Jul 10 2019 - Amos 3 – Israel's judgment

Yesterday we saw that Amos' words of judgment, having swept around the nations that surrounded Israel, came to focus on the southern kingdom of Judah and then the northern kingdom of Israel where Amos was ministering. Chapter three continues with more words of judgment against Israel.

Amos delivers the word of the Lord against "the whole family I brought up out of Egypt" (3:1). They must not think that because they are God's chosen people they will be safe from his judgment. On the contrary, God declares, "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins" (3:2). God chose the Israelites to be a priestly people who would bring the knowledge, forgiveness and blessing of God to all peoples on earth (see Exodus 19:5-6). But they could only act as the mediators of God's blessings if they kept God's covenant and lived in obedience to him. Israel had failed to obey the Lord God who had saved them.

God has revealed his plans for judgment to his prophets (3:7). "The lion has roared – who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken – who can but prophesy?" (3:8). So Amos is proclaiming his message of warning. The judgment of God is about to fall on his people because of the way the wealthy oppress the poor and store up in their fortresses what they have looted (3:9-10). The lion is on the prowl and those who have accumulated treasure for themselves are about to lose it all:

As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric from a couch…
I will tear down the winter house
    along with the summer house;
the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed
    and the mansions will be demolished,’
declares the LORD. (3:12, 15)

The idolatrous altars in Bethel will also be destroyed (3:14).

God has called us also to be a priestly people. The apostle Peter echoes the words of God to Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai when he says, "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). We have been redeemed and chosen by God, not that we might be filled with pride and look down on others, but that we might tell them about the salvation of God. We are to mediate the saving goodness of God to a needy world.

Peter immediately follows these words with an exhortation for those whom God has redeemed to live godly lives: "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us" (1 Peter 2:12). We are to learn from Israel's failure and from God's judgment that we need to live in willing submission to God. Nor is this call to obedience confined to "religious exercises"; we are to ensure that we treat others with compassion and concern, rather than seeking our own advantage at their expense. Our treatment of others is to reflect the kindness, goodness and grace of God that we have received in Jesus Christ. Goodness is to be made visible in our lives.

Father God, we thank you for the wonder of our redemption through the cross and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Help us always to remember that you have saved us that we might live to serve you and to minister your grace to all whose lives we touch. Help us to show the world something of your beautiful character today.

Peter Misselbrook