Amos 1

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Amos Chapter 1

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Amos

Date Penned: BC 760-750

Overview: Everyone Answers to God (c 1-9)

Theme: Announcement of Judgement (c 1-2)

Message: God will Punish the Surrounding Nations (v 1-15)

Amos 1 Commentary

(1:1) Amos - Amos was a shepherd and fig grower from the Southern Kingdom (Judah) but he prophesied to the Northern Kingdom (Israel) was politically at the height of its power with a prosperous economy but the nation was spiritually corrupt. Idols were worshiped throughout the land and especially at Bethel, which was supposed to be the nation's religious center. Like Hosea, Amos was sent by God to denounce this social and religious corruption. About 30 to 40 years after Amos prophesied , Assyria destroyed the capital city, Samaris, and conquered the nation (722 BC) Uzziah reigned in Judah from 792 to 750. Jeroboam II reigned in Israel from 793 to 753. Tekoa, Amos's hometown, was located in the rugged sheep country of Judah, about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. Long before Amos was born, a woman of Tekoa helped reconcile David and his rebellious son, Absalom (2 Samuel 14). All day long Amos took care of sheep, not a particularly spiritual job, yet he became a channel of God's message to others. Your job may not cause you to feel spiritual or successful, but it is vital work if you are in a place God wants you to be. The Lord can work through you to do extraordinary things, no matter how ordinary your occupation.

(1:2) The Shepherd - In the Bible, God is often pictured as a shepherd and his people as sheep. As a shepherd, he leads and protects his flock. But here he is depicted as a ferocious lion ready to devour those who are evil of unfaithful (Hosea 11)

(1:3) God's Judgement - Damascus was the capital of Syria. In the past, Syria had been one of Israel's powerful enemies. After the defeat of Syria by Assyria in 802 BC Damascus was no longer a real threat. Amos pronounced God's judgement on nation after nation around Israel's border, even Judah. Perhaps the people of Israel cheered when they heard the rebukes leveled against those nations. But then Amos proclaimed God's judgement on Israel. They could not excuse their own sin because they thought the sins of their neighbors were worse. God is no respecter of persons. He judged all people fairly and equally. The accusation "For 3 transgressions...and for 4" means that these nations have sinned again and again. The phrase echoes through these verses as God evaluates nation after nation. Each had persistently refused to follow God's commands. A sinful practice can become a way of life. Ignoring or denying the problem will not help us. We must begin the process of correction by confessing our sins to God and asking him to forgive us. Otherwise, we have no hope but to continue our pattern of sin.

(1:5) Syrians - The Syrians had been slaves in Kir and were now free. Decreeing that the Syrians should go back to Kir was like saying the Israelites should go back to Egypt as slaves (Exodus 1)

(1:7,8) Isreal's Enemy - Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Dkron were four of five major city-states of Philistia, an enemy who often threatened Israel. Therefore, Amos was saying the entire nation of Philistia would be destroyed for its sins.

(1:9) Tyre - Now Tyre (Tyrus) was one of two major cities in Phoenicia. Several treaties had been made with this city because it supplied the cedar lumber used to build David's palace and God's Temple (2 Samuel 5, 1 Kings 5)

(1:11,12) Issac's Decendents - Edom and Israel both descended from Isaac: Edom from Isaac's son Esau, and Israel from Esau's twin brother, Jacob (Genesis 25 & 27) But these 2 nations, like the 2 brothers, were always at odds with each other. Edom rejoiced at Israel's misfortunes. As a result, God promised to destroy Edom completely from Teman in the north to Bozrah in the south.

(1:13-15) Ammonites - The Ammonites descended from an incestuous relationship between Lot and his younger daughter (Genesis 19) They were hostile to Israel, and although Israel began to worship their idols, they still attacked (Judges 10) After Saul was anointed Israel's King, his first victory in battle was against the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11) Rabbah was Ammon's capital city, Amos's prophecy of Ammon's destruction was fufilled through the Assyrian invasion.

Dave Burnette's Life Application

Judgement

Each day, we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, applying our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue with the book of Amos with Chapter 1. In our text today, we see Amos speaking of the judgment of God as it relates to sin. The truth is that a Holy God must judge sin, which is why Jesus came to make a way for you and me to be saved from our sin debt. In making an application, we see today that many believe God will overlook sin or that my good works will pay for my sins, but nothing could be further from the truth. Sin separates us from a Holy God, and Only Those who have been born again are saved from their sin. How about you? Have you been born again? Let us learn from our text today and the warning from Amos that a Holy God will Judge our Sin.

Amos 1

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Amos 1

¹The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

²And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

³Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:

⁴But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.

⁵I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.

⁶Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:

⁷But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:

⁸And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.

⁹Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:

¹⁰But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.

¹¹Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:

¹²But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.

¹³Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:

¹⁴But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:

¹⁵And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.

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