In our study of Amos chapter four, we will look at the importance of remembering what God has done in the past. They say that history is the best teacher and, at least with God, we can say that it is true. He does not change and so we can study the past to understand the future. We will also see what happens when a nation ignores the hand of God.
** Note ** In this study, we will be using the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) translation which was translated directly from Hebrew into English. You can get your own hardback or paperback copy on Amazon where we will earn a small commission.
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"Listen, you [lovely] cows of Bashan, who live on Mount Shomron, who oppress the poor and grind down the needy, who say to their husbands, 'Bring something to drink':
Bashan refers to an area that is what is called the Golan Heights today. It is one of the most beautiful parts of Israel. It was known for its fat cows because of the lush green grass that was plentiful for them to eat. It was also known for its oak trees as we see in Isaiah 2. Mount Samaria refers to Mt. Gerizim near Nablus. This was the site of the ancient city of Samaria which was named after Shemer who sold it to Omri the king of Israel (see 1 Kings 16:24). Amos goes on to explain that his words are for the wealthy women of Israel who were well taken care of just like the cows of Bashan. His charge against them is that they neglected the poor while they lived it up. In this, we are reminded that the women of a country are a kind of barometer of the health of any nation. As we see, in Ephesians 5, it is the husband's duty to lead a Christian family and the wife is a reflection of the spiritual health of that family. In the case of Israel, the men (especially the kings) had led the nation into idolatry. The people mistook their economic prosperity (the fat cows) as a sign of God's blessing upon them. The same type of thing is happening in many countries (especially America) today.
Adonai ELOHIM has sworn by his holiness that your time is surely coming. "You will be dragged away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.
Amos tells the leading women of Israel that God's judgment is certain because of his holiness. They will be led away captives as it was common at the time to put hooks in the noses or lower lips of prisoners and lead them away with a rope.
You will leave through breaks in the wall, each woman right behind the next, and be sent off to Harmonah," says ADONAI.
Now, we see that God gives specifics about his judgment. "toward Harmon" probably refers to Mount Hermon and speaks of the fact that they were going to be led off in that direction which was towards Assyria.
"Come to Beit-El, and commit crimes; to Gilgal, and commit more crimes! Bring your sacrifices in the morning and your tithes after three days; burn leavened bread as a thank offering; brag in public about your voluntary offerings; because that's what you love to do, Isra'el!" says Adonai ELOHIM.
Bethel speaks of their place of worship while Gilgal speaks to their place of remembrance (see Joshua 4). They were going through their religious motions which was bad enough but they had the stones of Gilgal to remind them of the truth. It was bad enough to be going through the motions but to forget what God had done on their behalf was even worse.
"I made your teeth clean of food in all your cities, left you nothing to eat in all your villages; still you haven't returned to me," says ADONAI.
God had brought drought and famine to the people to jog their memory about him and the fact that he is Jehovah-Jireh their provider. Even in desperate times, they did not return to the Lord.
"I withheld the rain from you three months before the harvest. I made it rain on one city and not on another - one field had rain, while another with no rain dried up; from two or three cities they would stagger to one city for water to drink, but there wasn't enough; still you haven't returned to me," says ADONAI.
The Lord explains that he gave them extreme examples (one field would receive rain while the next would not) so that it could not be blamed on natural forces. The same type of thing is going to happen just before the tribulation described in Revelation. At that time, one man will be taken to be with the Lord while the one standing beside him is left to deal with the trials that are to come. This, too, is in hopes that those who are left will turn to the Lord and be saved.
"I struck your crops with hot winds and blight, your many gardens and vineyards; the cutter-worms devoured your fig and olive trees; still you haven't returned to me," says ADONAI.
Although it seems like Satan has control of things in this world, the devil still has to get authorization from God to do his work. God points out the fact that he had removed his hand of protection from the people and allowed their crops to be decimated. This is a reminder that the only restraint on evil in this world is the very hand of God. When he allows these things, it is for the purpose of drawing people to him so that they can be saved from an eternal fate that is worse than this.
"I sent a plague on you like that of Egypt, put your young men to death with the sword; let your horses be captured; and filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps; still you haven't returned to me," says ADONAI.
Here, the Israelites are reminded of what happens when the favor of God is removed from a nation. Their armies were not able to even keep what they had won in previous battles. It seems that, more than ever, nations are putting their trust in weapons of war without remembering that they are useless without the favor of God.
"I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew S'dom and 'Amora; you were like a burning stick snatched from the fire; still you haven't returned to me," says ADONAI.
Just as with Lot and his family escaping from Sodom, God preserved a remnant through the judgment. The people knew of this story but even so did not repent. The same type of thing will happen again with the 144,00 witnesses in the tribulation.
"This is why I will deal with you in this way, Isra'el; and because I will deal with you in this way, prepare to meet your God, Isra'el
Israel was given a period of time where they had the opportunity to repent. Since they did not, they were told to prepare for the judgment of God. For those who do not repent and accept Jesus, the phrase "prepare to meet your God" are the most terrifying words that there can be. We all must ask ourselves if we are prepared and the only way to be ready is by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
him who forms mountains and creates wind, who declares to humankind his thoughts, who turns the morning to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth - Adonai ELOHEI-Tzva'ot is his name."
The prophet, Amos, goes on to describe who God is. In Hebrew, the name God Almighty is El Shaddai which describes an all sufficient God. El comes from the root word that means power or strength and Shad means breast in Hebrew. Like a nursing mother provides for her child, El Shaddai speaks of the fact that God is all powerful and able to provide for his people. He created all things and so is the rightful owner of all things. In this case, it also speaks of the fact that God controls the times and can decide when the time for repentance is past and judgment is to begin.
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