Amos’ Calling

Amos 7:1-15

“Thus hath the Lord GOD showed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.  And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.” (Amos 7:1-2)

The Lord showed Amos a natural event to help him understand what God was doing.  Those who produce hay usually get two or more cuttings a year.  If the first cutting is good, it pays the taxes and part of the expenses.  Any profits come from those later cuttings.  In this vision, the first cutting was taken by the government for taxes.  After they had collected the taxes, swarms of grasshoppers devoured the new growth before it got a chance to mature, destroying the crop and leaving the farmers destitute. 

Amos was horrified that it would be that way and begged God to forgive them because Israel was small and would have nowhere to turn for help. 

 “The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.

Thus hath the Lord GOD showed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.   Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.” (Amos 7:3-5)

God heard Amos’ prayer, and promised not to completely destroy everything.  Instead he would send a fire into the crops.  While a fire burns everything that is ripe, the roots of many plants may survive and begin to grow again.  It is not like the insects that keep coming back.  While they would not have much there would be a little for the people.    Again Amos prayed that God would not let it be that bad.   

“The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.   Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. Am 7:8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou?

And I said, A plumbline.

Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more: And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” (Amos 7:6-9)

Again God answered Amos’ prayer.  He then used the illustration of a plumb line or level being used to align a wall being built.  Anything that stuck out or wasn’t properly aligned would be cut away, and that section of wall considered finished.  They won’t be given any more chances.  Even the places where Isaac had worshipped God would be deserted.   Their temples and altars destroyed, And God would cause Jeroboam II and his family to be killed. 

“Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.  For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.” (Amos 7:10-11)

Amaziah the priest, one of the mainstream religious leaders accused Amos of conspiring against the king and teaching things that were contrary to the good of the country because he said Jeroboam would be killed and the people be taken captive because of the sin.  It was very much like the mainstream religious groups today who accuse those who oppose same sex marriage or who call for restrictions on immigration of prejudice or hate. 

“Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.” (Amos 7:12-13)

Amaziah told Amos to leave the land because it was the government’s (king’s ) land and they had the right to make their own rules.  If he didn’t like their rules he should go to Judah where they believed like he did, but he could not prophesy in the official churches anymore. 

“Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.” (Amos 7:14-15)

Amos pointed out that unlike Amaziah, he had not become a prophet because he chose to or because that is what his father or other family did.   Instead, he had been a cowboy or sheepherder, working as migrant worker when the sycamore fruit was ripe.   God had called him from that way of life to go and tell the people of Israel what God said.  To Amos, prophecy was not a career choice or family tradition, it was a calling from God and he was obligated to tell people what God said.   Those who don’t have that awareness of being called of God can focus on other things.    

“Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.  Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.” (Amos 7:16-17)

Amaziah needed to hear God’s word just as much as the other people, though he thought he already knew.  He was commanding Amos not to warn the people of Israel about the consequences of their sin or try to convince Isaac’s family they were doing wrong.  As a result Amaziah would receive special judgment.  His own wife would be forced into prostitution, and his children would be killed.  The land would be divided up by people who would ignore the ancient boundaries and practices God had established.  Amaziah would die in a land which did not serve God at all, and Israel would be carried out of the land as captives.   

Future Judgment On Judah

Amos 6:1-14

“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!  Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?” (Amos 6:1-2)

God warns of judgment to come on the nation of Judah if they don’t make changes themselves.   They were not concerned with receiving God’s blessings, counting on having the nation of Israel with its government in Samaria to serve as a buffer against the Assyrian threat   After all it was one of the most powerful  kingdoms in the region.  God warned Judah to go look at the Assyrian city of Calneh and then travel to Hamath in Syria, and down along the coast  to Philistine city of Gath.   They needed to realize at one time each of these had been powerful kingdoms in their own right but had been conquered and reduced to near insignificance.  Israel was no better than these other kingdoms.  Israel was no stronger than Judah and would not be able to protect them.

“Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.  Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.” (Amos 6:3-7)

The problem was that Judah and Jerusalem were convinced that the threat of judgment was far in the future and were not worrying about it.  They were ignoring a growing level of violence in their own cities while they were living in luxury.  They had expensive furniture such as ivory bedframes, and were eating gourmet food at Greek style dinners.  They ate little lambs because the meat was very tender, and took little effort, although more mature animals provided far better nutrition and were a far more efficient source of food.  For the same reason they eating baby beef or veal.  They spent a lot of time in entertainment, going to concerts and musical events and developing musical instruments.  Wine tasting and trying the newest lotions and beauty products were favorite pastimes.  Little or no thought was given to the sufferings of the people as a result of the growing sin.

“The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.  And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.  And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.  For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.” (Amos 6:8-11)

God has sworn that he hated the things Israel delighted themselves in, the luxurious mansions and lifestyles.  He was going to allow the city to be conquered and everything destroyed.  Entire families would be wiped out, and distant relatives would end up burying the bodies and settling their estates, inquiring about survivors.  They will no longer brag about the Lord because he will have allowed them to be destroyed.   Large families will be missing major parts and smaller ones will be completely broken up.   

This prophecy was fulfilled when Babylon conquered Judah.  Initially, Nebuchadnezzar just carried away the powerful and wealthy politicians and business leaders.  Later they came back because of ongoing rebellion.   A major part of the population was destroyed as a result of the fighting, disease and starvation.  When they returned after seventy years of captivity it took a lot of work to determine who should own which property.  The prophecy was fulfilled in every detail.

“Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:  Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?  But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.” (Amos 6:12-14)

Horses running across rocks break their hooves and lame themselves without horseshoes to protect and reinforce their hooves.   While small rocks would be brought to the surface by a plow, too large a ones would bring the oxen to a halt or break the plow.  Judah had begun to resent the standards of right and wrong God had established.  They treated the actions of those who did what  was right like it was poisonous, much like a Christian’s stance against Homosexuality or abortion si treated today. 

They rejoice in worthless accomplishment s such as winning the Super Bowl, and take credit for having done things that God causes to happen naturally.  God promises to turn against that nation, and the entire nation will suffer, from one end to the other.     

Israel’s Attitude Toward God

Amos 5:1-27

“Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.  The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.  For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.” (Amos 5:1-3)

Because of their constant rebellion, God is going to bring disaster on Israel.  She will never recover from this judgment.  God has withdrawn his blessings and no one else can save her.  Only a tenth of the people will b be left to try to rebuild.  Ninety percent will be killed or taken captive.  It is important to understand God has not forgotten his promise to Abraham, but that, because of their extreme sin Israel will never again be a separate nation from Judah.  After their defeat by Assyria, they were replaced by other peoples, and even in Jesus’ day there was only a comparatively small population of full blood Jews in the land. 

“For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.  Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.” (Amos 5:4-6)

As bad as they have been, if Israel will turn to God he will still save their country for them, but it will mean they cannot depend on their traditions.  The must not go back to Bethel or Gilgal to sacrifice to the golden calves or down to Beersheba to offer sacrifices where Isaac and Jacob had offered. Instead they would need to obey God, offering the sacrifices where he had commanded.    To go back to those other altars would result in captivity and defeat.    They could actively seek what God wanted and live or they could continue with their traditions and be destroyed, and God would not intervene. 

“Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name: That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress. “ (Amos 5:7-9)

Instead of accepting God’s punishment as a warning to change, Israel felt sorry for themselves and made no effort to do what was right.  God is the one who created the stars and turns a near fatal disease into perfect health.  He is the one who turns day to night, and causes the water to evaporate from the ocean and fall as rain.  He is the one who gives the weak victory over the mighty, and his name is God. 

“They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.  Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.  For I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.” (Amos 5:10-12)

Israel hated those who made them aware of their sin, and despised those who took a stand for what was right.  They had taken advantage of the less fortunate, taking the crops he had produced to live on.  They had built themselves nice rock houses and planted orchards and ornamental gardens, but they would not be allowed to live in the houses or enjoy the luxuries their gardens and orchards produced because God knew how they had cheated and connived to get them.  They had accepted bribes and taken advantage of those who did right, then refused to allow those who were in need to receive what they deserved,   

“Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.  Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.  Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5:13-15)

Because there is such hatred for what is right, the wise will be afraid to speak up.   If they would try to do what was right they would live and experience God’s blessings as he had promised.  If they would punish evil and reward what was good, and be fair in their judgments of people, they could expect God to be gracious, giving them better than they deserved.

Today, the United States is in much the same shape as God describes Israel.  Politicians tax people to promote their own schemes them threaten to withhold their pensions and Social Security.  People who stand against Homosexuality and other sins are vilified and criminals are protected or set free with only minimal penalties while those they robbed or killed are left with nothing.  While this prophecy is not about the United States, I Corinthians 10:11 tells us, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

“Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.  And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.” (Amos 5:16-17)

While God would be willing to save them, he already knows what they will do.  There will be sorrow and suffering throughout all the land.  Even those who would have expected to escape the suffering, such as business owners and farmers  will be affected by the results.    Political agitators and false teachers will have a heyday blaming others for their suffering and promising solutions.    

“Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.  As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.  Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:18-20)

The people who are looking for the Lord’s coming to get them out of the suffering are going to be surprised because that is not its purpose.  It is a day of judgment for sin, not a time of reward.  It will be like they were running from a report of a lion and ran into an angry bear or if they went into the house for safety and were bitten by a snake.  It will be a time of despair and suffering, not a period of celebration, with no bright spots to be seen. 

“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.  Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.  Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.  But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:21-24)

God hated their religious worship services and conventions.  To him they stank and he didn’t smell the incense.  All their sacrifices and offerings were unacceptable as was their service.  He was sick of their music services and religious songs.  He wanted to bring judgment on them like a flood washing out an arroyo. 

“Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?  But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.  Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.” (Amos 5:25-27)

Jeroboam II reigned forty one years, and Amos prophesied near the end of his reign.  During the forty years in the wilderness, Israel had followed the lord, but always with the thought of theother Gods in their mind.  During the forty years Jeroboam II had been in office, they had kept the sacrifices and offerings the law called for, but offered them to the golden calves, and had worshipped Baal, Molech, and statues of other gods they had made.  As a result they would be taken into captivity beyond Damascus.  History tells us they were taken to the area around the Kur River in Northeastern Armenia.  It was God who would cause them to taken captive.

God’s Efforts To Correct Israel

Amos 4:1-13

“Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.  The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.  And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD.” (Amos 4:1-3)

Bashan was the area east of the Sea of Galilee that had originally been given to the half tribe of Manasseh because it was such a good area for raising livestock.  Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s sons and the two tribes were closely allied in ruling the nation of Israel.  Like a bunch of half wild cattle, they had trampled over and bullied the other tribes to get their way and waiting for their herdsmen to bring them water and food.   God said they would be treated like a bunch of cattle, being butchered and carried away on meat hooks and their descendants on fishhooks like bait.  They will be like a bunch of cows escaping through the closest hole in the fence and ramming people into the palace to get away.    

“Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” (Amos 4:4-5)

One of Jeroboams golden calves had been placed in Bethel and it was there they first turned away from God, offering the same sacrifices as they offered God in the Temple.    At Gilgal, they went farther into idolatry.  They were offering the proper sacrifices, in the proper way, but to another God, the golden calf.  They had chosen those golden calves over God. 

“And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.  And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.  So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” (Amos 4:6-8)

As a warning, God had caused famine in all the cities of Israel.  There was no food caught in their teeth.  In spite of that there was no effort to turn to God.  God had changed the weather so that there was no rain from the time the crops were planted until harvest time.  Instead of wide spread rains he caused there to just be local downpours with other areas experiencing severe drought.  Cities were forced to turn to each other for help, but there was not enough water to meet the needs.  In spite of that they did not turn to God. 

“I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” (Amos 4:9)

God sent diseases and mold to destroy their crops, and the worms had devoured the fruit and vegetables.  Still they had not turned to God. 

“I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” (Amos 4:10)

They had experienced diseases like occurred in Egypt, killing many.  Wars had claimed most of the young men, and the horses they used in the fields.  The smell of rotting corpses in the camps was unbearable yet they did not turn to God.

“I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” (Amos 4:11)

Some of them had been destroyed by natural events just as Sodom and Gomorrah were, and a few survivors saved like burning sticks from a fire, yet they did not turn to God.

“Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.  For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.” (Amos 4:12-13)

They needed to get ready to meet God in his anger, remembering he is the creator of the universe and the one who spoke to man.  He is God Almighty. 

It is God’s Judgment

Amos 3:1-15

“Hear this word that Jehovah hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:1-2)

Acts 17:26-27 tells us.  “And he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined [their] appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;  that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”  God determined the exactly when each nation or group of people would have power and the extent of their power.   In every case, the purpose was to cause people to turn to God. 

Israel is the only one God chose to be his special people, miraculously delivering them from slavery in Egypt and giving them the land of Canaan.  He had invested far more in them than in other groups, giving them specific guidelines as to what they should do.  As a result, he will hold them to higher standard of accountability than the other nations. 

“Shall two walk together, except they have agreed?  Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?  Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is [set] for him? shall a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all?  Shall the trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? shall evil befall a city, and Jehovah hath not done it?  Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:3-7)

When you see people walking together, it indicates they are friendly, if not actually friends.  When a lion roars, it indicates he is not looking for food.  A bird caught in a snare indicates there was some kind of bait to get him into it, and a triggered trap indicates something set it off.  The sound of siren warns that something is wrong.    In the same way, when a city or state is having problems, it is safe to say God is behind it.  At the same time it is sure God will not do anything about which he has not given warning, because God “…is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” according to II Peter 3:9.

“The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken; who can but prophesy?  Publish ye in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold what great tumults are therein, and what oppressions in the midst thereof.  For they know not to do right, saith Jehovah, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.” (Amos 3:8-10)

When the lion roars, it reminds us they are out there and that they kill.  When God has spoken, what choice do we have but to warn people what God has said?  The message needs to go to other nations, so they can be warned and see what happens to people who don’t do what is right.  When they allow violence and corruption in the government, their moral standard is messed up. 

“Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary [there shall be], even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered.  Thus saith Jehovah: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.” (Amos 3:11-12)

Because they had forgotten their moral standards, God will allow them to be attacked.  He will also erode their strength so they are no longer able to defend themselves, with the result that even the homes and strongholds of the leaders are plundered.  After an attack by a lion, all that is left may be a couple of legs or part of an ear.  After Gods judgment, all that would survive in Israel’s capital would be those who are sick or too old to fight in the homes of the rich.  It won’t be just the poor people who suffer.

“Hear ye, and testify against the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Jehovah, the God of hosts.  For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.  And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith Jehovah.” (Amos 3:13-15)

God will surely cause Israel to experience the consequences of their sin.  When he does, he will destroy the altars and religious groups that have contributed to their sin, cutting off their symbols of authority and power.  The vacation homes will be destroyed just like the main homes.  The rich mansions will be destroyed, and the families of the rich and powerful of the past will be killed. 

Judgment to Come on Judah and Israel

Amos 2:4-16

“Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Judah, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah, and have not kept his statutes, and their lies have caused them to err, after which their fathers did walk: but I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem. “ (Amos 2:4-5)

God had just pronounced judgment on the nations around Israel for their ongoing rejection of God and their mistreatment of his people.  Judah followed the Lord during most of Uzziah’s reign, but near the end, he began to think his position gave him authority to do as he pleased.  God warned that he would not overlook ongoing sin by Judah either.  When they began to exchange God’s law for their own, he would destroy the power of their rulers.   Jotham, Uzziah’s son listened and God’s judgment on Judah was postponed.  The others did not.  

“Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; they that pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father go unto the [same] maiden, to profane my holy name: and they lay themselves down beside every altar upon clothes taken in pledge; and in the house of their God they drink the wine of such as have been fined.” (Amos 2:6-8)

God had repeatedly warned Israel but as a nation, they made no effort to turn and follow God’s commands.  They were using unethical lending practices to take people’s property and foce them into slavery, sometimes over something as small as a pair of shoes.  They were using every means at their disposal to get people indebted to them.  They were punishing and shaming those who tried to do right.  They were profaning God by indulging in incest and other sexual perversions.  They were using things they had taken as security against a loan even to worship God, in violation of their agreement.  Finally they were using things they had seized from those who were charged with some crime to worship God. 

“Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.  Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.” (Amos 2:9-10)

They had completely ignored what God had done for them, destroying the powerful Amorite nation, so that there would never again be an Amorite nation to fight them.  He set them free of slavery in Egypt, leading them into the wilderness and supplying their every need for forty years before giving then the Amorite’s land, based on their covenant or contract to obey God’s commands.  He had fulfilled his part of the contract but they were not fulfilling theirs. 

“And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith Jehovah.  But ye gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.” (Amos 2:11-12)

God had chosen some of their own people as prophets to act as God’s spokesmen.  He had chosen some of them to fulfill the Nazarite vow and set a moral example for them.  They had deliberately encouraged and even forced the Nazarites to ignore the moral code God had established, and forbidden the prophets to say what God said, much like the demands for political correctness of today. 

“Behold, I will press [you] in your place, as a cart presseth that is full of sheaves.  And flight shall perish from the swift; and the strong shall not strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself; neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver [himself]; neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself; and he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith Jehovah.” (Amos 2:13-16)

As a result God will squash them like a heavy loaded wagon or truck squashes an animal laying in the road.  Once they are under the wheel, there will be no escape and their strength will not make them survive or enable them to pull free.   Their weapons will be of as little value as the snake’s fangs or the teeth and claws of a cat or dog.  Once they are under the wheel, even the bravery or speed of others cannot save them, and the brave ones that come to their rescue will run away after losing hide and limbs.    

Judgment to Come on Israel’s Neighbors

Amos 1:1-2:3

“The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen 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.  And he said, Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the pastures of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.” (Amos 1:1-2)

According to Amos’ statement, these prophecies were given between 760 and 750 BC according to geologists and archaeologists.  Under Jeroboam II, Israel had entered her final decline although they would not be destroyed by the Assyrians for about another sixty years.  Under Uzziah, Judah was serving God and would continue to do so through Jotham’s reign.   The prophecies relate to both Israel and Judah as well as their neighboring countries.   God will speak from Jerusalem and the temple, and there will be drought in the mountains and pasture lands of Israel, with the trees dying on Mount Carmel., even though it is right on the coast and would normally have plenty of moisture.   

 

“Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Damascus, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: but I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.  And I will break the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden; and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith Jehovah.” (Amos 1:3-5)

Abraham was originally a Syrian and for centuries, there had been close contact between Israel and Syria.  After the split between Israel and Judah there had been serious conflicts between Syria and Israel, with Syria repeatedly invading Israel under the leadership of Benhadad and his successors.  God said the entire Syrian royal family would be destroyed and the Syrian people taken in to slavery to Kir.  The Assyrians routinely relocated the people they conquered to prevent them uniting and breaking away.  Tiglath-pileser later conquered Syria and relocated a large contingent of the Syrians.  Some think they were relocated  to a region of northeastern Armenia along the Kur river, while others think they were relocated to Kir-heres in Moab.  Amos’ prophecy against Moab in Amos 2:1 certainly leaves the possibility for them to have been relocated to Moab.  . 

“Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole people, to deliver them up to Edom: but I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.  And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon; and I will turn my hand against Ekron; and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord Jehovah.” (Amos 1:6-8)

Throughout the centuries, the Philistines had repeatedly attacked Israel, and that continued up until the collapse of Israel.  When  Judah was fighting Edom to the south east, the Philistines attacked from the west, splitting their forces and giving Edom the victory.  They would be punished for their rejection of God and repeated attacks on his people. 

“Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Tyre, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole people to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant: but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.” (Amos 1:9-10)

In David and Solomon’s times there had been a close alliance between Israel and the Zidonians,  Later, the Phoenicians would occupy those cities and turn on Israel, aiding their enemies and forgetting the former treaties.  As a result Tyre would be completely destroyed.  When it was rebuilt, it was relocated to an island just off the coast for protection.  Later the ruins of the original city were used to build a causeway to enable the Greeks to conquer the city again. 

“Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Edom, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: but I will send a fire upon Teman, and it shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. “ (Amos 1:11-12)

Esau’s descendants, the Edomites occupied the area south and east of the dead sea.  After the split between Judah and Israel, they attacked repeatedly, doing their very best to wipe out the entire nation.   Their rejection of God and repeated attacks on Israel would be punished with the Edomite kingdom being conquered and eventually taken over by the Nabateans.   

“Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they may enlarge their border.  But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind; and their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith Jehovah.” (Amos 1:13-15)

The Ammonites were descendants of Abraham’s nephew, Lot.  They had long been bitter enemies of Israel and Judah, attacking the area east of the Jordan and murdering the inhabitants in an effort to expand their territory.  They would be conquered and the rulers carried away as captives, as if by a fire or tornado.  Their capital, Rabbah was on the site of the present capitol of Jordan, Amman.     

“Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Moab, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime: but I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet; and I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith Jehovah.” (Amos 2:1-3)

The Moabites were also descendants of Lot.  Like the Ammonites, they had been cruel enemies of Israel, but they had been equally cruel to the Edomites, even breaking open their graves and burning the bones of their ancestors.  Moab would be destroyed in battle, and the entire nation would die and be forgotten.  They would not even have a major city, such as Amman named after them to remind people of their existence.