From Amos 1-5
The message Amos presented was not one they wanted to hear. His profession as a shepherd may have done little to encourage people to listen either. When Jesus preached himself, people looked down on him and his message because of his profession.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
Amos introduces himself. Amos is an unlikely prophet. He is a shepherd from a neighbouring land, sent to preach a message of judgment to people who do not know him.
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. (Am 1.1)
According to the heading Amos was from Tekoa. Most commentators agree that this town was in the hill country of Judah, a few miles south of Jerusalem. This means Amos was a Judean sent to proclaim God’s word to the people of Israel.
Would they receive him and his word?
The text of Amos 7.14 suggests that Amos was no poor farmer. He could have been an owner of various properties with several sources of income. And, if the prophet were the person who actually put these words to writing, his book’s literariness could point to some sort of formal education and so underscore a higher social status. (R., M. D. C. (2003). Amos. In J. D. G. Dunn & J. W. Rogerson (Eds.), Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible (p. 690). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.)
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.” (Am 1.2)
‘LORD’ here is in capital letters. This tells us that the word used is the covenant name for God. The use of this name reminds us, as it did the people of Amos’s time, that the Lord has a covenant relationship with his people. He is their maker and their husband (Isa. 54:5) and, if they are faithful to him and his covenant, he is their God. (Bentley, M. (2006). Opening up Amos (pp. 16–17). Leominster: Day One Publications.)
The LORD ‘roars from Zion’. He roars because he is presented as a lion. Lion’s symbolise kingship, strength and courage. The lion roars from Zion. Amos recognises the centre of Israel is mount Zion, Jerusalem. This is where the temple of the LORD is and the LORD dwells.
The LORD roars and the shepherds mourn, the top of Carmel withers. The LORD roars with a word of judgment on several nations. The judgments follow the same pattern.
- Thus says the LORD
- For three transgressions of <nation>, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
- Because <gives reasons for the punishment>.
- So <description of the judgment>
- says the LORD.
The same pattern is repeated several times.
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. (Am 1.3-5)
Damascus is the capital of Syria. Damascus is judged because of their attack on Gilead (2 Ki 10.32-22; 13.22). The LORD promises fire will devour them. Their cities will be broken down and their people sent into exile.
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. (Am 1.6-8)
Gaza is punished because they exiled a whole people, leaving none behind. Likewise the LORD will send fire to devour them and their strongholds. Unlike the people of Damascus they will be wiped out.
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.” (Am 1.9–1.10)
The people of Tyre are punished for similar reasons as those of Gaza. In addition they broke a covenant agreement with King Solomon (1 Ki 5.1,12) and sold slaves to Edom. For these reasons they will be punished.
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.” (Am 1.11–1.12)
Edom (Jacob’s brother) herself will be punished. For he pursued his own brother. We are reminded of Num 20.14-21 when the people of Edom refused Moses access onto their lands. Their relationship went downhill from here.
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. (Am 1.13–1.15)
The Ammonites killed everyone in their path in Gilead.
They were particularly savage.
Not just men, but pregnant women and their unborn children. They did this for their own personal gain. They will be conquered and their leaders taken into exile.
2 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. (Am 2.1–3)
Moab is the last of non Hebrew nations judged. Just as they burned the king to lime, they themselves will be burned by fire. Their leaders will die.
None will escape the judgment of the LORD.
Amos does not finish here. He will finish with a shock ending. His main target Israel will be judged.
Story of Israel
Amos is one of Israel’s last prophets. Israel did not listen or repent of her sins. After many attempts by the LORD’s prophets Israel was punished by the LORD. They were conquered by the Assyrians and assimilated. Like many of the prophets there are glimpses of future hope. But these will come from their neighbour, Judah.
Story of Jesus
The message Amos presented was not one they wanted to hear. His profession as a shepherd may have done little to encourage people to listen either. When Jesus preached himself, people looked down on him and his message because of his profession.
53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. (Mt 13:53–58)
God’s messengers come from all walks of life. Listen to them.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2015. All Rights Reserved.
