Intro:
1. James Leach writes, “American’s may reasonably differ on whether state-crafted prayer, should be authorized in public schools, but it is an insecure, if not manipulative, view of the Christian faith, to imply that an agency of the state can block the presence of God. God is not excludable from any place.
A US Supreme Court cannot keep an omnipresent God out of our schools any more than Congress is needed to put Him back in.
2. No one decides what God does or doesn’t do, or where God goes or doesn’t go. Therefore no one can exclude God’s judgment. Make no mistake God said that judgment will fall on those who persist in sin – whether it be Gentile or Jew.
3. Whosoever Continues to Justify sin will meet God’s Judgment.
Amos 1:1-2:16
I. For starters, the Preface. 1:1-2
A. Time of the Prophecy.
Two years before the earthquake – Ryrie, “Referred to by Zechariah (14:5) and Josephus, who relates it to Uzziah’s sin in acting as a priest (2 Chron. 26:16).”
Richards, “Amos carefully specifies that his ministry was launched “two years before the earthquake?” Why? The prophet’s message of doom was scoffed at – things had never been so good! Then, as Amos words still echoed, a tremendous earthquake struck the land, a divine reminder that all in this world is transitory and vulnerable. Only in God and in His ways can a man find true security.” Heb. 12:25-29
B. Theme of the Prophecy.
The Lord roars – Amos portrayed the Lords judgment as a roaring lion! A lion is silent when he is stalking his prey, but when he catching it, and the kill is certain…he roars!
It speaks of the fierceness and total destruction that God’s judgment can bring.
A missionary in Africa said that “there are 3 beasts that wait for their prey: the lion, the leopard, and the hyena. The hyena does not devour, but attacks only the vital organs and quickly leaves after eating a few meager mouthfuls. The leopard too does not eat its prey, but desires only its blood. The lion, however, completely devours its helpless victim leaving not a single portion.”
II. Furthermore, the Prophecies of judgment. 1:3-2:16
A. Sledges of Torture – Damascus. 1:3-5
1. Reason for the judgment.
Damascus – was the major city of Syria.
For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four – “We would conclude that the significance of the 3 + 4 pattern in Amos is cumulative, stressing the completeness of sin and thereby the necessity for judgment. Transgression after transgression has led to a situation that can be tolerated no longer.” [Finly]
2. Rebellion that was the final straw.
Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron – “The iron threshing sledges were instruments of savage torture. When Damascus attacked Gilead [the territory of Reuben, Gad, and half tribe of Manasseh], they were ruthless. War is always full of atrocities, but God does not consider war on excuse for torture. Threshing was to be done to wheat, not to people.” [CBL] 2 Ki.10:32-33; 13:3-7
3. Ruin that was predicted.
But I will sent a fire – David Levy, “King Hazael act would result in total destruction of Damascus. First Benhadad’s palace was burned to the ground. Second, the city gates of Damascus would be completely destroyed. Third, the inhabitants from the “valley of Aven [most likely Baalbeck, a heathen worship center] unto “Beth Eden [the plush summer palace of the king] would be cut off. Those who survived the destruction would be taken captive to Kir, a place in Mesopotamia. This prophecy was fulfilled when the Assyrian Tighlath-pileser brought destruction on Damascus in 732 BC (2 Ki.16:7-9).”
B. Slave Trafficking – Gaza. 1:6-8
1. Reason for judgment. [completeness of their sin]
2. Rebellion.
They took captive the whole captivity to deliver them to Edom – Philistia whose major capital Gaza, and other major cities: Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron.
Gaza was a center for slave trading because of its location. Gaza would raid surrounding peoples, and then deport the people for financial gain. Some Israelis were sold into the hands of their bitter enemies, the Edomites.
3. Ruin.
Assyrian Tiglath-pileser III attacked Gaza in 743 BC, and later the Babylonians totally destroyed Philistia – her cities, her kings, and people.
C. Severing their Treaty – Tyre. 1:9-10
1. Reason
2. Rebellion.
Delivered up the whole captivity to Edom – they also enslaved some Israelites and sold them into Edom.
Did not remember the covenant of brotherhood – there were several covenants that they made with Israel. One between King Hiram and David (2 Sam.5:11); one made between King Hiram and Solomon (I Ki. 5:2-6; 9:11-14); or one between king Hiram and Ahab
(I Ki. 16:29-31). Tyre, a major city of Phoenicia without any justification or provocation broke their treaty with Israel.
3. Ruin.
I will send fire upon the wall of Tyre which shall devour its palaces – this prophecy was fulfilled when Alexander the Great destroyed Tyre in 332 BC.
D. Sword of Terror – Edom. 1:11-12
1. The Reason – the fullness of their sins.
2. The Rebellion.
He pursued his brother with the sword, and cast off all pity; His anger tore perpetually and – Edom showed Israel no compassion but continually kept things stirred up against Israel.
3. The Ruin.
Fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah – Teman and Bozrah were two major cities, the nation of Edom was subjugated by the Assyrians in the 8th century, by the 5th century were a virtual wasteland, and overtaken later by an Arabian tribe [Nabateans].
E. Sadistic Triumphant – Ammon. 1:13-15
1. The Reason.
2. The Rebellion.
Ripped open the woman with child in Gilead that they might enlarge their territory – they are descendants from Lot through his younger daughter (Gen. 19:38). They ripped open pregnant woman, for the purpose of destroying the future population, so as to secure their possessions.
3. The Ruin – her capital city Rabbah, this prophecy was fulfilled by Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria, when he destroyed Ammon in 734 BC
F. Spoiling Tombs – Moab. 2:1-2
1. Reason
2. Rebellion.
Burned the bones of the kings of Edom to lime – Moab is a descendant of Lot through his older daughter (Gen. 19:37). Many scholars believe, this digging up of the bones of the king of Edom and burning them, took place during the time that the Edom confederation, with king Jehoram [Israel] and king Jehosophat [Judah] came against king Mesah of Moab (2 Ki.3:4-9).
3. Ruin.
Moab’s sin resulted in the burning of her major city Keioth. History confirms that Moabs power did cease in the middle East.
G. Spurning the Torah – Judah 2:4-5
1. Reason – now the message is hitting home!
2. Rebellion.
a. Disobeyed God’s Law.
b. Devoted to Lies – the Hebrew word can also refer to “idolatry.” This is the heart of God’s complaint against Judah.
3. Ruin.
I will send a fire upon Judah and… - this took place in 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple, taking the people into captivity. 2 Ki. 25:1-21
H. Social Transgression – Israel. 2:6-16
1. Reason.
2. Rebellion.
a. Social Injustice. 6
sell the righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals – the judges condemned innocent people for a bribe, even for as little as a pair of sandals.
Pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor and pervert the way of the humble – the poor are so oppressed that it caused them to mourn and the leaders were denying them a fair hearing in the courts.
b. Sexual Impurity. 7c-8
Both the father and son had sex with the same temple prostitute! They lay on garments before their idols in a drunken stupor that should have been returned to the owner.
c. Spiritual Idolatry. 8
d. Sin of Ingratitude. 9-13
(1) God Destroyed their Enemy. 9
Gen.15:16/Deut.1:20
(2) God Delivered them from Egypt. 10
They were in bondage for 400 years until God brought them out; they were preserved for 40 years in a barren wilderness.
(3) God Declared to them His Word. 11a
(4) God gave them Dedicated men to demonstrate His Holiness. 11b
How did they respond? They disobeyed the prophets and tried to get the Nazerite drunk!
3. Ruin. 2:13-16
a. An Illustration of how God felt about them!
Message Bible, “I’m hard-pressed – to the breaking point. I’m like a wagon piled high and overloaded, creaking and groaning.”
b. The Inescapable judgment.
Amos 2:14-16 (MSG)
14 "When I go into action, what will you do? There's no place to run no matter how fast you run. The strength of the strong won't count. Fighters won't make it.
15 Skilled archers won't make it. Fast runners won't make it. Chariot drivers won't make it.
16 Even the bravest of all your warriors Won't make it. He'll run off for dear life, stripped naked." GOD's Decree.
This destruction of the Northern Kingdom came at the hands of Assyria in 722 BC.
Con:
1. Whosoever justifies their sin, will meet God in judgment.
2. If you are saved that judgment is temporary and in time. If you are lost, that judgment will one day turn out to be the eternal wrath of God, in a place called hell.
3. Remember if you end up under the eternal wrath of God it was your choice.
C. S. Lewis, “I willingly believe that the damned are, in one sense, successful, rebels to the end; that the doors of hell are locked on the inside. They enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have demanded. In the long run the answer to all those who object to the judgment of God, the doctrine of hell itself, is itself a question: “What are you asking God to do? To wipe out their past sins and, at all cost, to give them a fresh start, something every difficulty and offering every miraculous help? But He has already done so on Calvary. To forgive them? They will not be forgiven! To leave them alone? Alas, I am afraid that is what He has done.”
How about the believer? Who can we blame if we persist in our rebellion? Let’s be clear things like social injustice, sexual impurity, spiritual idolatry, and ingratitude will only bring Gods chastisement now and loss of rewards later.
Johnny Palmer Jr
www.strugglingthruscriptures.ning.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/strugglingthruscriptures
