When men don’t have God in their lives, evil fills the vacuum.”
–B.N. Rundell (Black Hawk)
“For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
“For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
–Ecclesiastes 12:14(NKJV)
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“Yay, Amos!” “Preach it!” “Tell ’em like it is!” “Sic ’em, Lord!” Yells the crowd as Amos begins to preach and proclaim the message of the Lord. There are two phrases that are in each pronunciation, and today we’ll look at Amos 1:3-10, three of the prophecies to other nations.
The first phrase: “For three transgressions…and for four.” Lloyd Ogilvie says, “this phrase communicates the divine patience for repeated crimes that are piled on the judgment scale and then one that overloads and tips the scale making God’s punishing intervention unavoidable.” God is patient, but there comes a time when it is time for judgment. Over and over He has allowed evil, crime, wickedness but now, there is the proclamation of doom. The term “transgressions” emphasizes a turning away or breaking away from God’s holy standards of righteousness and morality; it depicts ungodliness in its worst forms. How much more ungodliness will He allow America as we continue to turn away from His holy standards?
The second: “I will not turn away its punishment.” This is a declaration of judgment which is irrevocable. “Turn away” affirms that God will not reverse or withdraw His divine verdict. This judgment is for crimes committed and the Lord finally says, “Enough is enough!”. Is the time coming, or has it already come when the Lord has declared that He will not revoke His coming judgment?
Our attention goes first to Damascus. Damascus, the world’s oldest inhabited city in the capital of Syria. The transgression that tipped the scales to bring judgment: “they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron.” This was an inhumane practice of riding over conquered prisoners, as well as those slain in battle, with sharp-bladed iron threshing machines. Imagine the screams of the captives as they lay there and the blades used to thresh the grain now cut them apart. Listen, we must remember, that nations, as with people, are not immune to God’s judgment. “His eye is not only on the sparrow, but also on the deeds of sin, whether done openly or in secret.” (Gary G. Cohen)
Judgment and punishment will come, says Amos. The royal household would be destroyed and its reign terminated; its citizens would be taken from their homes and placed in exile (a common practice of the Assyrians). In fact, it is the Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III who will bring this destruction upon Syria and Damascus. “Fire” does not necessarily mean literal fire from heaven, but represents the holiness and judgment of God. The writer of Hebrews declares, “For our God is a consuming fire” (12:29, NKJV).
Our attention now goes to Gaza (Philistines) and Tyre (Phoenicians). Gaza, a familiar name that is in the news today. There is much history surrounding Gaza; powerful, destroyed, rebuilt, however, judgment is on the way. The Philistines will perish, there will not even be a remnant remaining. Ironically, when Alexander the Great captures Gaza in 332 B.C., 30,000 inhabitants were sold as slaves. Tyre would be destroyed by fire. Their evil, their crime was the slave trade, or as we would call it today, “human trafficking.” The Philistines would raid a village and all inhabitants would be taken into captivity to be sold. Tyre was especially known for its trade in slaves. These people “were used as things, objects of trade with blatant inhumanity” (Ogilvie). God is always concerned with human rights and the dignity of man. Note to whom they were sold–Edom–keep that in mind.
The people of Israel were piously pleased with Amos’ pronouncements. They were smiling and rejoicing over the prophecies against their enemies. Pause: slicing up captives–think of the millions of innocents, the unborn, who are sliced up in the womb due to selfishness, wantonness, and greed. Pause: human trafficking was the second most profitable illegal industry in the United States in 2021, bringing in $150 billion. The number of victims is estimated at fifty million in 2021. Has the Lord given an irrevocable edict against the United States?
——————————–
“Yay, Amos!” “Preach it!” “Tell ’em like it is!” “Sic ’em, Lord!” Yells the crowd as Amos begins to preach and proclaim the message of the Lord. There are two phrases that are in each pronunciation, and today we’ll look at Amos 1:3-10, three of the prophecies to other nations.
The first phrase: “For three transgressions…and for four.” Lloyd Ogilvie says, “this phrase communicates the divine patience for repeated crimes that are piled on the judgment scale and then one that overloads and tips the scale making God’s punishing intervention unavoidable.” God is patient, but there comes a time when it is time for judgment. Over and over He has allowed evil, crime, wickedness but now, there is the proclamation of doom. The term “transgressions” emphasizes a turning away or breaking away from God’s holy standards of righteousness and morality; it depicts ungodliness in its worst forms. How much more ungodliness will He allow America as we continue to turn away from His holy standards?
The second: “I will not turn away its punishment.” This is a declaration of judgment which is irrevocable. “Turn away” affirms that God will not reverse or withdraw His divine verdict. This judgment is for crimes committed and the Lord finally says, “Enough is enough!”. Is the time coming, or has it already come when the Lord has declared that He will not revoke His coming judgment?
Our attention goes first to Damascus. Damascus, the world’s oldest inhabited city in the capital of Syria. The transgression that tipped the scales to bring judgment: “they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron.” This was an inhumane practice of riding over conquered prisoners, as well as those slain in battle, with sharp-bladed iron threshing machines. Imagine the screams of the captives as they lay there and the blades used to thresh the grain now cut them apart. Listen, we must remember, that nations, as with people, are not immune to God’s judgment. “His eye is not only on the sparrow, but also on the deeds of sin, whether done openly or in secret.” (Gary G. Cohen)
Judgment and punishment will come, says Amos. The royal household would be destroyed and its reign terminated; its citizens would be taken from their homes and placed in exile (a common practice of the Assyrians). In fact, it is the Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III who will bring this destruction upon Syria and Damascus. “Fire” does not necessarily mean literal fire from heaven, but represents the holiness and judgment of God. The writer of Hebrews declares, “For our God is a consuming fire” (12:29, NKJV).
Our attention now goes to Gaza (Philistines) and Tyre (Phoenicians). Gaza, a familiar name that is in the news today. There is much history surrounding Gaza; powerful, destroyed, rebuilt, however, judgment is on the way. The Philistines will perish, there will not even be a remnant remaining. Ironically, when Alexander the Great captures Gaza in 332 B.C., 30,000 inhabitants were sold as slaves. Tyre would be destroyed by fire. Their evil, their crime was the slave trade, or as we would call it today, “human trafficking.” The Philistines would raid a village and all inhabitants would be taken into captivity to be sold. Tyre was especially known for its trade in slaves. These people “were used as things, objects of trade with blatant inhumanity” (Ogilvie). God is always concerned with human rights and the dignity of man. Note to whom they were sold–Edom–keep that in mind.
The people of Israel were piously pleased with Amos’ pronouncements. They were smiling and rejoicing over the prophecies against their enemies. Pause: slicing up captives–think of the millions of innocents, the unborn, who are sliced up in the womb due to selfishness, wantonness, and greed. Pause: human trafficking was the second most profitable illegal industry in the United States in 2021, bringing in $150 billion. The number of victims is estimated at fifty million in 2021. Has the Lord given an irrevocable edict against the United States?