Amos 3:1-2
Chapter 3 begins a series of 3 prophecies. Each starts with the words “Hear this word”. When Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, put he chapter divisions into place in the 1200s, he divided these prophecies into 3 chapters (3, 4, & 5).
God begins this message again referring to himself as the one who brought Israel out of Egypt. God’s act of redemption established the basis for his covenant with Israel. Remember that God prefaced his giving of the law by saying “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery”. (Exodus 20:2)
God chose the people of Israel to have this relationship with him. He knew them.
Because Israel took this special relationship for granted and violated the covenant by worshipping other gods, he now has the right to enforce the curses of the covenant and punish them for disobedience.
So, the privilege Israel enjoyed as God’s chosen, covenant, people was accompanied by the requirement of accountability. As Jesus said, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more”. (Luke 12:48)
Since God says his word is against the whole family he brought out of Egypt, this prophecy applies to Judah and well as Israel.
Since all of Jacob’s descendants, his family, are in covenant with God, he has a duty to punish them in accordance with the terms of the covenant. If he did not, he would not be faithful to the covenant. And God is always faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:9)
What are the relevant terms of the covenant?
First is the prohibition of idolatry. Israel may have no other gods besides the LORD (Yahweh). A corollary to that is, Israel cannot make images of anything and cannot worship them. (Exodus 20:2-4)
Second is the proscribed progressive punishments for violating the covenant. God details the punishments in Leviticus 26, ending with devastation of the land and being scattered among the nations (exile). (Leviticus 26 27-33; Deuteronomy 4:23-28; Deuteronomy 28:15-68)
The Inescapable Logic of Judgment
3:3-6
Amos uses seven vivid analogies to show that God's warning through the prophet signifies that judgment is coming.
Two people walking together means they agreed to meet. (3) A lion roaring signifies that he caught his prey. (4) A bird caught in a snare means there was a trap set for it. (5) If a trumpet is sounded from the city walls, the people become afraid because it signals an attack.
Also, when disaster comes, it means the Lord has done it. (6) That is a word for us in a time where many Christian people say the Lord had nothing to do with it when a disaster strikes.
The Prophetic Call
3:7-8
God vouches for his prophets here. When he is going to do something for or to his people, he tells it to his prophets. The prophets are his servants in these matters.
God thus warns his people through prophets to provide an opportunity for repentance before judgment. So they should fear these warnings as one would fear the lion roaring before it attacks.
God also affirms that prophets must prophesy when he speaks to them and through them. This will be relevant later in the book when a priest tells Amos not to prophesy.
We have examples of this in the Bible. Jeremiah, upon being called to be a prophet, tried to beg off for being too young. God said do not say that, you will go where I send you and say what I tell you to say. (Jeremiah 1:7) Jonah tried to flee. God caught him in the ocean and sent him back in the right direction.
Balaam tried to curse Israel, but God made him bless them. (Numbers 22)
The Sanhedrin told Peter and John not to speak about Jesus. Peter and John said “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard”. (Acts 4:13-22)
Social Justice and Corruption
3: 9-10
God called Ashdod, the Philistine city, and Egypt, a perennial enemy, to witness the sins of Israel. Samaria was the capital of Israel which was built on a high hill. The nation is condemned for storing up violence and robbery in their palaces. They were so far gone into sin they did not know how to do right. (10)
Decree Of Invasion And Defeat
3:11-12
Because of their sins, God decreed an adversary to defeat and plunder Israel. We know this to be Assyria. There would only be a small remnant left. (12)
That remnant intermarried with gentiles who were resettled into the area by the Assyrians as they conquered other nations. They became known as Samaritans.
Destruction of False Worship
3:14
God said he would destroy the altars at Bethel, the golden calves, representing the corrupt religious system established by Jeroboam I.
Wealth Won’t Save
3:15
The wealthy might have thought they were insulated from trouble. But God dispels that notion, saying their many houses and their expensive houses will not be spared when he strikes.
Takeaways
As God chose Israel, redeemed them, and knew them, God chose believers, redeemed them, and knows them. (Ephesians 1:4) Like Israel, believers (the church) are called to holy living. Holy living reflects the holiness of God. (1 Peter 1:16)
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