II. Messages of Judgment (Amos 3:1–5:17)

II. Messages of Judgment (3:1–5:17)

3:1-2 Israel’s relationship to God makes their wicked behavior astounding. God had rescued them from Egypt and entered into a covenant with them. Here God even declares that of all the nations on earth, he has known only them. How much worse, then, was Israel’s sin? Their iniquities could not be excused. Their rejection of the God who saved them couldn’t go unpunished.

3:3-8 Amos asks a series of rhetorical questions in verses 3 through 6. Each assumes that the outcome of a particular scenario is assured. Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? (3:4). No. Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there is no bait for it? (3:5). Of course not. If a ram’s horn is blown in a city [a warning of approaching disaster], aren’t people afraid? (3:6). Absolutely. Therefore, if a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the Lord done it? (3:6). Well, yes, he has. The point here is that when disaster comes upon Israel, they can rest assured that it is the Lord’s judgment on their sin. For he has revealed his will to his prophets (3:7)—namely, kingdom-minded prophets like Amos. Fear is the only appropriate response when the lion has roared (3:8; see 1:2).

3:9-15 The people are incapable of doing right (3:10). What an accusation! Such inability was the manifestation of the will of the people. They had persisted in sin for so long that it became second nature to them. Because violence and destruction were what they understood, violence and destruction were what they would get (3:10-11). Indeed, an enemy will surround the land, their strongholds and citadels will be plundered (3:11), the people will be devastated (3:12), pagan altars will be cut down (3:14), and the houses of the wealthy will be demolished (3:15). This prophecy came to pass when the Assyrians captured Samaria in 722 BC and carried the people into captivity (see 2 Kgs 17:6).

4:1 Amos had some choice words for the wealthy, indulgent women of Samaria: Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan. Bashan was an area east of the Sea of Galilee; it had flourishing pastures and plump livestock. Like spoiled cows, these women demanded luxury and pleasure. They oppressed the poor and needy and made demands on their husbands. What a contrast to the “wife of noble character” in Proverbs 31; she feared the Lord, served her family, and ministered to the poor (see Prov 31:10-31).

4:2-3 These women of Samaria, who snubbed God and committed social injustice against his people, would suffer humiliation, and be carried into exile in foreign lands. The Lord swore by his holiness that he would bring this about (4:2). There’s no better guarantee than that.

4:4-5 Here Amos turns to sarcasm as he prosecutes his case on God’s behalf: Come to Bethel and rebel. . . . Bring your sacrifices . . . for that is what you Israelites love to do! When the nation split into northern and southern kingdoms, King Jeroboam of Israel built an altar at Bethel and made two golden calves for the people to worship in order to prevent them from traveling to Judah and the temple in Jerusalem (see 1 Kgs 12:25-33). This was in direct violation of the Mosaic law. Thus, Amos sarcastically encourages them to continue in the idolatry they love so that they can see where devotion to false gods ends.

4:6-13 This wasn’t the first time God had responded to Israel’s idolatry. Previous acts of discipline from God included food shortages, drought, withered crops, locusts, plagues, death, and destruction (4:6-11). But in spite of all this, God declared repeatedly that their response was the same: You did not return to me (4:6, 8, 9, 10, 11). Israel had been given chance after chance to repent. Now, the gloves were coming off: Prepare to meet your God! (4:12). The one who forms the mountains and creates the wind isn’t making a social call here. He’s coming in wrath (4:13).

5:1-3 Amos painfully sings a song of lament (5:1). Israel has fallen, and no one will raise her up (5:2). They turned away from the only one who could’ve helped them. If “the God of Armies” (4:13) doesn’t march out with the soldiers, they’ll be wiped out by the enemy no matter how strong they are (5:3; see Ps 108:11). So don’t put confidence in yourself. Without “the full armor of God,” you will not stand against your enemy, the devil (Eph 6:11).

5:4-12 Turning to worthless idols at Bethel and other sacrificial locations in Israel would come to nothing (5:5). What could the people do instead? Seek the Lord and live (5:6). Or, as Jesus put it, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matt 6:33). This, in fact, is the only path to blessing.

Seeking God and his kingdom is not a one-day-a-week activity, though. It’s a daily attempt to adopt God’s perspective on life as revealed in his Word. And it includes living out that perspective. But this is exactly what Israel refused to do. They hated the one who convicts the guilty and despised the one who speaks with integrity (5:10). Their social injustices against the poor were innumerable (5:11-12).

5:13-17 God’s promise was plain for all who would hear: Pursue good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Armies will be with you (5:14).

But Israel wouldn’t listen. Instead, their future would include wailing, cries of anguish, and mourning (5:16-17).