The LORD reminds them that their judgment is as a result of the fact that they are privileged to be God’s people. (v1,2) Because they are closer to God and have known His deliverance they should know better and therefore their punishment is inexcusable. Privilege leads to responsibility when God had loved them so much. Even other nations were envious of Israel. They commented that they were privileged to have God who was near to them. Therefore, Israel had no excuse for their failings. We, too, have little excuse for our sinfulness in the light of what God has done for us in sending His Son to die for us.
This passage reminds them of their unique relationship and their past – brought you out of Egypt. God told them that He had chosen you only, therefore, He had the right to punish you. The relationship did not exempt them from punishment, in fact seems that it was because of the relationship. Israel was very rich in material things but spiritually barren.
They might have thought they were immune from judgement but not so. It seems that they thought it didn’t matter what they did (see 6v8 their pride) but there is no doubt that it did. We treat our children different to others but expect more from them.
Amos presented God as the ruler of the world and declared that all nations were responsible to Him. The measure of responsibility is created by the light which a nation has.
Israel is picture of God’s relationship with us, His Church, but Israel is not the same as The Church, or heaven –
Think of the differences … out of Egypt but only two men entered Promised Land – we cannot lose our salvation; we are guaranteed a place in heaven, not through our own merit but by the grace of God. There was sin in the Promised Land – there is absolutely none in heaven. “Whom God loves He chastens.”
We often quote verse 3 at weddings or in connection with our walk with God, and on looking at this passage in full I wonder if that is somewhat out of context (v3-6). There is no question that it is relevant to every part of our lives and relationships, but in this context, it is to do with God’s judgment on Israel. It is clear that Israel cannot complain about God’s judgment because they have failed to walk with and obey their God. Judgment will be from the LORD’s own hand. After all it is He who has been offended and therefore, He is justified in bringing whatever He chooses on the people.
Two walking together is a picture of fellowship – for two to walk together they must –
- Agree the same rules – His Word.
- Begin at the cross where our sin was dealt with.
- Walk same path.
- Stop at same places.
- Have the same desires.
- Have the same goals.
- Submit to God’s will.
Fellowship naturally follows. John says in 1 John 1:7, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another ….” If there is something wrong with fellowship, we are not walking in the light.
God says that He has revealed the secret of His displeasure to His prophets warning His people and giving them time to repent (v7,8). It didn’t come as a surprise to the people because God warned them well in advance. We, too, have no excuse either, Hebrews 2:3,4 –“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”
God has graciously given us ample ‘warning’ of the consequences of remaining in our sins. He has sent us His Son Jesus Christ to die and pay the penalty for our sin and to bring us forgiveness and assurance of eternal life in Heaven with Him. What more do we need? Everything has been done so we have no excuse for refusing His amazing offer of salvation. We cannot earn it, nothing we can do is enough, it has all been done, the price paid in full. Peter said in Acts 2 – ‘Repent and believe for the remission of your sins and you will receive The Holy Spirit.’
Amos ends the verse with an interesting statement, “A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The LORD GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” Amos is simply saying that just as we would not ignore and would even fear a lion when it roars, we should take notice of God’s word through His prophet when we are warned about our behaviour and seek to obey the LORD.
Amos says that the judgment on Israel would not be secret (v9,10), it would done in full view of Ashdod, a city of the Philistines, and Egypt the very place where God miraculously rescued them from perhaps two of their greatest enemies as an example of God’s power and justice. Israel knew right from wrong, and they had no excuse for doing wrong and the Philistines and Egypt would be witnesses of it.
In verses 11,12 he states categorically that this is ‘The Word of The LORD God’, not his words but God’s that, “An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, And your palaces shall be plundered.”
Within around thirty years this came to pass with Assyrian invasion of Israel, they were surrounded and captured and taken from their land and scattered.
Amos ends this section (v13-15) with God’s promise to destroy the altars of Bethel which was idol worship and other places which connections with the oppression of the poor and robbery. They had built large houses with the proceeds of their oppression including winter and summer houses. They were living in the lap of luxury, but their opulence would come to nothing as God would destroy it.
