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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

INTRODUCTION: • Amos was the prophet assigned to the Northern Kingdom of Israel • He came from a small town, south of Jerusalem, called Tekoa • He was a shepherd by trade and a grower of sycamore figs • What is interesting about Amos is he didn’t come from a family of prophets or priests and he didn’t consider Himself to be a prophet • Yet God called Him to be the prophet to Israel right before Hosea and Isaiah in Judah • The King who ruled Israel was Jeroboam II and he reigned during the same time as Amaziah and King Uzziah in Judah • What is significant about Jeroboam II is his reign was the most prosperous that Israel had known since the Kingdom was divided • But in the midst of all this prosperity, Israel was guilty of oppressing and exploiting the poor in order to support their extravagant lifestyle • Israel was also guilty of idolatry in that they worshipped the golden calf • The setting for the Book of Amos is 2 years before the earthquake • We know from history that a 7.8 to 8.2 magnitude earthquake occurred in 760 B.C. towards the end of the reign of Jeroboam II The message of Amos is simple • God speaking through Amos, holds God’s people accountable for their ill-treatment of others • They were selling needy people as property, taking advantage of the helpless, oppressing the poor and the men were taking advantage of the women immorally • They were more concerned about their own economic success and strengthening their financial position than caring for one another • Amos saw their lifestyle as evidence that Israel had forgotten God • So God sends a simple fruit picker and sheep herder to bring a message confronting their self-righteous, arrogant, materialistic and idolatrous lifestyle • For us, Amos is a reminder that people matter to God Amos 1:1–2 (NKJV) 1 The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders 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. Amos © 2015 Holland Davis

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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

2

And he said: “The LORD roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers.” • • • •

Interesting to note that Amos reminds Israel of the One True God The Lord roars from Zion… not Bethel or Dan He utters His voice from Jerusalem not Samaria Amos reminds Israel that their entire system of worship is wrong

Chapter 1:3 – 2:3 are 8 War Oracles against the Nations • 6 oracles are against the Gentile nations • 2 oracles are against Judah and Israel The first Oracle is against Syria Amos 1:3–5 (NKJV) 3 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. 4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, Which shall devour the palaces of Ben-Hadad. 5 I will also break the gate bar of Damascus, And cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven, And the one who holds the scepter from Beth Eden. The people of Syria shall go captive to Kir,” Says the LORD. • The Syrians were known for their brutality and the event that Amos is prophesying about is something that every Israeli would remember • God is holding Syria accountable for what they did in Gilead • In 2 Kings 8:28-29 we read the Syrians under Hazael wounded Joram the King of Israel • In 2 Kings 13:1-7 that God gave Israel to the Syrians because Israel turned to idolatry, but the Syrians mistreated Israel Amos 1:6–8 (NKJV) 6 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom. 7 But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, Which shall devour its palaces. 8 I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn My hand against Ekron, And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,” Says the Lord GOD. Amos © 2015 Holland Davis

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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

• The Philistines were guilty of capturing whole communities of people for the purpose of turning a profit • They literally kidnapped peaceful people to turn them into slaves • God holds them accountable for doing this Amos 1:9–10 (NKJV) 9 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Tyre, and 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. 10 But I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, Which shall devour its palaces.” • The Phoenicians were guilty of trafficking slaves. • Unlike the Philistines, they did not capture the slaves… just sold them • God will hold them accountable for this Amos 1:11–12 (NKJV) 11 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because he pursued his brother with the sword, And cast off all pity; His anger tore perpetually, And he kept his wrath forever. 12 But I will send a fire upon Teman, Which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.” • The Edomites were descendents of Esau, but they were guilty of showing no compassion to the descendents of Jacob • They were also guilty of uncontrollable rage against Jacob because of their unforgiving and bitter heart • God holds them accountable for this Amos 1:13–15 (NKJV) 13 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead, That they might enlarge their territory. 14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, And it shall devour its palaces, Amid shouting in the day of battle, And a tempest in the day of the whirlwind. 15 Their king shall go into captivity, He and his princes together,” Says the LORD.

Amos © 2015 Holland Davis

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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

• The Ammonites were guilty of killing innocent and defenseless pregnant women when they attacked Gilead • God holds them accountable for this heartless act of cold-blooded murder Amos 2:1–3 (NKJV) 2 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. 2 But I will send a fire upon Moab, And it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; Moab shall die with tumult, With shouting and trumpet sound. 3 And I will cut off the judge from its midst, And slay all its princes with him,” Says the LORD. • The Moabites were guilty of disrespecting the bones of the King of Edom by grinding them down and using the dust to plaster the walls of their home • God holds them accountable for desecrating the tomb of a King of Israel Amos 2:4–5 (NKJV) 4 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have despised the law of the LORD, And have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, Lies which their fathers followed. 5 But I will send a fire upon Judah, And it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.” • Judah was guilty of refusing to follow God’s Word • God holds them accountable for this Amos 2:6–8 (NKJV) 6 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair of sandals. 7 They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, And pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, To defile My holy name. 8 They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge, And drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god. Israel is guilty of a long list of things • Vs. 6 - They were guilty of selling fellow Israelites into slavery Amos © 2015 Holland Davis

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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

• Vs. 6 – They were guilty of extortion by not celebrating the year of Jubilee and returning the land back to it’s rightful owners • Vs. 7 – They were guilty of oppressing the poor • Vs. 7 – They were guilty of sexual abuse and perverse acts • Vs. 8 – Israel used the law of Moses to justify their treatment of the poor o Funny how we can use the Bible to justify our actions In fact God said they were worse than the Amorites Amos 2:9–14 (NKJV) 9 “Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Whose height was like the height of the cedars, And he was as strong as the oaks; Yet I destroyed his fruit above And his roots beneath. 10 Also it was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt, And led you forty years through the wilderness, To possess the land of the Amorite. 11 I raised up some of your sons as prophets, And some of your young men as Nazirites. Is it not so, O you children of Israel?” Says the LORD. 12 “But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, And commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’ 13 “Behold, I am weighed down by you, As a cart full of sheaves is weighed down. 14 Therefore flight shall perish from the swift, The strong shall not strengthen his power, Nor shall the mighty deliver himself; • • • • •

God says to Israel, I took care of you when you were oppressed I delivered you from Egyptian bondage I raised up some of your sons to be prophets But you’ve mistreated your own people So God is holding them accountable by allowing their armies to be defeated in vs. 14… all God has to do is remove his protection

Amos 3:1–8 (NKJV) 3 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying: 2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” 3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? 4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing? 5 Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all? 6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it? 7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals Amos © 2015 Holland Davis

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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

His secret to His servants the prophets. 8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy? • Vs. 2 God tells Israel that being chosen does not guarantee a blessing • We are not guaranteed any place of special privilege for being Christians, but we are the most blessed people on earth because of God’s love • Israel was complaining and demanding that God bless them because of their special chosen status • But the consequences Israel is facing is due to their actions and just because they are chosen doesn’t exclude them from facing the consequences for what they have done • Vs. 3-8 God gives a list of scenarios where God gives the consequences first and then describes the cause behind the consequences • If you hear a lion roar then it means they are eating their prey • If a bird is caught in a trap then someone set the trap • If God reveals His secrets to His prophets then something is up • The idea that God is communicating is realize that there’s a reason for his communication • There’s a reason why you’re experiencing trouble… clue in Amos 3:9–10 (NKJV) 9 “Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: ‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; See great tumults in her midst, And the oppressed within her. 10 For they do not know to do right,’ Says the LORD, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’ ” • • • •

Amos calls on two witnesses to testify against Israel, Egypt and Ashdod Amos unfolds two stages of judgment that will come against Israel Vs. 11 - The first stage is an attack by a foreign power Vs. 12 – The Nation of Israel will be deported

Amos 3:14–15 (NKJV) 14 “That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground. 15 I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house; The houses of ivory shall perish, And the great houses shall have an end,” Says the LORD. Amos © 2015 Holland Davis

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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

• God destroys the two main sources for Israel’s security • The altars at Bethel and their fortified palaces • God does not want us to depend on anything but Him Amos 4:1–3 (NKJV) 4 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, Who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, “Bring wine, let us drink!” 2 The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: “Behold, the days shall come upon you When He will take you away with fishhooks, And your posterity with fishhooks. 3 You will go out through broken walls, Each one straight ahead of her, And you will be cast into Harmon,” Says the LORD. • Amos specifically addresses the wealthy women of Samaria • He refers to them as cows of Bashan – pampered, self-indulgent and bossy ladies that maintain their lifestyle by exploiting the poor • The consequence is their city walls will be destroyed and they will be taken into captivity Amos 4:6–11 (NKJV) 6 “Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities. And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD. 7 “I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered. 8 So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, But they were not satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD. 9 “I blasted you with blight and mildew. When your gardens increased, Your vineyards, Your fig trees, And your olive trees, The locust devoured them; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD. 10 “I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt; Your young men I killed with a sword, Along with your captive horses; I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD. 11 “I overthrew some of you, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the LORD.

Amos © 2015 Holland Davis

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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

• As we grow in our understanding of God’s ways, we begin to realize that God has always been working in our history • Consequences we created by our own actions were used by God to awaken us to the fact that greater trouble lies ahead • Now consider this… how loving would it be if we rebelled against God and God wacked us on the spot? • That would not be compassionate or slow to anger • God creates consequences to give us time to return to the Lord • As we continue to rebel against God, the consequences increase in frequency and severity until we force ourselves into a place of judgment God doesn’t want to judge, but God will judge • Vs. 6 - We see a series of consequences… cleanness of teeth isn’t speaking of dental hygiene… it’s a metaphor for famine • Vs. 7 - Rain is withheld… drought. o California is in the worst droughts of it’s history o 2013 was the driest year in over 100 years o Interesting: It corresponds with Jerry Brown’s inauguration in 2011 o In 2011 California proclaimed June as LGBT Pride Month o In 2014 same sex marriage was legalized o Coincidence or consequence? • Vs. 9 - God makes reference to plague and the sword from Lev 26:25 • Unfortunately, Israel did not return to the Lord • So the Lord finally says that they will fall like Sodom and Gomorrah • Important to note the consequences are because of the unloving way Israel has treated the poor and the helpless • God is saying to Israel… I have loved you with an everlasting love, but you have taken my love and mistreated your own • As people who have received God’s forgiveness, His love, His tender mercy, His kindness… we in turn are to extend His love to the least Amos 4:12–13 (NKJV) 12 “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” 13 For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth—The LORD God of hosts is His name. • God cares for the rights of those who are poor and defenseless Amos © 2015 Holland Davis

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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

• As we look at poverty in the United States, families that are going hungry in our own backyard… • God blesses us to be a blessing to those who can’t bless themselves • That’s the nature of the gospel • One of the prayers that I constantly pray… God bless Calvary Chapel San Clemente so we can be a community that loves the ones that nobody loves… Amos 5:1–3 (NKJV) 5 Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel: 2 The virgin of Israel has fallen; She will rise no more. She lies forsaken on her land; There is no one to raise her up. 3 For thus says the Lord GOD: “The city that goes out by a thousand Shall have a hundred left, And that which goes out by a hundred Shall have ten left to the house of Israel.” • In the same way that Jeremiah lamented over the Southern Kingdom, Amos is lamenting over the Northern Kingdom • Israel has fallen and she will rise no more • Once Israel was taken captive by Assyrians, the identity of the Northern Kingdom of Israel is lost… the golden calf is never worshipped again Amos 5:4–7 (NKJV) 4 For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live; 5 But do not seek Bethel, Nor enter Gilgal, Nor pass over to Beersheba; For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing. 6 Seek the LORD and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it, With no one to quench it in Bethel—7 You who turn justice to wormwood, And lay righteousness to rest in the earth!” • In every generation, God always has a remnant • Here the Spirit of God is calling out to those who love God, who call upon God, even though they are part of a nation that is suffering the consequences for their actions • I believe that America will suffer the consequences for the recent decisions made by the Supreme Court regarding the redefinition of marriage • Even though we are God’s people in a nation that is about to suffer the consequences, God says seek the Lord and live Amos © 2015 Holland Davis

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VANTAGE POINT: AMOS

 

God says… Amos 5:14–15 (NKJV) 14 Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the LORD God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken. 15 Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. • God promises to be gracious to the remnant… those who seek good and not evil, who live in the presence of the Lord, who love what is good Amos 5:16–27 (NKJV) 16 Therefore the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, says this: “There shall be wailing in all streets, And they shall say in all the highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’ They shall call the farmer to mourning, And skillful lamenters to wailing. 17 In all vineyards there shall be wailing, For I will pass through you,” Says the LORD. 18 Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, and not light. 19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him! 20 Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? 21 “I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. 22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. 24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. 25 “Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 26 You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves. 27 Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” Says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts. • • • • • •

Here Amos jumps to the Day of the Lord A time of judgment that will come upon the earth There will be wailing in the streets It doesn’t matter what you do, how religious you are When the Day of the Lord comes, it will be too late The day of visitation has come and Israel will be taken into Captivity Amos © 2015 Holland Davis