Project 119: Amos 1:1-2:3
| Project 119 | Mary Splawn
Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa who was entrusted with the task of prophesying to the people of the northern kingdom (Israel) about the impending judgement on their neighboring nations and also on them! The date of his prophecy is not precisely known, but we can know that it was during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam of Israel (sometime between 793 and 739 B.C.) as is mentioned in the first verse of the book.
Amos 1:3-2:3 deals with judgment for the neighboring nations around Israel for their sins of cruelty and oppression. The Scripture follows a pattern. Each section of judgment starts with “Thus says the Lord” and it is followed by the reason for judgment. Four of the six sections also end with “says the Lord.” The point is clear. God is bringing divine judgment.
These oracles would have been easy on the ears of the Israelites. They firmly believed that God was going to judge the enemies of the covenant people for their godless behavior. And, I bet they are excited about this judgment. They want an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
I have a trivial modern-day example of this same kind of thinking. When one of my kids are acting up, my husband will jokingly ask the other child what the punishment should be. Without fail, the suggestion is harsh punishment. Yet, when the tide is turned, my children want abundant grace.
Judgment for others and grace for ourselves? Is that what this Scripture is about? No, we must remember that all Scripture is profitable for reproof and correction; therefore we should read this passage with eyes to see how we share in the sins of Israel’s neighbors. I will admit that this is sometimes a stretch to make the connect because I have never “ripped open pregnant women in Gilead” (Amos 1:4, ESV) to enlarge my border. But, I have taken advantage of others, thought more highly of myself than I ought, and left much undone to aid my neighbors.
Take a few minutes to open yourself to the Holy Spirit’s correction in your life. Ask the Lord to reveal areas of your character that need to change. Then, take time to repent and to praise our Lord Jesus for taking on our ultimate judgment so that we could be saved!
Amos 1:1-2:3 (ESV):
1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors
2 And he said:
“The LORD roars from Zion
and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
and the top of Carmel withers.”
3 Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of Damascus,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have threshed Gilead
with threshing sledges of iron.
4 So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.
5 I will break the gate-bar of Damascus,
and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven,
and him who holds the scepter from Beth-eden;
and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir,”
says the LORD.
6 Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of Gaza,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they carried into exile a whole people
to deliver them up to Edom.
7 So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
and it shall devour her strongholds.
8 I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod,
and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
I will turn my hand against Ekron,
and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,”
says the Lord GOD.
9 Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of Tyre,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,
and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
10 So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre,
and it shall devour her strongholds.”
11 Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of Edom,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because he pursued his brother with the sword
and cast off all pity,
and his anger tore perpetually,
and he kept his wrath forever.
12 So I will send a fire upon Teman,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah.”
13 Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of the Ammonites,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead,
that they might enlarge their border.
14 So I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah,
and it shall devour her strongholds,
with shouting on the day of battle,
with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind;
15 and their king shall go into exile,
he and his princes together,”
says the LORD.
2:1 Thus says the LORD:
“For three transgressions of Moab,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because he burned to lime
the bones of the king of Edom.
2 So I will send a fire upon Moab,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth,
and Moab shall die amid uproar,
amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet;
3 I will cut off the ruler from its midst,
and will kill all its princes with him,”
says the LORD.