Amos 4

CHAPTER 4

Israel Has Not Returned to God (4:1–13)

1–5 Amos now directs his message to the upper-class women of Israel, whom he likens to the well–fed cows of Bashan, the best breed of cattle in Israel (verse 1); Amos is perhaps implying that these women have been fattening themselves for the day of slaughter (God’s judgment). They will be led away into captivity through the broken walls of their cities (verses 2–3).

Then, with irony, Amos tells the Israelites to carry on with their empty, idolatrous worship; let them keep going to Bethel and Gilgal, the northern kingdom’s two most popular worship centers in Amos’s day¹⁴ (verse 4). Let them keep offering their sacrifices and their tithes every three years (see Deuteronomy 14:28). Let them offer leavened bread as a thank offering (verse 5)—which was against the law¹⁵ (Leviticus 2:11; 7:12). Let them brag and boast about their religious rituals, which they loved to perform.¹⁶ But they didn’t love what God loved—that is, goodness, justice and mercy.

6–11 In these verses God mentions five actions He has taken on Israel’s behalf. At first glance they seem to be harsh and unloving actions, but indeed they are not. In each case, God was attempting to warn the Israelites about their sins and to lead them to REPENTANCE. These verses show us the fatherly love of God, who always seeks to draw us closer to Himself through the trials He allows us to experience¹⁷ (see Hebrews 12:511). God even overthrew parts of Israel (verse 11), as He had overthrown Sodom and Gomorrah (see Genesis 19:24–25)—all in order to get Israel to repent. In His GRACE, God had kept on snatching Israel from the fire;¹⁸ but still the Israelites had not returned to Him. Now it was too late; God’s patience had come to an end.¹⁹

Throughout their history, the Israelites had consistently rejected God’s grace. Their hearts were spiritually hardened. Most of the punishments for disobeying God’s commands had already been inflicted on the Israelites—but without result (Leviticus 26:14–31). Now the final punishment, the ultimate covenant curse, was near at hand: Israel (the northern kingdom) was to be utterly destroyed and its people scattered (Leviticus 26:32; Deuteronomy 28:64).

12–13“Therefore,” says the lord to Israel, “prepare to meet your God” (verse 12). “Prepare for judgment.” God doesn’t specify in this chapter what that judgment will be, but when the Israelites meet their God, they will find out what it is. In verse 13, Amos reminds the Israelites—and us—of the greatness of this God who is the Judge of all mankind.