Previously we have seen how Amos condemned all the nations surrounding Israel and Judah, and finally levelling a range of judgments against both kingdoms. This did not go
down very well with the combined Israelite groups.
Chapters 3, 4 and 5 all begin with the same statement from God - "Hear this word."
Chapter 3 bristles with
God's judgment against Israel, and in this and subsequent passages it should be understood to include Judah.
3:1. "O people of Israel--against the
whole family I brought up out of Egypt: 2 "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth;"
The chosen people have failed to live by their side of the
agreement with God.
'The deal's off!'
It seems to pain God to be continually reminding Israel that He is the God who saved them from slavery in Egypt. This is a
persistent theme in the OT, but acknowledged by Israel only when all else has failed, then they repent. But this time God is saying that He has had enough. (The cycle of sin, punishment,
repentance and sin again.)
The litany of accusations against Israel continues throughout the whole chapter. Nothing seems to be omitted from the list, including the various poetic
warnings against Israel and the other nations. The basis of Amos's message is that Israel was about to lose their promised inheritance.
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away!
That
Israel was the greatly privileged nation only adds to the enormity of God's judgement against them. A timely reminder that, "From everyone who has been given much,
much will be demanded;" Luke 12:48. If God has given you and I greater revelation and gifts, then our failure to use them in His service ensures that His judgement against us
will be the greater.
The questions that Amos pose are what are called 'closed questions.' That is, they are framed so that only one answer is possible. Israel is trapped!
How
humiliating it will be for Israel that their despised and nasty neighbours, the Egyptians and Philistines, will be used as witnesses against them.
These three chapters show
reasoned and well-developed arguments detailing Israel's failures before God. And the judgements! Were these arguments placed before the Church today, how would we stand in God's sight? Do
we have, possibly, areas of disobedience to God's standards of behaviour? It is just as common today to scoff at the possibility that God might become angry with His people, the
Church.
What do we see when we turn to Isaiah 63:10 "Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself
fought against them." God is still not mocked.
The false safety of the enemy's strongholds (3:9ff) and the apparent comfort of the wealthy (3:12ff) are highlighted as part of the problem. But these verses demonstrate that, in spite of apparent opulence, only remnants will survive the onslaught. The word
'house' is a play on words meaning residential building, but also refers to a family line or pedigree.
The theme of idle wealth continues in chapter four with a particularly sarcastic
reference (4:1) to the pampered women of Bashan. An area renowned for its prize fat cattle! An indication that it was the body and worldly things that was more
important to them, while any spiritual relationship with God was well down their list of importance.
The following verses spell out how the conquering armies brought a very barbaric
and humiliating punishment upon Israel. The whole idea of being treated in this way would have greatly offended these powerful matrons of Bashan.
If they believe that being more
religious might help them, God then tells them, sarcastically, to go to the shrines at Bethel or Gilgal to worship. Maybe that will help you!
Bethel, (not far from Jerusalem)
previously considered an important religious site by Israel, became a counter to the Temple in Jerusalem when Jeroboam set up golden calves for worship. By combining Yahweh worship with the
worship of pagan gods, Israel hoped to have the best of both worlds. Gilgal was the site for an offering to Yahweh, when the Israelites, under Joshua, crossed the Jordan to conquer Canaan.
Hosea also spoke out against this now pagan worship site.
Beersheba, at the southern extremity of Judah, was another place that degenerated from being a Jewish sacred site to a pagan
place of worship.
God challenges them to continue worshiping there to see if the pagan gods might answer, for He certainly will not! Amos, in a bout of sarcasm, actually
challenges the people to go to these shrines and NOT to worship. What good is it for the people to correctly worship Yahweh in the morning, and then later go to a pagan shrine and make
offerings to the pagan gods? Trying to have a bet each way in the forlorn hope that at least one of the 'gods' will treat them favourably. Persistent and wilful sinning is a recipe for
Hell!!
Therefore, in 4:12, we hear Amos telling them, "Prepare to meet your God O Israel!"
Plagues, famine, disease and starvation
will be their 'reward' under Yahweh. Enough!, is God's message. Perhaps a form of flashback to their escape from Egypt for Israel now that these terrible things are prophesied against them
and not their enemies!
Chapter five continues the litany of woes that Israel will face. The population will be decimated, harvests will yield nothing and their continued economic
attacks on the poor will result in a terrible outcome for the whole nation.
Even in the midst of God's terrible condemnation of Israel He still provides an avenue of escape. 5:4. "Seek me and live."
Even on our worst days, we should remember that God does not always close off the escape clause too early, but may allow us to time to regain contact with Him, through our
relationship with Jesus Christ. But NEVER let us presume upon God!
"Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord!" 5:18. (eg Israel today!).
Even today there are many people longing for the Lord's return. But, are we truly ready for the awesome judgment that must follow His return? Amos preaches disaster and
darkness, not love and light. No matter how often we bring our offerings to God, He may well reject them because our hearts are not right with Him. Remember Paul's call to the Corinthians
about not taking part in the Lord's Supper if we have unconfessed sin in our life. If we are needlessly in dispute with a Christian brother, we have a problem that must be addressed, and
immediately.
5:21. "I hate, I despise your religious feasts. I cannot stand your assemblies." Thus says the Lord. Perverted worship is clearly
not Godly worship.
Any thought that God would automatically enter any future battles on the side of Israel were completely misplaced. Not only would 'the Day of the Lord' arrive
quite soon, but it would also be a time of terrible defeat as Israel faced their enemies completely alone.
What conclusions can we draw from these three chapters?
There are a
number of basic issues that Israel faces, including behaving very badly, just like the pagan nations around about them. But, the case against Israel is even more basic than those faced by
the other nations, because it was to Israel, alone, that God revealed Himself and His word. That they had received superior revelation compared to their pagan neighbours meant that their
responsibility for righteous living required much higher standards than they achieved.
In today's world, there are many nations and people who have received a good measure of God's
revelation, and from them God expects, in fact demands, a much higher standard of behaviour than they produce. Just a sample of possibilities.
How well are refugees treated in
Australia? What about detainees held without legal representation or trial in Guantanamo Bay? Police and political corruption? Extremes of wealth and poverty? Our treatment of the sick,
elderly or poor? Abortion on demand? Widespread acceptance of deviant behaviour? Israel vs. Palestine etc.
The list goes on. What does God think about these behaviour patterns? Does
He approve?
What was the common theme of Amos's judgements?
It was against a specific people group, and it was against the ruler as their representative. Is there any
evidence that God will treat us differently today?
Are we/you doing anything about it?
