3:2God chose Israel to be the people through whom all other nations of the world could know him. He made this promise to Abraham, father of the Israelites (Genesis 12:1-3). Israel didn’t have to do anything to be chosen; God had given them this special privilege because he wanted to, not because they deserved special treatment (Deuteronomy 9:4-6). Pride in their privileged position, however, ruined Israel's sensitivity to the will of Ged and to the plight of others.
Life Application Study BibleAmosChapter 3
Amos 3
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1440, 1441
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3Amos 3
1Judah—against the entire family I rescued from Egypt:
2“From among all the families on the earth,Ihave been intimate with you alone.That is why I must punish youfor all your sins.”
Witnesses against Guilty Israel
33 Can two people walk togetherwithout agreeing on the direction?
4Does a lion ever roar ina thicketwithout first finding a victim?Does a young lion growl in its denwithout first catching its prey?
5Does a bird ever get caught in a trapthat has no bait?Does a trap spring shutwhen there's nothing to catch?
6When the ram’s horn blows a warning,shouldn't the people be alarmed?Does disaster come to a cityunless the LORD has planned it?
7Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
8The lion has roared—so who isn’t frightened?The Sovereign LORD has spoken—so who can refuse to proclaim his message?
9Announce this to the leaders of Philistia*and to the great ones of Egypt:“Take your seats now on the hills around Samaria,and witness the chaos and oppression in Israel.”
10“My people have forgotten how to do right,”says the LORD.“Their fortresses are filled with wealthtaken by theft and violence.
11Therefore,” says the Sovereign LORD,“an enemy is coming!He will surround them and shatter their defenses.Then he will plunder all their fortresses.”“A shepherd who tries to rescue a sheep from a lion’s mouthwill recover only two legs or a piece of an ear.So it will be for the Israelites in Samaria lying on luxurious beds,and for the people of Damascus reclining on couches.*
13Now listen to this, and announce it throughout all [srael,*” says the LORD, the LORD Godof Heaven's Armies.
14“On the very day I punish Israel for its sins,I will destroy the pagan altars at Bethel.The horns of the altar will be cut offand fall to the ground.
15And I will destroy the beautiful homes of the wealthy—their winter mansions and their summer houses, too—all their palaces filled with ivory,”says the LORD.
Israel's Failure to Learn
4 1Listen to me, you fat cows*living in Samaria,you women who oppress the poorand crush the needy,and who are always calling to your husbands,
Life Application Notes 7 notes
3:3-6With a series of seven rhetorical questions, Amos shows how two events can be linked together. Once one event takes place, the second will surely follaw. Amos was showing that God's revelation to him was the sure sign that judgment would follow.
3:6This verse means that God himself would be sending disaster to Israel.
3:7Even in anger, God is merciful: He always warned his people through prophets before punishing them so they could not rationalize or complain when judgment came. Warnings about sin and judgment apply to people today just as they did to israel. Because we have been warned about our sin, we have no excuse when punishment comes. Do not take lightly the warnings in God’s Word about judgment. His warnings are a way of showing mercy to you.
3:9Amos pictured Philistia and Egypt summoned to witness Israel's great sins. Even Israel's most wicked and idolatrous neighbors would see God judge Israel.
3:10The people of Israel no longer knew how to do what was right. The more they sinned, the harder it was to remember what God wanted. The same is true for us. The jonger we wait to deal with sin, the greater the hold it has on us. Finally, we forget what it means to do right. Are you on the verge of forgetting?
3:11,12The enemy mentioned here was Assyria, which conquered Israel and did just as Amos predicted. The people were scattered to foreign lands, and foreigners were placed in the land to keep the peace. Israel’s leaders had robbed their defenseless countrymen, and here they would be rendered defenseless by the
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12This is what the LORD says:
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Assyrians. Amos added that even if the Israelites tried to repent, it would be too late. The destruction would be so complete that nothing of value would be left. 3:14 God’s judgment against Israel’s altars shows that he was rejecting Israel's entire religious system because it was so polluted. The horns of the altar stood for protection (1 Kings 1:49-53), and the false altars would soon be gone. Then the people would have no sanctuary or protection (see 4:4) when judgment came. 4:1 Israel's wealthy women were called “fat cows"—pampered, sleek, and well fed (see Psalm 22:12). These women selfishly pushed their husbands to oppress the helpless in order to support their lavish life-styles. Be careful not to desire material possessions so much that you are willing to oppress others and displease God to get them.