POWER HOUSE CHURCH TAMBARAM
where people matter
POWER HOUSE CHURCH TAMBARAM
where people matter
Day 1 - Amos speaks against all the nations
Amos wrote or prophesied to the Northern kingdom of Israel, though he was from the Southern kingdom of Judah. His emphasis was more on social justice among the people. He prophesied during the time of Jerobaom II one of the most successful kings of Israel mentioned in 2 Kgs 14. Though the Bible does not tell us much about him, historical records of that time do. So it was a time of prosperity for Israel.
While the people of Judah worshiped Yahweh in Jerusalem, those in Israel worshiped Yahweh at Bethel and Dan. These places will be referred to in the book.
Amos begins his prophecy by speaking against all the nations around Israel and then ends with a condemnation of Israel, which we will look at tomorrow.
Passage
Amos 1:1-2:3
1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboamson of Jehoash[a] was king of Israel.
2 He said:
“The Lord roars from Zion
and thunders from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds dry up,
and the top of Carmel withers.”
Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors
3 This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Damascus,
even for four, I will not relent.
Because she threshed Gilead
with sledges having iron teeth,
4 I will send fire on the house of Hazael
that will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.
5 I will break down the gate of Damascus;
I will destroy the king who is in[b] the Valley of Aven[c]
and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.
The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,”
says the Lord.
6 This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Gaza,
even for four, I will not relent.
Because she took captive whole communities
and sold them to Edom,
7 I will send fire on the walls of Gaza
that will consume her fortresses.
8 I will destroy the king[d] of Ashdod
and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon.
I will turn my hand against Ekron,
till the last of the Philistines are dead,”
says the Sovereign Lord.
9 This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Tyre,
even for four, I will not relent.
Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom,
disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,
10 I will send fire on the walls of Tyre
that will consume her fortresses.”
11 This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Edom,
even for four, I will not relent.
Because he pursued his brother with a sword
and slaughtered the women of the land,
because his anger raged continually
and his fury flamed unchecked,
12 I will send fire on Teman
that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.”
13 This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Ammon,
even for four, I will not relent.
Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
in order to extend his borders,
14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah
that will consume her fortresses
amid war cries on the day of battle,
amid violent winds on a stormy day.
15 Her king[e] will go into exile,
he and his officials together,”
says the Lord.
Chapter 2
1 This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Moab,
even for four, I will not relent.
Because he burned to ashes
the bones of Edom’s king,
2 I will send fire on Moab
that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth.[f]
Moab will go down in great tumult
amid war cries and the blast of the trumpet.
3 I will destroy her ruler
and kill all her officials with him,”
says the Lord.
Questions
1. Where does Yahweh speak from? Jerusalem or Bethel?
2. Note vs 6, 9 and 11 of chapter 1. These three nations are being judged for what? Do we indirectly aid Edom (people who are doing wrong) in various ways, especially by our silence? This attack of Edom is not known as to when it happened, but could refer to 2 Kings 8.
3. vs 4 and 13 indicate another attack on the Transjordan by Ammon and Syria. For these aggressions, they would be judged. Since he ends with the crimes of Judah and Israel, does it mean that if we attack church leaders and members we would be judged, even if they were wrong or bad?
4. How many nations were judged in Amos chapters 1-2. Is there any significance in the number?
5. As we fight for our protection, are all kinds of behaviour acceptable? If I catch a robber in my house can I trash him?