedience arises from one’s heart.

Thus, their disobedient behavior indicated that they had a heart problem.

When someone loves to talk about what they’ve done, what is this called?

Boasting!

What attitude prompts boasting?

Pride

And we know that the Lord hates pride!

“Declares the Lord God.”

What is the significance of this phrase in conjunction with referencing the people’s sin and their attempts to worship the Lord?

The Lord is not blinded by their surface worship to what is going on in their heart.

As the Lord GOD, He knows exactly what is going on with His people.

What a tragedy that it’s possible to gather with your church family before the Lord and your heart is far from the Lord, even disobeying the Lord as you worship and have pride in your heart.

In these two verses, the Lord has made it clear that the people are hopeless to change their selfishness.

Selfishness is a condition of the heart, as identified here.

Their hopelessness is evidenced through their disobedience to God’s Word concerning the offering of sacrifices.

Their hopeless is evidenced through their pride!

By ourselves, we are hopeless to change our selfishness and will go on blinded to our condition.

We need the Lord to intervene in our lives if there is any hope to change our selfishness.

Amos 4:6 ““But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.”

What was the purpose of the Lord withholding what His people needed for nourishment?

That they would return to Him.

Return to Him from what?

From their sin, specifically idolatry.

What’s very fascinating is that when researching the term translated “lack”, the following verses surface.

Dt 28:47-48 “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.”

Does this sound familiar?

Yes, for the Lord had proclaimed to the people beforehand that they would lack the food that they need if they would turn away from Him.

Thus, the Lord gave His people warning far in advance of their sinful behavior!

Amos 4:7-8 “Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you While there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city And on another city I would not send rain; One part would be rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up. So two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink water, But would not be satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.”

What is being described here?

A drought

When was it that the Lord withheld rain from them?

3 months until harvest.

These would be the Spring rains needed for a good Summer harvest (BKC).

In other words, this drought significantly impacted their crop just when they needed it the most.

Notice the selectivity of the drought in Am 4:7, that is, the Lord sovereignly sent rain on one city but withheld it from another.

Such intentional activity should have prompted the people to “wake up” and recognize that something out of the normal is going on.

But their selfishness had so blinded them that they were unwilling to recognize the events.

In addition to affecting their crops, what was the other result of their drought (Am 4:8)?

Their drinking water was insufficient.

Think about the image being presented here.

Multiple cities visit one city for drinking water only to find that it’s not enough!

It’s like traveling to the store for something that you need only to find that it’s out of stock, but on a more significant scale!

In other words, the trip was wasted and your hope for what you need has been dashed.

What was the purpose of this drought?

The the people would return to the Lord.

What’s fascinating is that the Lord warned His people what a drought meant, they were being disobedient in following other gods (Dt 11:16-17).

Sadly, the people rejected this kindness of the Lord that was intended to prompt them to repent.

Amos 4:9 ““I smote you with scorching wind and mildew; And the caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.”

What does it mean that the Lord “smote”?

Across the OT, there’s this idea of a violent act against another, sometimes in anger, that often results in death.

In other words, the harshness associated with “smote” indicates that the people are going to feel the negative effects quite significantly.

What is it that the Lord employed against the people?

Scorching wind, mildew, and caterpillar(s).

What was the result of this triad of forces?

Destruction of their resources for both their nutritional needs and commercial export.

Fascinatingly, the Lord had again warned the people against disobedience (Dt 28:15, 22).

What was the purpose of the Lord sending these destructive forces to destroy the resources of His people?

That they would return to Him.

But did they return to the Lord?

No.

Amos 4:10 ““I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.”

What is the Lord referring to in mentioning a plague like that of Egypt?

During the time of the Exodus, when the Lord used great signs and wonders to eventually deliver His people from Egyptian captivity.

What is the significance of the Lord referencing a plague like that of Egypt?

If the Lord is treating His people the same way that He treated Egypt, then He is treating His people like they are the enemy.

The people’s sin is what prompted the Lord to treat His people like an enemy.

What was the result of this plague?

Death

Who died?

Young men and horses.

The young and most likely the strongest and thus able to serve as a physical defense for the people were cut down early in life.

Horses, the symbol of military might, were destroyed.

So, those that would otherwise be able to fight and the resources to fight were diminished, leaving the people without much to defend themselves.

If the stench of death reached their noses, what does that imply about their ability to properly dispose of the bodies?

There was so much death that they could not take care of the bodies in time.

In comparing the result of this plague with Deuteronomy 28:21, we see that the Lord already warned them concerning this consequence for their disobedience.

What was the purpose of this plague?

That the people would return to the Lord.

You would think that with a deadly plague already predicted before and the presence of rotting dead bodies that the people would return to the Lord.

But did the people return to the Lord?

No.

Amos 4:11 ““I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.”

What do we know about Sodom and Gomorrah?

They were destroyed for their great perversity in sexual sin.

The Lord warned them ahead of time that He would treat them like Sodom and Gomorrah on account of their sin in Dt 29:21-23.

However, there’s a difference in the way that the Lord treated His people as distinguished from Sodom and Gomorrah.

How does the Lord describe the different way that He treated His people as compared to Sodom and Gomorrah?

He treats them like a firebrand, snatched from the blaze.

What’s a firebrand?

It’s a burning stick.

What happens when you remove a burning stick from the fire?

It starts to go out.

In other words, the remainder of the stick is spared from destruction.

What do we call withholding destruction that is deserved?

Mercy

Thus, we see the Lord’s mercy demonstrated towards His people even in the face of judgment against their sin.

While the Lord did not spare Sodom and Gomorrah, He sought to spare His people.

Why?

Because He wanted to provide them an opportunity to return to Him.

What we have is the Lord’s efforts to get His people’s attention to encourage them to turn from their wrong!

In other words, this was designed to be a wakeup call; to get them to wakeup from the stupor of their selfish lifestyle that is ultimately hopeless.

This is God’s kindness!

God graciously gave the people His Word to warn them against sin.

God graciously warned them through His Word what they could expect if they were to sin.

God graciously kept His promise to act against their disobedience to prompt them to return to Him.

The Lord could have chosen to wipe out the nation instantaneously but He mercifully warned them and kept His promises.

While the Lord can use physical circumstances to attempt to get out attention to wake us up from selfishness and hopelessness, He does not necessarily always work this way.

Instead, the Scriptures help us understand that the Lord works through His Spirit through the Word of God to bring conviction of sin (cf. Jn 16:8)

Thus, the opportunity that we have today to sit before God’s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to do heart surgery to uncover disobedience and pride is God’s kindness to wake any of us up to selfish behaviors that lead to a hopeless condition.

Amos 4:12 ““Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.””

“Therefore” indicates that what follows is based on what has preceded.

Selfishness that resulted in mistreating others.

A form of religiosity filled with disobedience and pride evidencing a problem with the heart.

Rebelling against the Lord instead of humbly repenting at the Lord’s prompting through His Word and circumstances.

What is the “thus” that God will do to Israel?

The judgment that He promised in this passage and Am 3 (BKC).

In Am 3, the Lord uses the illustration of a lion that completely destroys its prey.

Thus, the Lord will utterly lay waste the people of the Northern Kingdom.

This judgment was accomplished through the Assyrian captivity wherein the people were completely removed from the land.

What is it that the Lord tells the people to prepare for?

To meet their God.

Who is their God?

Amos 4:13 “For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness And treads on the high places of the earth, The Lord God of hosts is His name.”

First, we see the evidence of the Lord’s sovereign power and ability: He creates.

Additionally, we see the demonstration of the Lord’s sovereign knowledge: He knows our thoughts (Wiersbe).

Also, we see the Lord’s faithfulness: He is the One Who creates the day and night that faithfully occur.

Moreover, we see that the Lord is unrestricted in His presence: He walks among the greatest heights and thus can be anywhere.

What is the Name of this One Who is great in creative power, expansive knowledge, faithfulness, and presence?

The Lord God of hosts.

What’s a host?

An army

So Who is it that Israel needs to be prepared to meet?

The Greatest Warrior.

Warriors are prepared to conquer and so is the Lord.

Conclusion: In every confrontation of the sin of His people, the Lord is abundantly gracious; warning them through His Word and then faithfully acting on His Word in a way that is still merciful. The Lord accurately knows the details of our heart that no amount of religiosity can obscure. Let God’s Holy Spirit work through His Word to point out sin and let us be quick to repent, regardless of the sin addressed.