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The Book of Amos
Chapter 3

God's extraordinary love was repaid by Israel with ingratitude. This was sin, and necessity calls for judgment! Amos and the other prophets announce this coming judgment, not at random or their own words, but by God's commissioning them to serve Him, and by which the prophets must fulfill. The oppression, which is so widespread in Israel, will bring down ruin on all but a small remnant. (Isaiah 1:9; 4:3; 6:13; 10:20; 11:11; 11:16; 17:6; 37:4; 37:32; 45:20; 46:3; 65:8; Jer. 3:14; 5:18; 6:9; 23:3; 30:11; 31:7; 40:11; 40:15; 41:16; 42:2; 42:15; 42:19; 43:5; 44:12; 44:14; 46:28; 50:20; Eze. 6:8; 11:13; 12:16; 14:22; Joel 2:32; Amos 3:12; 5:3; 5:15; 9:8; Micah 2:12; 4:7; 5:3; 5:8; 7:18; Zep. 2:7; 2:9; 3:13; Zec. 8:6; 8:12; 13:8)

Amos 3:1 Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, (KJV)

God is ignoring the fact that the nation is split in two. He says that He is speaking to the WHOLE family of Israel which He brought out of Egypt. In His eyes there were NOT two nations, just one. The twelve tribes of Israel are one family before Him, even today.

Amos 3:2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. (KJV)

God chose Israel to be His people through whom all other nations of the world could know Him. He made this promise to Abraham, father of the Israelites (Gen.12:1-3). Israel did NOT do anything to be chosen; God had given them this special privilege because He wanted to, NOT because they deserved special treatment (Deut. 9:4-6). But, their pride in their privileged position, ruined Israel’s awareness to the will of God and to the condition of others.

Because Israel had a very unique relationship to God, He would judge Israel severely. An enlightened nation always has a greater responsibility than a nation which is in darkness. This also refers to America and all other nations that have God’s Word. God intends to judge in a much harsher manner those who have received light than those who are in darkness. The Lord Jesus also mentioned the fact that some would receive fewer stripes and others would receive more stripes (Luke 12:47-48). The person who hears the Word of God has a greater responsibility than the man who doesn’t. There shall be different degrees of punishment.

http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_judgment_according_to_works.1.htm

People today like to hear of the love of God. The cross is where God revealed His love, and when that love is rejected, there is nothing left but punishment. Many feel that God will not punish; but, they are wrong. He is holy, righteous, just and that He intends to punish. Judgment upon sin is sure!

There will be a questions asked and answered, which reveal what a sensible prophet Amos really was. He deals with certain basic truths. He was from the wilderness, and he draws from his experience there. He takes his lessons from the world of nature. He learned things that folk still need to learn today.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (KJV)

Question #1: There MUST be agreement IF you want to walk together with God. You can walk with Him ONLY when you are in agreement with Him! This does NOT mean that God will agree with you, just the opposite! We have to go to His side and agree with Him. IF we walk with God, we MUST go His way. Amos has stated a great principle in his first question: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

Amos 3:4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? (KJV)

Question #2: NO! A lion moves quietly and silently. He is silent until he pounces on his prey. When he has captured his prey, then he roars.

Question #3: Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? NO! The little lion does NOT make a sound because mamma told him to keep quiet while she was away getting something for him to eat. But when she comes back with his supper, then he lets out a cry . . . but not until then.

Amos 3:5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? (KJV)

Question #4: A “gin” is a trap. A bird is not going to get caught in a snare unless a trap is laid for him.

Question #5: The bird-catcher does not remove his snare till he has caught some prey; so God will not withdraw the Assyrians, until they have had the success.

With a series of questions, Amos shows how two events can be linked together. Once one event takes place, the second will surely follow. Amos was showing that God’s revelation to him was the sure sign that judgment would follow.

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? (KJV)

Question #6: When the trumpet sounds, shouldn't the people be alarmed? God has said that He is going to judge the people, and judgment is coming. It is stupid to fail to respond. Amos’ message should have had an effect on their lives, but they are not listening to the prophet . . . any more than our nation is listening to the Word of God today.

http://www.worldlychaos.org/w_c_judgment_coming.1.htm . . . http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_prophecies_fulfilled_in_our_time.htm . . . WHY don't people pay attention???

Question #7: When disaster comes to a city, isn't it because the Lord planned it?
The word “evil” here does not mean something which is sinful or wrong. It means calamity or judgment. This means, that there is NO such thing as an accident in the life of a TRUE child of God. God is not moving this Universe in a foolish, idle manner. So when calamity strikes, there is a lesson to be learned from it.

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (KJV)

Amos is saying that God will NOT move in judgment until He gives His message to the prophets. God will always let them know what He intends to do. Even in His anger, God is merciful! He always warned His people through the prophets before punishing them. Warnings about sin and judgment apply to people TODAY just as they did to Israel. Because we have been warned about our sin, we have NO excuse when punishment comes. God had warned His people through His prophets, so they could not complain when God punished them for refusing to repent. Please do not take lightly the warnings in God’s Word about judgment. His warnings are a way of showing mercy to you. We have the Bible today! BELIEVE it! God CANNOT lie! (Tit.1:2).

Amos 3:8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy? (KJV)

God will ALWAYS give a warning of impending judgment, and that is what Amos is doing. But people just do NOT want to hear about judgment. If a person preaches and teaches the Truth, they will say you are a pessimist, a dooms day spouter. Listen to me, people! A day of DOOM is on its way in America!

God also makes it clear that the prophet is duty-bound to give His message . . . regardless of what it is. In fact, he should be in terror if he fails to relay God’s message to the people. I truly feel sorry today for the liberal who is refusing to declare God’s message. He should be in fear. “The lion hath roared, who will not fear?” God has spoken.

The problem today is NOT that people do not have a Word from God; the problem is that they will NOT hear that Word from God. His warnings are clearly given in His Word. I honestly feel that the Bible is more up to date than tomorrow morning’s headlines, because tomorrow morning’s paper will be out of date by noon when the afternoon edition comes off the press; but the Word of God will be just as good the next day and the next, on through eternity!

http://www.lastdaysprophecy.org/L_D_prophecies_fulfilled_in_our_time.htm

It has always been God’s method to reveal information to those who are His own concerning future judgment. In Noah’s day, God told him of a coming flood judgment and gave Noah 120 years to warn his generation (Gen.6:3). Did the world listen? NO! They laughed and scoffed and ridiculed Noah.

And, God let Abraham know ahead of time regarding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.18:20-22). There are many examples throughout the Bible.

He forewarned Joseph in Egypt of the seven years of famine that were to come upon the earth (41:25-32).

Also, Elijah was forewarned of the drought that would come upon Israel. He walked into the courts of Ahab and Jezebel to announce to them that they were in for a drought. (1 Kings 17:1). Then he walked out of the court and dropped out of sight for over three years.

Since it is God’s method to warn of impending judgment, our Lord told His apostles, when He was gathered with them on the Mount of Olives, that Jerusalem would be destroyed . . not one stone would be left upon another (Mat.24:102).

Amos 3:9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof. (KJV)

Ashdod is in the country of the Philistines. Ashdod was a prominent city of the Philistines and stands here in this particular verse as representing all of Philistia.

And in the palaces in the land of Egypt. God was instructing His prophets to spread this word upon the palaces of Ashdod and Egypt. Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, and the palace of Ahab and Jezebel was there. Samaria was built on one mountain, but there were other mountains surrounding the city. From these surrounding mountains, people could see what was going on in the city. Sin was rampant. “The great tumults” were riots caused by the oppression of the poor.

Amos 3:10 For they know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. (KJV)

Israel no longer knew how to do what was right. . . . Sound familiar? The good ole USA! The more they sinned, the harder it was to remember what God wanted. It is the same today! The longer we wait to deal with sin, the tighter it take holds of us. To receive God's blessings, we must NOT forget what it means to do right.

Samaria was storing up in their palaces that which they had been stealing. Like today, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer!

Amos 3:11 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled. (KJV)

The enemy mentioned here was Assyria, who conquered Israel and did just as Amos predicted. The people were scattered to foreign lands, and foreigners were placed in the land to keep the peace.

Israel’s leaders had robbed their defenseless countrymen, and now they would be rendered defenseless by the Assyrians. Amos added that even if the Israelites tried to repent, it would be too late. The destruction would be so complete that nothing of value would be left. Oh! my friend, do not let your sin go on and on until it is too late for you!

Amos 3:12 Thus saith the Lord; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch. (KJV)

After God’s judgment has fallen on Samaria, the remaining remnant is compared to two legs and a piece of an ear which was all that was left of a lamb after a lion has devoured it. God’s judgment was extremely severe because Samaria had light from God which made their responsibility great.

Amos 3:13-14 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord God, the God of hosts, [14] That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. (KJV)

“The altars of Beth-el” refer to the worship of the golden calf (2 Ki.10:29).

“The horns of the altar shall be cut off” . . . God is saying that He intends to totally remove the gross idolatry from His land. Do you worship any idols? If so, get rid of them!

Amos 3:15 And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the Lord. (KJV)

Ahab and Jezebel built a palace of ivory (1 Ki.22:39). It was a palace of luxury. God said He would destroy it and bring it to an end. He did! The sight where it stood is desolate. God is ALWAYS true to His Word.

Amos brought God’s message to Israel, even though they hated him for it! It is the same in today's world! I bring God's Truth to people, and I am hated and persecuted for it. So be it! Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (KJV)

Amos

Ch.1 . Ch.2 . Ch.3 . Ch.4 . Ch.5 . Ch.6 . Ch.7 . Ch.8 . Ch.9

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