Lesson6-AmosChapters2and3
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THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson6,Chapters2and3
Afterspendingthelast2lessonsinAmosaddressingthemysteriousand
fascinatingmatteroftheNephilim,giants,fallenangels,demonsandthelike,
andthatapparentlytheAmoritesthatAmosspokeofinchapter2verse9were
ledby,orperhapsevenconsistedlargelycomposedofthesehybrid
divine/humancreaturesthatYehovehwanteddestroyed,we’llmoveonto
completechapter2andthenbeginchapter3.
Let’sbeginbyre-readingpartofAmoschapter2.
RE-READAMOSCHAPTER2:10–end
ThroughoutthemanyhundredsofTorahClasslessons,we’veoftendiscussed
theall-importantmatterofouridentity.Thatis,whodowesayweare…with
whomorwhatdoweidentify…asthatessentiallydefinesusasanindividualoras
acorporatebody.Inverse10,GodsaysthatIsraeliswhotheyare…theyarea
separatelyidentifiedpeoplegroup…basedon2mainfactors:Hisdeliveranceof
IsraelfromtheirhelplessoppressionandcaptivityinEgypt,andalsoaccordingto
thehomelandHehadgiventothem;ahomelandthatwasbeingtakenaway
fromtheCanaanitesduetotheirwickednessandgiveninsteadtoIsrael.
Withinthecontextofwhatwe’velearnedoverthepast2lessons,andwithinthe
contextofthepreviousversethatspokeofthedestructionoftheAmorites,then
weseethatinGod’seconomytheAmoritesandtheIsraelitesrepresentthetwo
extremesofaspectrumofmankind.Atoneendarethepeoplewhonevershould
havebeeninexistenceinthefirstplace(theAmoriteswhoareidentifiedwiththe
wickedNephilim),versusthepeoplethatGodseparatedoutfromallother
humansontheplanettobeanationofpriestsmeanttoidentifywithHim.
Further,inonewayoflookingatit,agoaloftheexodusfromEgyptwasthat
God’speopleshouldrepossessalandonHisbehalf;alandthathadbecome
overrunandoccupiedpartlybyillicitandwickedhalf-humancreatures
(representedbytheAmorites),withtheremainderoftheCanaanitesbeing
heavilyinfluencedbytheirpresence.Thisprobablytrulybothersthemindsof
mostmodernChristiansastalkofquasi-humancreaturessmacksoffairytales

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andlegends;butthisissuebetweentheAmoritesandtheIsraelitesbringsusto
anunavoidableconclusionifwetaketheBibleforwhatitsaysandnotattemptto
spinitandallegorizeitintosomethingmorepalatablefortheWesternmind.
ThisactofGodtodestroytheAmoritesandthentogivetheirlandtothe
IsraeliteswasoneofgreatmercyandblessingtowardstheHebrews.Yetanother
actofYehoveh’smercyandblessingsismentionedinverse11.ItisthatGod
didn’tjustdeliveranddepositIsraelintotheirPromisedLandandthenleave
themtotheirownfateanddestiny.Rather,Godsetupacontinuouschainofcare
forthem,andcommunicationwiththem,bymeansofHisappointedProphets
andNazarites.MoseswasIsrael’sfirstProphet(sincebecominganidentifiable
nationofpeople),andAmoswasonlyitslatest.Thereweremanyprophets(such
asSamuel,Elijah,andJonah)inbetween.Weshouldtakenotethatwhatisonly
lightlyimpliedelsewhereintheHolyScriptures(thatGodgavetheNazaritesto
IsraeloutofHisfavorandmercy)isheremadeconcrete.Bymeansoftheirstrict
dedicationtoGod,andtotheritualsandlifestylesHeordainedforthem,the
NazaritesweremeanttoexemplifythosewhodoGod’swillonearth,despite
theirimperfections.AlthoughthemanyNazaritesoverthecenturieseach
seemedtoabidelargelywithintheboundariessetdownbyashortslateofrules,
theydidn’tallbehavethesame.Samsonforinstancefocusedontheinstruction
forNazaritesnottohavehishaircut.Samuelfocusedonnotdrinkingwine.One
hastowonderwhyinthischapterofAmosProphetsandNazaritesare
highlightedasopposedtoProphetsandPriestsasaconnectedpair,since
Nazaritesseemtobebutsmallroleplayersthatemergefromtimetotimein
Israel’shistory(andlittleelse),whilePriestshavebeencentraltoIsrael’sfaith
practicessinceMt.Sinai.Icanonlyspeculatethatperhapsthecurrentstateof
thePriesthood(inbothJerusalemandinSamaria)wassodiminishedbyAmos’s
time,andthatProphetsandPriestswereatthattimeregularlyopposedtoone
another,thatthementionofanow-corruptedpriesthoodwasavoided.
Thereissomethingelseaboutverses10and11tobeconsidered,andspiced
withabitofintrospection.EssentiallywhatwearereadingaboutisIsrael’s
redemption(theirsalvation)history.Andyet,becauseIsraelstrayedsofaraway
fromthatredemptionhistorythatrevolvedaroundGod’sgrace,itishasnow
devolvedintotheirjudgmenthistoryrevolvingaroundGod’swrath.Thisisa
cautionforallwhoclaimtoworshipMessiahYeshuaandYehovehGodofIsrael.

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Thereisamore-than-impliedChurchdoctrineinseverallargeChristian
denominationsofonce-saved-always-saved.Thatis,becauseofourredemption
historybasedonGod’sgrace,regardlessofourbadbehaviororhowseriouslywe
mayabandonourfaith,trustin,andobediencetoGod,thathistoryissafely
tuckedawaylikeaninsurancepolicy,andwedon’teverhavetobeconcerned
withanadversejudgmentagainstusontheDayofJudgment.Tothat,my
responseisthis:no,Jesusdidnotchangethepatternwe’rereadingaboutin
Amos.No,Yeshuadidn’tabolishHsFather’scriteriaforblessingandforcurse.
JustasIsraelandJudahwereonthecuspofhavingtheirsalvationhistory
reversedandturnedintoapunitivejudgmentagainstthemforblatantrebellion
anddisobedience,soareallBelieversinallerassubjecttothesame.That
includesyou,Iandeveryoneelsewhohas,oreverwill,bebornonthisplanet.
Verse12condemnsthepeopleofIsraelforintentionallycorruptingtheNazarites.
WhetherornotsomeIsraelitesvirtuallyforcedtheNazaritestobreaktheir
Nazaritevowsbymakingthemdrinkwineisunknown.Attheleastthose
Nazariteswhostucktotheirvowsweremarginalizedandshunnedbythe
community,puttingthemintountenablesituations.Noonewantstobeignored
byourowncommunity,and(humansbeingwhatweare)sometimeswereactor
behaveinwaysthatweotherwisewouldnotinordertonotbeostracizedoreven
harmed.AsforProphetsbeingprohibitedfromprophesying(fromdelivering
God’smessage),wedofindsuchoccasionsintheBible.In1Kings13wereadof
JeroboamarrestingaProphetforprophesying.In1Kings18,duringthetimeof
QueenJezebelwereadofacouplehundredofGod’sprophetshavingtogointo
hidingtokeepfrombeingarrestedorkilled.InIsaiah30weread:
CJB
Isaiah30:9-11
9
Forthisisarebelliouspeople;theyarelyingchildren,
childrenwhorefusetoheartheTorahofADONAI.
10
Theysaytotheseers,"Do
notsee!"tothosewhohavevisions,"Donottellusthevisionsyouhaveasthey
reallyare;butflatterus,fabricateillusions!
11
Getoutoftheway!Leavethepath!
RidusoftheHolyOneofIsra'el!"
Today,eveninsupposed“enlightenedandfree”WesternnationssuchasCanada,
Pastorsarerestrictedbygovernmentlawwhattheycanpreachfromthepulpit,
especiallyasconcernsGod’sbiblicalmoralitycodeonsexuality.Thosewhodefy
thoselawscan,anddo,getarrestedandjailed.SometimestheirChurchesare

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literallyconfiscatedandshutdown.ThebiblicalpatternofGod’sprophetsbeing
shut-downandsilencedcontinuesandonlygetsmorerestrictiveyearafteryear.
So,inverse13GodannouncesthatHe’sthroughwithwaitingpatientlyforIsrael
toreformtheirrebelliousbehavior,andnowwillexactaseverepunishmentupon
themforallthetransgressions(andmore)thatHehaslisted.
Theagriculturalmetaphorofthishappeningisofanoverloadedcartgetting
boggeddown,unabletomove.Theoverloadedcartismeanttorepresentthe
incredibleabundancethatEphraim/Israelhasbeenenjoyingforsometimeasa
resultofGod’sblessing.Ironically,itisasaresultofthisamazingabundance
thatIsraelhasbecomearrogantandthusripeforjudgment.Thistranslatesto
theideathatIsraelwillhavenoabilitytorunawaytosafetyoncethemilitary
invasionagainstthembegins.Instead,theywillbefrozeninfearatthemoment
ofattack.
Thefinal3versesofchapter2offervariousexamplesofthehelplessnessofthe
entireIsraelitepopulation,evenincludingtheirarmy,beforetheoverwhelming
forcesoftheirinvader.So,theseversesdealwithwhatIsraelhasdesignedto
protectthemagainstsuchanevent…theirarmy…butGodsaysitwillquickly
witherunderthecomingassault.Recallthattheinvasionbeingenvisionedis
futuretowhenAmosisprophesying.Now,ifyearsinadvanceyouheardthat
yourcitywouldbeinvadedbyanenemyandthatpoliceprotectioncouldnotstop
it…thatthelossandoccupationofyourcitywasinevitablenomatterwhat…what
wouldyoudo?Commonsensesaysthatyouwouldpreparebyleavingwellin
advanceofthisuncertain…butentirelyunstoppable…event.Butyou’donlydoit
ifyouactuallybelievedit.Ifyouweren’tsure,orwereskeptical,youlikelywould
stayandwaittoseewhathappens…assumingyoucouldescapeatsomepoint
closertowhentheprophesiedeventactuallyoccurs…therebymaintainingthe
comfortsandfamiliarityofyourlifeasitis.Thus,thenotionis(aswiththe
ProphetHosea),thatGodisissuingawarningthroughHisProphetstoprepare,
thusgivingyousufficienttimetoprepare.Thepreparationclearly(inthiscase)
amountstoleavingthelandatatimewhichcanbedoneinanorderlyand
plannedway.Becauseoncethefirstsignsoftheinvadingarmyappear,itwillbe
toolate.

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OnceagainI’maskingyoutopayattentiontothesignsofthetimes.God,
throughHisProphets,haswarnedusthatastheEndgetsveryclose,scarcities
anddepravitiesanddangersofeverykindwillemerge.Inourcurrentsituationin
theearlypartofthe21
st
century,whentheseexactthingsarehappening
worldwide,preparingbyrunningawayprobablyisn’tthebestcourseofaction
becausetherelikelyisnoplacetorunto.Rather,preparingourpantriesandour
livesforamoreself-sustaininglifestylethattakesintoaccountthesuddenness
ofemergenciesmakesmoresense.Forthemoment,thereisstilltimeforusto
goaboutitinanorderlyfashion;buttheovernightonslaughtoftheCovid
pandemic,andourgovernmentandsocietalreactiontoit,showedushowonce
acrisisemerges,itistoolatetoprepare.Myadviceistoactnow,butdon’t
overreact.Preparepracticallyandnothysterically;thisiswhatGoddidforIsrael
andisdoingforuswhotrustinHim.Practicalpreparationissensibleand
sustainableandgodly;hystericalpreparation…ornopreparationatall…isnot.
Verses14–16saythatthefastestrunnersinIsrael’sarmywon’tbeableto
outruntheenemy’sonslaught.Thestrongestamongtheirmanywarriorswillbe
outmatched.Theirarcherswillnotbeabletostandandshoottheirarrows
becausetheenemyisadvancingsorapidly,andeventhosesoldiersonwar
chariotswon’tbeabletofleeaheadoftheinvaders.Thebravestfewamong
Israel’slargearmywillsimplythrowdowntheirweapons,andrunandhidein
ordertotrytosavethemselves.Bottomline:Israelhasnohopeofsurviving
whatitabouttohappentotheminthenearterm.Godhasordainedtheir
destructionanddeportationsonoarmycanpreventwhatissoontocome,
becauseitisHiswillthatithappens.Let’smoveontoAmoschapter3.
READAMOSCHAPTER3all
Althoughtheopeningwordofverse1istranslatedintheCJBas“listen”,itisnot
astrongenoughEnglishtermforwhatismeant.Thebetterwordis“hear”.In
Hebrewthewordisshema.Hearingwithoutnecessarilydoingdescribesthe
modernsenseoftheword“listen”,butitisfarfromthemeaningofshemathat
alwaysincludesanaction:doinginresponsetowhatyouhaveheard.This
frequentwordformulatoopenathoughtintheBibleexpressed,then,theideato
paycarefulattentionbecausesomethingofutmostimportanceisabouttobe
saidanditneedstobeheeded.ContinuingwiththeunderstandingthatGodhas

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alreadymadeitclearthatHewillnotberecantingorpostponingthese
judgments,whatisitthatIsraelisto“do”afterthey’ve“heard”?Theymustdo
theonlythingsthatcanbedoneatthispoint:first,repentandchangeone’s
worshipandlifestylepracticeseventhoughthiswillnotavertthejudgmental
punishment.Second,preparefortheinevitableconsequencesnowthatyou
knowtheyarecoming.So,theunspokenthoughtis:prepare(thereissimplyno
gettingawayfromthisstrongunderlyingthemeinAmos).Wealsofindthateven
thoughmostBiblessayitwasthe“Lord”thatIsraelistoheed,theHebrew
actuallyusesGod’sformalname,Yehoveh.InAmos’sera(andmosterasright
throughtheNewTestament)“lord”isbuttheEnglishtranslationfortherather
genericCanaanitetermba’al.So,justasforpagansiftoldthelordcommands
somethingofthemthequestionwouldbe“whichba’al”(whichlord),thenfor
multiple-god-worshippingIsraelthequestionwouldnaturallyhavebeen“which
lord”(ifthegenericHebrewwordforlordhadbeenused…butitwasn’t).Thus,in
thisversewefindtheHebrewwordYehoveh…notlord…thatmakesitclearwhich
“lord”iscommandingthem.
OnceagainthematterofIsrael’shistoricalidentityisfrontandcenter.Israelis
thepeoplewhoGodbroughtupfromEgypt.Whatfollows,however,isnotjust
meantforEphraim/Israel(the10tribesofthenorthernkingdom)butalsoforall
Israel(JudahandEphraim/Israelcombined)becausethewordsaredirectedto
“theentirefamily”(meaningJacob’sfamily…allthetribes)whichGodbroughtup
outofEgypt.Thisleadsustoverse2,whichaffirmsIsrael’suniqueposition
beforeYehoveh.HemakesitclearthatHehadachoiceoffamiliesonearth,but
choseJacob’sfamilytoblessasHiselect.TheyaretheONLYnationsochosen,
anditisbecauseofthisprivilegethattheymustbearthisseverejudgment.The
clearpatternofreasoninggoessomethinglikethis:1)Israel,throughanactual
covenantwithGod,isuniquelyboundtoGodandtoallthetermsofthat
covenant.2)Becauseeverylegitimatecovenantconsistsoftermsofthe
agreement,thensinceGodinherentlywillnevergobackonHisword,itisupto
Israeltobeartheresponsibilitytodotheirpartandobeythetermsofthe
agreement.3)SincethecovenantwasbetweenIsraelandYehoveh,thenitwill
beYehoveh…andnootherpartyornoothergod…thatwillpunishIsraelthe
covenantbreakerforalltheirsins(sinisdefinedthroughouttheBible…Oldand
NewTestaments…asbreakingalawcontainedintheCovenantofMoses).

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Whatfollowsisaseriesof7rhetoricalquestionsputbeforeIsrael.Thatis,as
rhetoricalitmeansthattheanswertoeachquestionis,inthiscase,apresumed
“no”.TheideaistogetacrossamostbasicmessageoffacttoGod’speople:
nothingisanaccident.Thereisacausebehindeverythingthathappens,evenif
wecannotquitediscernwhattheeffectofitmightbe.Thefirstrhetorical
questionis:dotwopeopletravelingtogethersharefoodiftheyhadnevermet
before?Thepresumedansweris“no”.Second,doesalionroarwhenhe’snot
hunting,butratherisasleeporathisleisure?Again,“no”.Thethirdasksifa
youngliongrowlsinhislairifhehascaughtnothingtoeat?“No”.Thelionand
nextthe“young”lionisacommonliterarypairingintheHebrewlanguage,and
sootherthanforadifferenceinthestageofdevelopmentofthetwolions,the
differencebetweenthemdoesn’tmatter.Itjustmakesthemetaphormore
impactfulandcomplete.
The4
th
rhetoricalquestionasksifabirdwouldbecomecaughtinasnareifthere
wasnobaitinthetraptodraw-intheunsuspectingcreature.Theanswer
continuestobe“no”.The5
th
questionasksifatypicaltrapusedtocatchawild
animalhasbeensprung,doesitmeanthatNOTHINGiscaughtinit?Onceagain,
“no”.Thesixthquestionisifaram’shornisheardinthetownwillnotthe
townspeoplebestartled?Theram’shornwasusedlikeanalarm.So,ifonehears
aram’shorninatown,thenitmeansabattlewithanenemyis
underway…somethingthatissuretocauseachilltorundownone’sspine.The
seventhquestioniswheretherealpointofimpactoftheprevious6happens;it
asksifatownsuffersdisaster,isn’titobviousthatGodhascausedit?While
manyinIsraelmighthaveanswered“yes”tothisquestionifitwasaquestion
aboutpagantownsingeneral,sincethecontextisaboutwhatisgoingtohappen
toanIsraelitetown,thensuchapremisethatGodwouldbebehindthe
destructionwasnotsomethingtheycouldeasilyaccept.Afterall,it’sonething
fordGodtocausedisasteronagentiletown;butit’squiteanotherforHimto
causedisastertobefallatownofHisownpeople.TheIsraelites’knee-jerk
responsetosuchaquestionwouldnormallyhavebeen“no”,becausetheirGod
wassupposedtoprotecttheirtowns,nottocallanenemytoattackthemand
thenstandasidesothatthetowncanbeobliterated.Thepointbeingmadehere
(thatwasdesignedtosendanunwelcomechilldowneveryIsraelite’sspine)was
thatwhattheyassumedhadalwaysbeenso,wasn’t.YehovehWILLbring
disasteruponHisownpeopleasapunishment.

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Thereisanunderlyingandoftenimpliedunderstandingwithinmuchofthe
ChristianworldthatGodwouldneverpunishthosewhotrustinHisSon,no
matterhowmuchtheydeservedit.Here,itismadeclearthroughAmosthat
undertherightcircumstances…extremecircumstances…andwithsufficient
rebellionanddisobedience,Yehovehmostcertainlyreservestherightto
severelypunishHisown,andtheproofofitisthatHehasdoneitbeforeinthe
past.Therefore,oneoughtnottobesmugorcomplacentaboutourredemption,
norshouldonetakehisorhersalvationasanautomatic,guaranteedrightof
protectionagainstGod’sdestructivedisciplinefororfaithlessness.
Asummationofwhatverses3–6explaintothepeopleofIsraelismadeinverse
7anditgoeslikethis:“DoyoureallythinkthatjustbecauseyouareMypeople
thatyouareimmunefromMypunishmentforwrongdoingagainstMe?”And,
further:“sinceGodalwayswarnsHispeopleinadvancethroughHisProphets,
shouldyounotlistenwhenI(Amos)speaktoyouGod’soracleofjudgmentand
thecauseforit?”.AmosisessentiallyvalidatinghisowncredentialsasGod’s
selectedharbingerofthecatastrophethatisguaranteedtobefallIsrael…soon.
So,verse8emphasizesthatthewarningAmosisgivingisadonedeal;itisfact
writteninstoneandnotmerelyapossibility.Thefearoflionswasenormous(as
itoughttohavebeen).Noexplanationtoanyonealiveinthaterawasnecessary.
Afewversesearliertwo“lion”questionswereaskedbasedonwell-known
standardlionbehavior:aliondoesnotroarwhenhehasyettoacquirehisprey.
Buthedoesgrowlinhislaironcehehascapturedthatpreyandisinprocessof
devouringit.ThussaysAmos,God(asthemetaphoricallion)hasgrowled!From
thestandpointofHeaven,thepreyhasalreadybeencapturedandisabouttobe
devoured.ThatpreyisIsrael.Yikes.Andfurther,anytrueProphetofGodcannot
possiblyignorethevoiceofGodanymorethanhecanignoretheroarofa
lion…andAmoswasnotabouttosufferinordertolearnthislessonashis
predecessorJonahhadto!
Here'sthething(andIespeciallywouldlikeforallwhoidentifythemselvesasa
modernprophetforGodtoconsider):atrueprophetactsunderdivine
compulsionandnotself-will.AtrueProphetdoesn’tseektobeaProphet,but
ratherisoftencalledbyGodtobeaProphetagainsthis/herwill.AProphetof

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YehovehisneverwrongiftheyareactuallyprophesyingwhatGodtoldthemto
prophesy.Iftheyareeverwrongtheyarefalseprophetsworthyonlyofdeathfor
theirwickednessindeceitfullypurportingtoothersthattheyspeakforGodwhen
infacttheyarebutspeakingtheirownuninspiredthoughts.Amos’s
prophecies…andallthebiblicalprophets’prophecies…havecometrueandsome
areinprocessofcomingtrueandinmanycasesarebutarepeatofwhatalready
happenedinthepast.
Verse9beginsaneworaclefromGod.Inanutshell,thisbeginsasectionthat
extendswellintothefirstseveralversesofchapter4.Itisadiatribeagainstthe
wealthyandeliteofthenorthernkingdomofEphraim/Israel,anditbeginswith
GodscoffingatthefutilityofthefortificationsthatIsraelhasbuilt.
ItisforareasonthatAshdodandthefortifiedcitiesofEgyptwerechosentobe
witnessestothedestructionofthecapitalcityofEphraim/Israel,whichis
Samaria.Theserepresentnationswho,althoughtheydon’tknowYehovehas
theirgod,arenotaware(butshouldbe)thatHislawsandcommandsapplyto
themjustastheydotoallthetribesofIsrael(thisiswhatwasplainlyrevealed
intheversespriortowherewearenowwhenthejudgmentof6pagannations
isannounced).DonotletitgounnoticedthatinGod’slaws2witnessesareto
bebroughtforthtogiveeyewitnessaccountsconcerningacriminalallegation.
Thus,AshdodandEgyptarethose2witnessestobeartestimonyagainstthe
crimesoftheaccusednorthernkingdomofIsrael.Thetone,andcontext,is
(ironicallyenough)thatAshdodandEgyptare“expert”witnesses.Whyarethey
expert?BecauseforcenturiestheyhavebeendoingwhatIsraelisnowaccused
ofdoing.
Thesenationsproducedterrortotheirowncitizensandruledmuchterritory
outsidetheirownnationinbrutality.AlthoughitwouldbeAssyriathatGoduses
toinvadeIsrael,theyareofthesameilkasAshdodandEgypt.Forthoseofyou
whoareamongthemorenuancedBiblestudents,I’llmentionthatonlyinthe
oldestHebrewtextsdowefindtheword“Ashdod”.TheGreekinsteadsaysEgypt
andAssyria,asdoestheMasoreticHebrewtextfromthe10
th
century.Without
doubtthisisbecauseitturnedouttobeAssyria(notAshdod)thatattackedIsrael.
Butontheotherhand,neitherdidEgyptgetinvolvedintheassault.So,whoever
theBibleeditorwasinthedistantpastwhomadetheseassumptionsshouldnot

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have.AshdodandEgyptarerepresentativeofIsrael’sancientandnearly
continualfoes,andthisappliedtoAmos’sdayaswell.
These2witnessesaresummonedtothehillssurroundingSamariainordertoget
apanoramicviewofwhatisgoingtohappentothatfortresscity(tobeclear,
theyarenotinvitedtocomeasinvaders).Naturallythisinvitationisnotmeant
forthecommoncitizensofeachplace,butrathertothegovernmentleaders,the
wealthyandtheelite,becausetheyarejustliketheleadersandwealthyeliteof
Israel.ThetumultspokenofwithinthecityofSamariaisconnectedtothe
oppressionofthepeoplebytheleadersandthearistocrats.Thatis,thepoor
(thatmadeupthebulkofancientsocieties)werebeingusedascheaplaborso
thattheelitecouldincreasetheirfortunes.
Verse10sayssomethingthatisaanothercommontheminAmosasitisfound
inHosea.ItisthatIsraelisnolongercapableofdoingwhatisright.So,instead,
theysowviolenceandrobberyintheirpalaces.Whycantheynolongerdoright?
Becausetheyhavenolongerhaveamoralcompass.Theyabandonedtheir
divinemoralcompass…theLawofMoses…infavorofthedoctrinesoftheir
leaderswho,likefalseprophets,proclaimtospeakforGodbutdon’t.Hosea
addressedthishead-on:
CJB
Hosea4:6
6
Mypeoplearedestroyedforwantofknowledge.Becauseyou
rejectedknowledge,Iwillalsorejectyouascohenforme.Becauseyouforgot
theTorahofyourGod,Iwillalsoforgetyourchildren.
“BecauseyouforgottheTorahofyourGod….”Thereitis.Whenaworshipperof
GodabandonsHismoralcode(theLawofMoses),heabandonsknowledge.And
whenweabandonHeavenlyknowledge,weofcoursesubstituteitwithmanmade
“knowledge”.Therefore,whenwedon’tknowGod’sTorahwehavelostthe
capabilitytodowhatisright,eventhoughwethinkotherwise.NeitherAshdod
norEgyptknewGod’sTorahsotheresultwasviolence,robbery,socialinjustice,
andmoraldegradation.IsraelhadbecomenodifferentthanAshdodandEgypt.
Theleadersofthesetwonationshadbecomesoaccustomedtooppressingthe
poorinordertolinetheirpocketsthatitseemed“right”tothem.Theybelieved
theywereentitledtotakeadvantageofthehelpless.Amos,God’sappointed
enforcerofHisTorah,wascallingtheleadersofEphraim/Israelonthecarpetfor

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daringtoadoptpaganstandardsofleadershipandcallingitgodly.Itbears
repeatingthattheCanaanite(andvirtuallyallother)paganreligionsoftheera
placednodemandsontheworshipperstobeethicalormoral.Thegodsofthese
religionsallowedallindulgencesintopersonalpleasureandgain;alltheycared
aboutwasforthemselvestobecaredfor.Therefore,theincredibleifnotobscene
wealthoftheeliteandpowerfulofAshdod,EgyptandnowIsraelare,of
themselves,proofoftheirgodlessnessanddepravity.And,bytheway,biblically
speakingwhilewealthisofitselfnotproofofgodlessness,suchwealthwhen
hoardedandnotusedforthegoodofothers(goodasdefinedbyYehoveh)is.So,
wearenottotakethisasadiatribeagainstallwealthorallwealthyinallcases,
butratherasaProverbthatoperatesasageneralruleofthumb.
TheconsequencesofIsrael’srebuffoftheirmoralcompass…disobedienceto
God’slaws…isstatedinverse11.Anenemyissoongoingtoinvade
Ephraim/Israel,andstripitofalltheaccumulatedwealththatisstoredupinthe
palacesoftherich.Inotherwords,alltheworkandoppressionofthepeopleto
enrichtheeliteswillsoonbefornaught;itwillbeconfiscatedbyanenemynation.
ItisimportanttoregularlyremindusallthatwhatGodisinflictingasacurseis
preciselywhattheCovenantofMosessayswillhappentoIsraelforthetypeof
wrongdoingthatishappening.MostofDeuteronomy28dealswiththisbutI’ll
drawoutjustafewversestohighlightit:
CJB
Deuteronomy28:49-53
49
Yes,ADONAIwillbringagainstyouanationfrom
farawaythatwillswoopdownonyoufromtheendoftheearthlikeavulture,a
nationwhoselanguageyoudon'tunderstand,
50
anationgriminappearance,
whosepeopleneitherrespecttheoldnorpitytheyoung.
51
Theywilldevourthe
offspringofyourlivestockandtheproduceofyoursoil,untilyouhavebeen
destroyed.Theywillleaveyouwithoutgrain,wine,oliveoil,oryouryoungcattle
andsheep-untiltheyhavecausedyoutoperish.
52
Theywillbesiegeallyour
townsuntilyourhigh,fortifiedwalls,inwhichyoutrusted,collapseeverywhere
inyourland,whichADONAIyourGodgaveyou.
53
Then,becauseoftheseverity
ofthesiegeanddistressthatyourenemiesareinflictingonyou,youwilleatthe
offspringofyourownbody,thefleshofyourownsonsanddaughters,whom
ADONAIyourGodhasgivenyou.

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IsthisnotpreciselywhatwereadingabouthereinAmos?Itis;anditisprecisely
whatdidhappentoEphraim/IsraelandalittlemorethanacenturylatertoJudah.
AndBelievers…especiallyBelieversinAmericaandinotherWesternoriented
nations…thiswillhappentousaswell.When,exactly,IcannotknowsoIcannot
tellyou.Butmyinstinctisthatitisnear,andforthesamereasons.I’llpontificate
forjustamomentsopleaseindulgeme.IthasalwaysfallentoGod’s
people…includingthosegentileswhohaveacceptedChrist…tobetheadvocates
ofGod’smoralityandethics.Andthisespeciallyappliestoourleadershipwho
speakinbemaandpulpit.Sadly,eversincethe4
th
centuryA.D.,whenthe
RomanChurchthatistheforefatherofmodernChristianitysystematically
replacedGod’sTorahwithChurchdoctrinesformulatedbychurchcouncils,we
have(likeIsrael)movedfartherandfartherawayfromdivinetruthandnow
operatesomuchonhumanrulesandtraditions.Evenso,thecoreofGod’smoral
codewassufficientlyingrainedinourfaithsuchthatgoodmenofGodwould
preachthetruthtotheircongregationssoastogreatlyaffectthemoralcondition
ofoursocieties(generallyforthegood).But,liketheinfamousfableofthefrog
inthekettle,apointofinflectionhasbeenreachedinthelasthalf-centuryorso,
theresultsofwhichcanonlybeonething:anearlycompleteabandonmentof
God’smoralitycodeinfavorofafluidandever-changingmorality(orIpreferto
thinkofitasnewamorality)thatreflectstheconditionanddesiresofour
societies.Thus,moralityanditsabsolutenature,sinanditsabsolutenature,are
lessspokenofinourChurchesandSynagogues,andratherareleftuptothe
whimsofindividualswhofollowandpreferthetrendsofourmodernworld.We
arethenewEphraim/Israel.AndjustlikewithEphraim/Israelitisnotthatevery
lastindividualoreverycorporategroupofthefaithfularethesame.However,it
hasbecome(inmyobservation)thatthepreponderancehasabandonedGod’s
moralcode,andsothatishowGodseesusasanoverallbody.ItishowGod
judgedIsraelasacorporatebodyandweneedtopayattention,repent,and
resumeourpurposeasGod’selecttoproclaimtooneandall,andtolive-outin
sightofall,themoralcodeHehasgiventousasembodiedbytheTorah.
TheGod-as-a-lionmetaphorcontinuesinverses12and13.Italsocontinues
withthesubjectofanenemyplunderingtherichesofthewealthyof
Ephraim/Israel.RememberingthatAmoswasasheepbreeder,hehadnodoubt
lostafewsheeptolionsandviewedtheremains.Theideaisthatonlythe
scantestremnantofthedeadanimalremainswhenalionisthroughwithit(as

Lesson6-AmosChapters2and3
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representedbythelegbonesandapieceofanear).Godsayssoitshallbefor
thepeople(especiallythewealthy)ofIsrael.Onlyaremnantshallremain,and
eventhenprobablynotfullyintact.
ItspeaksofthepeopleofIsraelhuddledundertheirbeds.Thatis,theseare
thosewhodidNOTprepare,becausetheydidNOTbelievethewordsofGod’s
Prophetsthatweresentwiththedivinewarning.Orperhapstheythought
themselvesaboveitandimmune.Understandthatwhileinmoderntimesbeds
arelocatedinbedroomsandusedfornighttimewhensleeping,thatwasnotthe
caseinancienttimes.Bedsreferredtothesoftcushionswherethemore
well-to-docouldassumearecliningpositionastheyatemealsaroundatableand
astheysocializedandpartied.Thiswouldnothavebeentheexperienceofthe
commonpeoplewhomostlysleptonmatslaidonthedirtfloorsoftheirmeager
homes.
We’llpauseherefortoday,andconcludechapter3andgetwellintochapter4
nexttime.