MOTIVATIONAL ATROCITY-III—Amos 1:9-10(1:3--2:5)
OR--Indefensible National Atrocities/Pride
Attention:
Self-Control, Sir!
A man walks into a bakery, carrying a pie box. He approaches the baker who is at the counter.
The baker says, “Yes, sir, what can I do for you?”
The man replies, “I want my money back! I bought this pie here yesterday.”
Puzzled, the baker looked at him & says, “This is our pie box, But there’s no pie in the box, sir.”
The man says, “I ate it! I ate ALL of it!”
So the baker asked him why he thought he should get his money back if he had eaten the whole thing.
The customer quickly points to the box & says, “See it says right there on the box that the pie is supposed to feed 6 people! I am NOT 6 people!”
•The customer’s attempting to return the pie box, was an ‘atrocious’ act that motivated the baker to not refund the customer’s money.
Similarly, ‘atrocious acts’ on the part of individuals all the way up to, & particularly entire governments, invite God’s wrath in response.
ATROCITY—‘an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury.’
Need:
In a very real sense, any nationally motivated actions, & especially when levied thru a democratically governed people, are a result of the personal choices of the people of that republic. Those choices are spiritually telling & significant!
Rom. 2:4-5—“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, & longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness & your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath & revelation of the righteous judgment of God,”
If a nation that actively supports fleshly ‘atrocities’ to the ‘exclusion’ of God’s desire, then that country places themselves on the same level as any other country that is without Christ. Likewise, iff the true Church ever ceases to recognize God’s morality & godliness, then the church will have ceased to be God’s Church...
Ps. 33:12—“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”
Ps. 144:15—“Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!”
Amos declared God’s wrath to be justified/warranted due to nationally sourced atrocities.
Nationally sourced atrocities move God to retribution.
Why/When/How do nationally sourced atrocities move God to anger & retribution?
Some nationally sourced endorsements that move God to anger/retribution.
ENDORSE—“To approve openly, To recommend, or To declare one's public approval or support of.”—Merriam-Webster; New Oxford American Dictionary
Previously we’ve found that National atrocity motivates God’s retribution when it endorses...
1. CALCULATED BRUTALITY(1:3-5)
2. CALCULATED GREED(1:6-8)
3—National atrocity motivates God’s retribution when that nation endorses...
A CALCULATED BREACH Of BROTHERHOOD(1:9-10)
Explanation:(1:9-10)Blood/Kinship/Contract
1:9—“Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Tyre, & for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.”
1:10—“But I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, Which shall devour its palaces.””
1:9—“Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Tyre, & for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.”
Amos’ declaration next takes us to the judgment against “Tyre”(located in modern Lebanon—you can find ‘Tyre’ on a mapping program) Tyre’s judgment is taken up in vss. :9-10.
As Damascus represented Aram(:3-5), & Gaza represented Philistia(:6-8), so “Tyre” represents Phoenicia(:9-10). Tyre was an influential seaport built upon trade with other nations. Thereby it had become a wealthy capital. Tyre supported, & was supported by, a brisk commercial slave trading business(AKA--human trafficking).
At one point, the northern kingdom’s King Ahab married Jezebel, who was the daughter of the King of Sidon(1Kgs. 16:29, 31). Thus she was of Phonecian extraction.
“Because...”
God never does anything without a ‘perfectly’ valid reason! It is against His nature to do otherwise. The rub is this—that you may be ignorant of God’s will/intention/desire for you, your church, city, county, state, country, & world. And if you do not know God’s will/intention/desire, then you will not be able to actively fulfill that will/intention/desire. Therefore, I encourage you to ‘know God’, whom you can only know personally by means of Jesus Christ.
“Because”—le ‘al—Preposition—1) Upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against—1a) Upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards, 1b) Above, beyond, over(of excess), 1c) Above, over(of elevation or pre-eminence), 1d) Upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with(of addition), 1e) Over(of suspension or extension), 1f) By, adjoining, next, at, over, around(of contiguity or proximity), 1g) Down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion), 1h) To(as a dative). —Conjunction—2) Because that, because, notwithstanding, although. Strong—used as a preposition(in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); Above, over, upon, or against(yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications.?The same as—le ‘al; properly--The top; specifically--The highest(i.e. God); also adverb--Aloft, to Jehovah.
“They delivered up the whole captivity to Edom...”
Tyre(Phoenicia) was in league with Gaza(Philistia) regarding slave trade(1:6). Tyre did just as Gaza had done in delivering the entirely of those captive to another nation which bordered Israel—namely “Edom.”
*Perhaps given the time in history, Phoenicia, like Philistia, may have made off with those Israelites whom the Assyrians(& others) had left in the land in the aftermath of their continual conquering & repopulation efforts.
Evidently there were ‘agreements’ between Phoenicia, Philistia, & the nation of Edom. Edom was the buyer, & Tyre(Phoenicia) one of the sellers in that business venture(cf.-1:11-12). Enslavement involved the wholesale handing over the very lives of people for use as slaves, as they considered them no more than ‘property.’
*YaHWeH is concerned for the welfare of all people, & He has a particular concern for His people Israel.
Amos does not tell us the identity of the people which Tyre “delivered” to Edom. But it is can easily be deduced that it refers to Israel(cf.-1:11).
“Delivered up”—rgo saw-gar’—Hiphil(causative) Infinitive—1) To shut, close—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To shut, 1a2) To close, close up, 1a3) Closed up, closely joined, shut up; 1e) (Hiphil)--1e1) To deliver up, 1e2) To shut up, imprison. Strong—a primitive root; To shut up; figuratively--To surrender.
“Whole”—Mlv shaw-lam’—Adj.—1) Complete, safe, peaceful, perfect, whole, full, at peace—1a) Complete—1a1) Full, perfect, 1a2) Finished, 1b) Safe, unharmed, 1c) Peace(of covenant of peace, mind)—1c1) Perfect, complete(of keeping covenant relation). Strong—Complete(literally or figuratively); especially--Friendly. Used 27X.?From—Mlv shaw-lam'; a primitive root; To be safe(in mind, body or estate); figuratively--To be (causatively--make) completed; by implication--To be friendly; by extension--To reciprocate(in various applications).
“Captivity”(See :6)—twlg gaw-looth’—Noun Fem.—1) Exile, exiles; 2) (TWOT)--Captivity. Strong—feminine from hlg[verb]; Captivity; concretely--Exiles (collectively). Used 15X.
“Edom”(See :6, 11)—Mda 'Ed-om’, OR (fully)--Mwda ‘Edowm—Noun Proper Masc.—Edom = “red”—1) Edom; 2) Edomite, Idumean - descendants of Esau; 3) Land of Edom, Idumea - land south & south east of Palestine. Strong—Red[see Ge 25:25]; Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region(Idumaea) occupied by him.?From—Mda aw-dom’—Adj.—Rosy. Strong—1) Red, ruddy(of man, horse, heifer, garment, water, lentils).
“And did not remember...”
This has as nothing to do with a lapse of memory. It has to do with a chosen ‘forgetfulness’—an outright denial, disavowal, & rejection!
Have you ever ‘chosen’ to ‘forget’ a responsibility?...Of course you have! And your choice did not lessen but rather complicated your responsibility!
“Not”—al lo’, awl low’, hl loh(De 3:11) or wl—Adverb—1) Not, no—1a) Not(with verb - absolute prohibition), 1b) Not(with modifier - negation), 1c) Nothing(substantive), 1d) without(with particle), 1e) Before(of time). Strong—a primitive particle; Not(the simple or absolute negation); by implication--No; often used with other particles.
“Remember”—rkz zaw-kar’—Qal Perfect—1) To remember, recall, call to mind—1a) (Qal)--To remember, recall. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To mark(so as to be recognized), i.e. To remember; by implication--To mention; also(as denominative from rkz[Noun Masc./Adj.])--To be male.
“The covenant of brotherhood.”
Tyre being a representative of Phoenicia, would naturally align itself with political allies. During amicable/friendly times they would have traded with each other. Due to the wealth from it’s shipping industry, the city could buy protection as well as wield a major influence within Phoenicia & beyond. A “covenant” is a ‘good faith’ commitment entered into by at least two parties. A covenant of brotherhood would have involved a greater degree of familial commitment. Also, any political relationships with or concerning God’s people make both parties culpable.
Phoenicia shared it’s southern & southeastern border with Israel. Tyre’s(Phoenicia’s) indifference toward “the covenant of brotherhood” was a result of their having disregarded that “covenant” as valid. That indicates that there is an expectation, on God’s part, of an ongoing, reinforcing, & solidifying relationship with others whom Phonoecia should have considered as ‘brothers.’ Treachery or Covenant breaking is a commendation of no nation or people.
This “covenant” MAY have to do with Tyre’s lack of concern for the blood tie between Israel & Edom thru Jacob & Esau. Why though should such a tie be the concern of a merchandising pagan people? Why should their buying, selling, & profits be made in accordance with maintaining a closeness of family relationships between certain tribes among their customers?...Because—those certain tribes are continual witnesses to YHWH & to all that surrounds His truth, including His flawless character & grace!
This “covenant of brotherhood” MAY ALSO have to do with a lack of concern for the tie Tyre had with Israel during the reigns of David & Solomon(2Sam. 5:11; 2:Kgs. 5:1). Tyre was helped economically by Israel.
2Sam. 5:11—“Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, & cedar trees, & carpenters & masons. And they built David a house.”
1Kgs. 5:1—“Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always loved David.”
1Kgs. 7:13-14—“Now King Solomon sent & brought Huram from Tyre. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, & his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; he was filled with wisdom & understanding & skill in working with all kinds of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon & did all his work.”
1Kgs. 9:11-14—“(Hiram the king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar & cypress & gold, as much as he desired), that King Solomon then gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, but they did not please him. So he said, “What kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother?” And he called them the land of Cabul, as they are to this day. Then Hiram sent the king one hundred & twenty talents of gold.”
“Cabul”[lwbk] here = ‘binding’ in the sense of limitation or sterility. Hiram was not impressed with Solomon’s gift.
“Covenant”—tyrb ber-eeyth’—Noun Fem.—1) Covenant, alliance, pledge—1a) Between men—1a1) Treaty, alliance, league(man to man), 1a2) Constitution, ordinance(monarch to subjects), 1a3) Agreement, pledge(man to man), 1a4) Alliance(of friendship), 1a5) Alliance(of marriage), 1b) between God & man—1b1) Alliance(of friendship), 1b2) Covenant(divine ordinance with signs or pledges); 2) (phrases)—2a) Covenant making, 2b) Covenant keeping, 2c) Covenant violation; Strong—A compact(because made by passing between pieces of flesh).?From—hrb baw-raw'—Verb—To feed, eat, consume(in the sense of cutting [like arb baw-raw'—Verb—to create, shape, form]).?*LXX very consistently replaces—tyrb ber-eeyth’ with—diayhkh—Noun Fem.—1) A disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will; 2) A compact, a covenant, a testament—2a) God's covenant with Noah, etc. Strong—properly, a disposition, i.e. specially--A contract(especially a devisory will). Used 33X.?From—dia—1) Through, With, In, Throughout, During, By, By the means of; The ground or reason by which something is or is not done, By reason of, On account of, Because of for this reason, Therefore, On this account. Strong—Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional).—&—tiyhmi—To place(in the widest application, literally & figuratively.
“Brotherhood/Brotherly”—xa awkh—Noun Masc.—1)Brother—1a) Brother of same parents, 1b) Half-brother(same father),1c) Relative, kinship, same tribe, 1d) Each to the other(reciprocal relationship), 1e) (fig.)Of resemblance. Strong—a primitive word; A brother(used in the widest sense of literal relationship & metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like ba--Father, in a literal & immediate, or figurative & remote application)]).
Business practices of any people group, society, or culture, at their governing level, are to morally consider God’s people. In fact, they are to morally consider all men, given that all mankind as made in the image of God. God is to be considered at the helm of all things & that is not to be taken lightly! It is advantageous for any nation to have the Lord as their God(Ps. 33:12).
Ps. 33:12—“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”
All true Christians are God’s people. They are bound together by the blood of Jesus! Jesus’ ‘blood’ that covered & continues to cover their sin, is essential to their being God’s people. Jesus’ willful ‘blood-work’ on the Cross, is the source from which God’s people are adopted into the family of God...into that brotherhood!
:10—“But I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, Which shall devour its palaces.””
“Send a Fire”(See also—1:4, 12, 14—“kindle”; 2:2, 5):
The “fire” should be understood as a picture of the devastation of God’s impending judgment(cf.-7:4). In the same manner as YHWH promises to “send a fire” upon Damascus(1:4-5) & Gaza(1:7), so YHWH God vows to actively “send” the “fire” upon “the wall of Tyre.”
“Send”(See 1:4, 7, 12, 14; 2:2, :5)—xlv shaw-lakh’—Piel(intensive/intentional/repeated/extended) Perfect—1) To send, send away, let go, stretch out—1c) (Piel), 1c1) To send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out, 1c2) To let go, set free, 1c3) To shoot forth(of branches), 1c4) To let down, 1c5) To shoot. Strong—a primitive root; To send away, for, or out(in a great variety of applications).
“Fire”(See 1:4, 7, 12, 14; 2:2, :5)—va aysh—Noun Fem.—1) Fire—1a) Fire, flames, 1b) Supernatural fire (accompanying theophany), 1c) Fire (for cooking, roasting, parching), 1d) Altar-fire, 1e) God's anger(figuratively). Strong—a primitive word; Fire(literally or figuratively).
“Upon the wall of Tyre...”
The promised “fire” would largely come thru ‘warfare’ which would consume & devour the “wall” of the city. Thus Tyre’s defensive ability would be destroyed.
“Wall”—hmwx kho-maw’—Noun Fem.—1)Wall. Strong—feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; A wall of protection.
“Which shall devour its palaces.””
Resulting from the loss of Tyre’s defensive “wall”, the Tyrian “palaces”—the seat & stronghold of Tyrian government—will succumb to total destruction & removal of Tyrian rule altogether!
God’s hand will not be FOR Tyre as He had been previously, when pagan Tyre had honored the “covenant of brotherhood.” Now Tyre had made itself vulnerable to God’s wrath.
Heb. 10:31—“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
“Devour”(See :4, 7, 12, 14; 2:2, :5)—lka aw-kal'—Qal Perfect—1) To eat, devour, burn up, feed—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To eat(human subject), 1a2) To eat, devour(of beasts & birds), 1a3) To devour, consume(of fire), 1a4) To devour, slay(of sword), 1a5) To devour, consume, destroy(inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought), 1a6) To devour(of oppression). Strong—a primitive root; To eat(literally or figuratively).
“Palaces”(See 1:4, 7, 12, 14; 2:2, :5)—Nwmra armon’—Noun Masc.—1) Citadel, palace, fortress. Strong—from an unused root(meaning--to be elevated); A citadel(from its height).
If you do not have a harmonious or cooperative relationship with the eternal, all-powerful, perfectly moral God, then you are choosing ‘misery’ for yourself in the here & now, as well as ‘hell’ for yourself in the eternal hereafter! Your ‘walls’ MUST come down!
God’s people have a responsibility to faithfully lead their government to understand & apply God’s desire in their culture. This begins with your faithful application of God’s desire in your own life. Then you can make the desired impact upon governing authority...But it must first & foremost begin with the individual Christian.
The Tyrians(Phoenicians) had pressed their own desire past God’s breaking point(1:2). And in so doing had actually invited a Divinely ordered degree of devastation to their land & people.
Likewise, if America removes itself from supporting God’s people(Israel & Christians), it too will become vulnerable to God’s wrath.
Argumentation:
Heb. 10:26-31—“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, & fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, & insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
1Pet. 4:12-18—“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory & of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; & if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly & the sinner appear?”
Mat. 25:31-46—“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, & all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, & He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ‘for I was hungry & you gave Me food; I was thirsty & you gave Me drink; I was a stranger & you took Me in; ‘I was naked & you clothed Me; I was sick & you visited Me; I was in prison & you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry & feed You, or thirsty & give You drink? ‘When did we see You a stranger & take You in, or naked & clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, & come to You?’ “And the King will answer & say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil & his angels: for I was hungry & you gave Me no food; I was thirsty & you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger & you did not take Me in, naked & you did not clothe Me, sick & in prison & you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, & did not minister to You?’ “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””
Mat. 5:20—“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes & Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Compassion must be personal, practical, active, & applied.
Mat. 15:32—“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself & said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days & have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.””
Js. 5:11—“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job & seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate & merciful.”
1Kgs. 8:50-51—“& forgive Your people who have sinned against You, & all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; & grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them (for they are Your people & Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the iron furnace),”
Eph. 4:30-32—“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, & evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
Illustration:
My brother & I are the only siblings, & were born 8 years apart/Dad had served in the Navy during WWII, & was one who took advantage of ‘the GI Bill’(a Federal college funding program for veterans)/My brother was born at the time in Momma & Daddy’s lives when they had no money & pinned their hopes on Dad’s doing well at High Point College/He went to college with the intent of going to Dental School, which he completed/My brother on the one hand, suffered thru the college & Dental School years, whereas I was born after Daddy had graduated & had begun his Dental practice(that he kept for the entirety of his career)/When I was born, Daddy was actually making money for the first time in his life & in the life of his family/When my brother was born, Momma had to work/Whereas, when I was born, Momma didn’t have to work/For me, Momma was always a ‘stay-at-home’ Mom!(that’s why I turned out so well--ha!)/I didn’t figure out or think about the polar opposite financial lifestyles that my brother & I were raised in, until just a few years ago/My brother always worked hard, grinned & bore it honorably!/All of my life there had been a potential for a Calculated Breach of Brotherhood!/But praise be to our Lord, there has never been!
Regard for brotherhood must be enshrined in our land’s law(s)...because we cannot force anyone to love God...Yet we must ensure a knowledge of God’s love/desire.
Application:
?Is your country an endorser of A CALCULATED BREACH Of BROTHERHOOD?
•Are we breakers of contract, or do we regularly deal with those who are ready breakers the covenant?
•Do you endorse such calculated breaches of brotherhood?
?Are you &/or your country endorsers of atrocities that invite God’s involvement against it?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
“I ate it! I ate ALL of it!” And the baker threw the customer out of his bakery & did not return the customer’s money!
Action:
National atrocity motivates God’s retribution when that nation endorses...
3. A CALCULATED BREACH Of BROTHERHOOD(1:9-10)
1. CALCULATED BRUTALITY(1:3-5)
2. CALCULATED GREED(1:6-8)
Pt#3 only! presented 09/08/2019am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
