ADMONITIONS FROM AMOS:
When the Lord Roars (Amos 1-5a)
When the Lord Roars (Amos 1-5a)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2000
Among the increasing number of educational toys on the market today are several that make use of the latest technology. As with any such gadget, though, they are only as good as their programming.
The tension that followed the division of Solomon's kingdom into north and south eventually dissipated as the rulers of Israel and Judah learned it was better not to be at each other's throats all the time. The peace they established allowed each country to concentrate on its own domestic interests and to establish a measure of economic prosperity. As one commentator notes, however, the prosperity of the Northern Kingdom did not extend to all its citizens.
Nevertheless, moral responsibility waned: The people's proclamation and participation in worship did not match their behavior in the world. The problem became so severe that God sent the prophet Amos from the Southern Kingdom to condemn social injustice in the Northern Kingdom and call people to repentance. In this session and the next, we will look at the two halves of his book:
When Linda and I lived in Madison (WI), we enjoyed visiting the small zoo there. It has a building that houses big cats, including a pair of lions. People can view them inside or in a simulated natural habitat outside. The zookeeper feeds them in their cages and, if you happen to be inside the building at mealtime, you hear them roar in anticipation. It is almost deafening. The sound seems to come from everywhere at once, and there is the immediate reflex of checking to make certain that you are on the opposite side of the bars.
There were no zoos in Canaan, so to hear a lion roar was a fearful warning of potential danger. Amos appeals to this visceral reaction by likening the LORD to a roaring lion. Unlike a lion, though, when "The LORD roars from Zion," the effect is devastating: "pastures...dry up, and [mountain top vegetation] withers.'i Apparently, Israel and its neighbors are in danger. What has happened to elicit such a ferocious response from God? In the verses that follow, we discover that...
I. When the LORD roars, it means the peoples have sinned. (Amos 1:3-2:16)
Amos issues a series of oracles, pronouncements of God's displeasure. Each oracle begins the same way: This is what the LORD says: "For three sins...even for four, I will not turn back my wrath...." The number three in scripture often indicates a sufficient amount of something, so that adding one more signifies an overabundance (Manuel 2010). This is not a precise tally of their transgressions—as if these nations all had four counts and only four counts against them—it is an indication that the number of their sins is more than enough to warrant divine notice. What follows in each case is the description of a particularly grievous sin that has come to God's attention (and the punishment He will inflict because of it).
The oracles begin with divine disapproval of Israel's immediate neighbors, because...
The oracles continue in chapter 2, but the LORD'S attention shifts to the condition of His people, those whom He separated from the nations and to whom He gave His revelation. They, also, have attracted His displeasure and receive the same divine disapproval, although the reason for God's displeasure is that...
Amos then moves on to describe Israel's sin and, because his mission is to the Northern Kingdom, he gives a more detailed account.
Amos gives a more detailed description of Israel's sin than he does the sins of others in the region. He also gives a more detailed description of the judgment God pronounces against Israel. He does not just speak of destruction by fire but closes this Oracle against the Northern Kingdom with a hint of the terror that awaits and that will render the Israelite army helpless.
Like Israel, you also face the possibility of straying from God. You may assume, if you are not well off, that there is little danger of prosperity distracting you from devotion to Him, but adversity can have the same affect. As problems of health or finances or work press upon you, there is the temptation to assume that God has forsaken you and that remaining loyal to Him no longer matters. At such times, it is all the more important to recall His goodness to you in the past and to believe the promise of His care for you in the present. In so doing, you will be better able to maintain your allegiance to Him. The principle here is that you must remember God's grace if you are to remain faithful to His law.
When the LORD roars, it means the peoples have sinned. The gentiles have rejected the conventional norms of moral behavior. More importantly, the chosen have rejected the covenantal norms of moral behavior. The Northern Kingdom of Israel is especially guilty and, in the chapters that follow, they will now hear what is in store for them, because...
II. When the LORD roars, it means the prophet must speak (Amos 3:1-5:17).
As we saw earlier, whether by intimidation or threats, Israel has effectively silenced the northern prophets so that they no longer act as God's spokesmen. Amos, however, is from Judah in the south and has been unaffected by these pressures. He is, in fact, compelled to speak, as he states in...
The assurance of this passage—indeed, a recurring theme in scripture—is that God is always ready to accept those who turn to Him in repentance and faith. If God is willing to forgive these rebellious Israelites when they return to Him, despite their previous disregard for His will, then He will forgive you when you return to Him, no matter what you have done. God puts it succinctly in v. 4: "Seek me and live."ix
When the LORD Roars, it is a warning of danger. The people have sinned, and the prophet must speak. Despite the negative tone of these chapters, though, God offers His people a glimmer of hope. Most of those who hear Amos's message probably do not take advantage of God's offer. They are content to remain where they are and do not see distant Assyria as a real threat. Nevertheless, those who do seek God receive from Him what He promises—life.
Matthew's mother was watching her five-year-old work on his Speak-and-Spell computer. He was concentrating intensely, typing words for the computer to say back to him. When Matthew keyed the word God, to his surprise, the computer said, "Word not found." He tried again and received the same reply. With great disgust, he stared at the computer and told it in no uncertain terms, "God is not going to like this!" (Adapted from Rowell 1996:79)The computer did not have God in its vocabulary. It is worse, however, for a nation not have God in its society, for then there is little restraint on behavior, and people think they can act as they please not matter what the consequence for others. That is a situation God likes even less. It is also what Amos faces as he travels north to relay the divine evaluation When the LORD Roars.
The tension that followed the division of Solomon's kingdom into north and south eventually dissipated as the rulers of Israel and Judah learned it was better not to be at each other's throats all the time. The peace they established allowed each country to concentrate on its own domestic interests and to establish a measure of economic prosperity. As one commentator notes, however, the prosperity of the Northern Kingdom did not extend to all its citizens.
Affluence, exploitation and the profit motive were the most notable features of the society which Amos observed and in which he worked. The rich were affluent enough to have several houses apiece (3:15), to go in for rather ostentatiously expensive furniture (6:4) and not to deny themselves any bodily satisfaction (3:12; 4:1; 6:6). On the other hand the poor were really poor and were shamelessly exploited: they suffered from property rackets (2:6, 7), legal rackets (5:10, 12) and business rackets (8:5) and the defenceless man with no influence came off worst every time. When the poor could not contribute to the rich they were simply ignored and left to be broken (6:6). Moneymaking and personal covetousness ruled all: the men lived for their offices (8:5), the women lived for excitement (4:1), the rulers lived for frivolity (6:1-6) (Motyer 1975:15).This was the Northern Kingdom in the first half of the eighth century B.C. Both Israel under King Jeroboam II and Judah under King Uzziah experienced a period of growth while their common enemy, Assyria, turned elsewhere. Control over the trade routes and economic expansion provided a new wealth that overshadowed the values of a traditionally agricultural society. With affluence came a self-sufficiency that lessened the need to seek the direction of the LORD. This did not mean that religion was declining. On the contrary, people thronged the temples at Dan and Bethel.
Nevertheless, moral responsibility waned: The people's proclamation and participation in worship did not match their behavior in the world. The problem became so severe that God sent the prophet Amos from the Southern Kingdom to condemn social injustice in the Northern Kingdom and call people to repentance. In this session and the next, we will look at the two halves of his book:
- In chapters 1-5a, the LORD roars, and the prophet is compelled to speak.
- In chapters 5b-9, the LORD acts, and the prophet is compelled to silence.
Amos 1:2 He said: "The LORD roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, [b] and the top of Carmel withers."Here the prophet likens God to a lion that has detected a threat in his realm and has issued a stern warning against it.
When Linda and I lived in Madison (WI), we enjoyed visiting the small zoo there. It has a building that houses big cats, including a pair of lions. People can view them inside or in a simulated natural habitat outside. The zookeeper feeds them in their cages and, if you happen to be inside the building at mealtime, you hear them roar in anticipation. It is almost deafening. The sound seems to come from everywhere at once, and there is the immediate reflex of checking to make certain that you are on the opposite side of the bars.
There were no zoos in Canaan, so to hear a lion roar was a fearful warning of potential danger. Amos appeals to this visceral reaction by likening the LORD to a roaring lion. Unlike a lion, though, when "The LORD roars from Zion," the effect is devastating: "pastures...dry up, and [mountain top vegetation] withers.'i Apparently, Israel and its neighbors are in danger. What has happened to elicit such a ferocious response from God? In the verses that follow, we discover that...
I. When the LORD roars, it means the peoples have sinned. (Amos 1:3-2:16)
Amos issues a series of oracles, pronouncements of God's displeasure. Each oracle begins the same way: This is what the LORD says: "For three sins...even for four, I will not turn back my wrath...." The number three in scripture often indicates a sufficient amount of something, so that adding one more signifies an overabundance (Manuel 2010). This is not a precise tally of their transgressions—as if these nations all had four counts and only four counts against them—it is an indication that the number of their sins is more than enough to warrant divine notice. What follows in each case is the description of a particularly grievous sin that has come to God's attention (and the punishment He will inflict because of it).
The oracles begin with divine disapproval of Israel's immediate neighbors, because...
A. The gentiles have rejected the conventional norms of moral behavior.What follows is a summary of the charges.
1. Syria has...
- Destroyed an enemy after defeating him (1:3-5)
This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth, I will send fire...that will consume the fortresses...."
2. Philistia has...
- Engaged in slave commerce (1:6-8)
This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom, I will send fire...that will consume her fortresses...
3. Lebanon has...
- Broken a treaty (1:9-10)
This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Tyre, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood, I will send fire...that will consume her fortresses."
4. Edom has...
- Shown cruelty to relatives (1:11-12)
This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he pursued his brother with a sword, stifling all compassion...I will send fire...that will consume the fortresses...."
5. Ammon has...
- Slaughtered pregnant women (1:13-15)
This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders, I will set fire...that will consume her fortresses...."
6. Moab has...
- Treated the dead with contempt (2:1-3)
None of the sins for which the LORD condemns these nations is a violation of the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments. There may be some overlap with the laws He gave to Israel at Sinai, but there is no evidence that gentiles in the Ancient Near East were familiar with those commands. What we see here, as well as in legal codes of the period from other cultures, are transgressions of natural law, the innate awareness of right and wrong that informs the conscience even of those who do not know God. In each case, the judgment He pronounces includes destruction by fire, which is the common practice of an invading army.This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he burned, as if to lime, the bones of Edom's king, I will send fire...that will consume the fortresses...."
The oracles continue in chapter 2, but the LORD'S attention shifts to the condition of His people, those whom He separated from the nations and to whom He gave His revelation. They, also, have attracted His displeasure and receive the same divine disapproval, although the reason for God's displeasure is that...
B. The chosen have rejected the covenantal norms of moral behavior.Here, again, is a summary of the charges.
1. Judah has...
- Rejected God's law (2:4-5)
Amos describes the transgression of the Southern Kingdom in general terms as rejecting the requirements of the covenant—the law. The prophet does not elaborate, citing no specifics, adding only that, like the gentile nations, the judgment God pronounces against Judah includes destruction by fire.This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decree...I will send fire...that will consume the fortresses...."
Amos then moves on to describe Israel's sin and, because his mission is to the Northern Kingdom, he gives a more detailed account.
2. Israel has...
a. Promoted social injustice (2:6-8)
Like their Judean brothers to the south, the residents of Israel have also rejected the requirements of the covenant.This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines."
The requirements of the covenant prohibit such examples of social injustice, but Israel is not observing these requirements and so is violating the covenant. What could be the reason for this flagrant disregard of the LORD'S commands? ...In the midst of this final oracle (vv. 9-11), God reminds the people of His benevolence to them in the past (experiences common to Israel and Judah). Apparently, Israel has...
- They sold the innocent into slavery and indentured debtors over such a paltry amount as a pair of sandals (v. 6b).ii
- They oppressed the poor and denied justice to the needy in legal proceedings (v. 7a).iii
- They engaged in sexual immorality (v. 7b).[iv]
- They withheld clothing from the destitute given as collateral for a loan (v. 8a).v
- They levied fines not as restitution for damages but to finance drinking binges (v. 8b).vi
b. Forgotten God's goodness (2:9-11)vii
The implication is that they have forsaken His law, because they have forgotten His grace. They no longer consider events of the distant past relevant to their present concerns. To make matters worse (v. 12), Israel has also..."I brought you up out of Egypt, and I led you forty years in the desert to give you the land of the Amorites. I also raised up prophets from among your sons and Nazirites from among your young men. Is this not true, people of Israel?" declares the LORD.
c. Hindered God's servants (2:12)viii
The rebellious have corrupted the Nazirites, whose physical presence (e.g., long hair and special diet) illustrated devotion to God, and they have silenced the prophets, whose verbal utterances provided direction from God.You made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
Amos gives a more detailed description of Israel's sin than he does the sins of others in the region. He also gives a more detailed description of the judgment God pronounces against Israel. He does not just speak of destruction by fire but closes this Oracle against the Northern Kingdom with a hint of the terror that awaits and that will render the Israelite army helpless.
Amos 2:14 The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life. 15 The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life. 16 Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day," declares the LORD.Despite the antiquity of this prophecy, the possibility of straying from God still exists. For the Israelites, prosperity distracted them from devotion to God. Thinking they were self-sufficient, they assumed they no longer needed Him and could live as they pleased. God, however, is not easily put off. Having chosen them as His people and having showered them with His goodness, He expected them to maintain their allegiance to Him and was ready to judge their failure in this matter.
Like Israel, you also face the possibility of straying from God. You may assume, if you are not well off, that there is little danger of prosperity distracting you from devotion to Him, but adversity can have the same affect. As problems of health or finances or work press upon you, there is the temptation to assume that God has forsaken you and that remaining loyal to Him no longer matters. At such times, it is all the more important to recall His goodness to you in the past and to believe the promise of His care for you in the present. In so doing, you will be better able to maintain your allegiance to Him. The principle here is that you must remember God's grace if you are to remain faithful to His law.
When the LORD roars, it means the peoples have sinned. The gentiles have rejected the conventional norms of moral behavior. More importantly, the chosen have rejected the covenantal norms of moral behavior. The Northern Kingdom of Israel is especially guilty and, in the chapters that follow, they will now hear what is in store for them, because...
II. When the LORD roars, it means the prophet must speak (Amos 3:1-5:17).
As we saw earlier, whether by intimidation or threats, Israel has effectively silenced the northern prophets so that they no longer act as God's spokesmen. Amos, however, is from Judah in the south and has been unaffected by these pressures. He is, in fact, compelled to speak, as he states in...
Amos 3:8 The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken—who can but prophesy?The message Amos brings is that Israel's disobedience is not without consequence...
A. There is danger in rebellion.In a series of "Hear this word" speeches, the prophet describes three results of the people's disdain for God's commands.
What Amos describes is the impending threat of Assyria, as the army of that superpower will eventually make its way westward toward Canaan, conquering everything in its path. This is the danger Israel faces for its rebellion against God. Nevertheless...1. Invasion (Amos 3:1-15)
la Hear this word.... 11 An enemy will overrun the land; he will pull down your strongholds and plunder your fortresses.2. Deportation (Amos 4:1-13)
la Hear this word.... 2b The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.3. Decimation (Amos 5:1-13)
la Hear this word.... 3b The city that marches out a thousand strong for Israel will have only a hundred left; the town that marches out a hundred strong will have only ten left.
B. There is time for repentance.Despite the inevitability of Assyria's advance, it is not too late to salvage something from this situation. All is not yet lost. The dangers Amos describes are still future. If the people of Israel forsake their wickedness and return to God, they will not utterly perish, for He may grant them...
- Preservation (Amos 5:14-15)
I received a message from a woman who found in my profile on the web that I am a minister. After a brief exchange, she recounted the tragic tale of her life, of poor decisions she made in her late teens that led to years of immorality, abuse, and shame. She knew God once but had since despaired of renewing that relationship. She assumed that He would never forgive what she had done.14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you.... 15 Hate evil, love good.... Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.
The assurance of this passage—indeed, a recurring theme in scripture—is that God is always ready to accept those who turn to Him in repentance and faith. If God is willing to forgive these rebellious Israelites when they return to Him, despite their previous disregard for His will, then He will forgive you when you return to Him, no matter what you have done. God puts it succinctly in v. 4: "Seek me and live."ix
When the LORD Roars, it is a warning of danger. The people have sinned, and the prophet must speak. Despite the negative tone of these chapters, though, God offers His people a glimmer of hope. Most of those who hear Amos's message probably do not take advantage of God's offer. They are content to remain where they are and do not see distant Assyria as a real threat. Nevertheless, those who do seek God receive from Him what He promises—life.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs