Amós 3

1 Ouvi esta palavra que o Senhor fala contra vós, filhos de Israel, contra toda a família que fiz subir da terra do Egito, dizendo:

2 De todas as famílias da terra só a vós vos tenho conhecido; portanto eu vos punirei por todas as vossas iniqüidades.

3 Acaso andarão dois juntos, se não estiverem de acordo?

4 Bramirá o leão no bosque, sem que tenha presa? Fará ouvir a sua voz o leão novo no seu covil, se nada tiver apanhado?

5 Cairá a ave no laço em terra, se não houver armadilha para ela? levantar-se-á da terra o laço, sem que tenha apanhado alguma coisa?

6 Tocar-se-á a trombeta na cidade, e o povo não estremecerá? Sucederá qualquer mal � cidade, sem que o Senhor o tenha feito?

7 Certamente o Senhor Deus não fará coisa alguma, sem ter revelado o seu segredo aos seus servos, os profetas.

8 Bramiu o leão, quem não temerá? Falou o Senhor Deus, quem não profetizará?

9 Proclamai nos palácios de Asdode, e nos palácios da terra do Egito, e dizei: Ajuntai-vos sobre os montes de Samária, e vede que grandes alvoroços nela há, e que opressões no meio dela.

10 Pois não sabem fazer o que é reto, diz o Senhor, aqueles que entesouram nos seus palácios a violência e a destruição.

11 Portanto, o Senhor Deus diz assim: um inimigo cercará a tua terra; derrubará a tua fortaleza, e os teus palácios serão saqueados.

12 Assim diz o Senhor: Como o pastor livra da boca do leão as duas pernas, ou um pedacinho da orelha, assim serão livrados os filhos de Israel que habitam em Samária, junto com um canto do leito e um pedaço da cama.

13 Ouvi, e protestai contra a casa de Jacó, diz o Senhor Deus, o Deus dos exércitos:

14 Pois no dia em que eu punir as transgressões de Israel, também castigarei os altares de Betel; e as pontas do altar serão cortadas, e cairão por terra.

15 Derribarei a casa de inverno juntamente com a casa de verão; as casas de marfim perecerão, e as grandes casas terão fim, diz o Senhor.

Amós 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

Judgments against Israel. (1-8) The like to other nations. (9-15)

Verses 1-8 The distinguishing favours of God to us, if they do not restrain from sin, shall not exempt from punishment. They could not expect communion with God, unless they first sought peace with him. Where there is not friendship, there can be no fellowship. God and man cannot walk together, except they are agreed. Unless we seek his glory, we cannot walk with him. Let us not presume on outward privileges, without special, sanctifying grace. The threatenings of the word and providence of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show that the judgments of God are at hand. Nor will God remove the affliction he has sent, till it has done its work. The evil of sin is from ourselves, it is our own doing; but the evil of trouble is from God, and is his doing, whoever are the instruments. This should engage us patiently to bear public troubles, and to study to answer God's meaning in them. The whole of the passage shows that natural evil, or troubles, and not moral evil, or sin, is here meant. The warning given to a careless world will increase its condemnation another day. Oh the amazing stupidity of an unbelieving world, that will not be wrought upon by the terrors of the Lord, and that despise his mercies!

Verses 9-15 That power which is an instrument of unrighteousness, will justly be brought down and broken. What is got and kept wrongfully, will not be kept long. Some are at ease, but there will come a day of visitation, and in that day, all they are proud of, and put confidence in, shall fail them. God will inquire into the sins of which they have been guilty in their houses, the robbery they have stored up, and the luxury in which they lived. The pomp and pleasantness of men's houses, do not fortify against God's judgments, but make sufferings the more grievous and vexatious. Yet a remnant, according to the election of grace, will be secured by our great and good Shepherd, as from the jaws of destruction, in the worst times.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO AMOS 3

In this chapter the prophet goes on with his prophecy against Israel, whom God had highly favoured, and yet sinned against him, and therefore must expect to be punished by him; and the rather, since he and they were not agreed; and therefore there could be no communion between them, Am 3:1-3; and by various similes are set forth the cause of divine judgments, the certain design of them, and their continuance, till the end is answered; which should be attended to, since every thing of this kind is of God, who giving his prophets notice of it, they are under an absolute necessity of declaring it; nor should they be blamed for it, Am 3:4-8; and even the Heathen nations are appealed unto as witnesses of the sins of Israel, that caused such a denunciation of wrath; their tumults, oppression, injustice, violence, and robbery, Am 3:9,10; wherefore an adversary is threatened to be sent among them, that should utterly destroy them, so that few should escape, Am 3:11,12; particularly their idolatry and luxury seem to have been reigning sins, which had a great hand in bringing on their rum, and for which the Lord would punish them, Am 3:13-15.