Year 2, Week 2, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 2, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Amos 2-4.

Today’s reading continues Amos’ prophecy. Amos 2 completes the prophets words, started in Amos 1, concerning the judgment approaching the nations surrounding Israel and Judah; and with just a brief reference to Judah, launches into a focus on Israel: “Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment” (Amos 2:6a). The focus of the majority of the rest of Amos’ prophecy will be directed at the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Amos 3 explains that the special relationship that Israel had with the LORD is the basis for the particular judgment that they would soon face: “Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:1-2). While all nations are accountable to God and will give an account to God, the LORD had brought Israel into a covenant relationship, which specified how Israel was to live as well as how the LORD would deal with them. Amos is working out of this special covenant relationship as he addresses Israel. Amos 4 explains what awaits Israel, since they had been sufficiently warned, but ignored the LORD’s warnings: “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!” (Amos 4:12-13).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is how the covenant that the LORD made with Israel served as the basis of their judgment: “Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite. And I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?” declares the LORD” (Amos 2:10-11). Amos, like so many of the other prophets, pointed Israel back to their deliverance from Egyptian captivity: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself…and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’” (Exodus 19:4-6a). However, an important aspect of Israel’s covenant relationship with the LORD was not only the lofty privileges that had, but also the responsibilities they were given: “You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:32-33). And built into the terms of the covenant were consequences: “And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish” (Deuteronomy 8:19). Such are the terms of a loving God: “My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:11-12).

Throughout the Book of Amos, the LORD is depicted as a roaring lion: “The LORD roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers” (Amos 1:2). The imagery of a roaring lion reflects the notion that what the LORD is about to do has been prefaced in advance by the loud and clear roar of an approaching lion: “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:7-8). When the lion devours them, it will not be because he had snuck up on them. It would not be a surprise, but they would be devoured: “Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, “that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground. I will strike the winter house along with the summer house, and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end,” declares the LORD” (Amos 3:13-15).

The LORD had announced Himself but they ignored Him: “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD” (Amos 4:6); and: “I also withheld the rain from you…I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city…yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD” (Amos 4:7-8); and: “I struck you with blight and mildew; your many gardens and your vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured; yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD” (Amos 4:9); and: “I sent among you a pestilence…yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD” (Amos 4:10); and: “I overthrew some of you…yet you did not return to me,” declares the LORD” (Amos 4:11). The LORD had done all He promised He would do to restore His people to Himself (see Deuteronomy 28-29); but they refused to hear the roar.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe