TARGET LOCK/AMOS 2:4-16
"The message of Amos points to Yahweh as the
sovereign, free, and all-powerful Ruler over the
nations." Again, we will see that Amos has much to say to
us as individuals, as a church, and as a nation.
I) QUICK REVIEW–1:1-2:3
A) Amos was not a professional prophet, but a
sheepherder when God called him to preach to the northern
kingdom of Israel. He lived in the 8th century BC (
c. 760 BC) during a time of unprecedented prosperity. We find
God delivering a message to the nations surrounding Israel,
but His primary target was His own people–Israel.
B) Here’s the pattern: "Over and over the
prophet denounces sinful behavior, and with each succeeding
section the text includes another group of people until all
are under God’s judgment. All, that is, except the remnant.
Like Amos, they are victims caught in the web of seemingly
hopelessly ingrained sin that pervades that era. According to
Amos, God roars against this sin and is determined to
obliterate it." All this to say, God is serious about sin
calling all to repent, and if none, then certain judgment.
God’s judgment of the Gentile nations was based on their
knowledge of right and wrong founded in the conscience, while
Judah and Israel’s judgment was based on God’s Law cf.
Deuteronomy 27-30.
C) Here’s a summary of the applications we made last
week: 1) Nations are not to commit atrocities, not to
persecute God’s people, not to break treaties and not to
desecrate the bones of heathen kings. 2) The Church has
a prophetic task in declaring the mind of God, as revealed in
the Scriptures, on social, national, and international issues.
3) This prophetic task cannot be separated from the
gospel of salvation through faith in Christ. We come now to
consider ...
II) CRIME AND PUNISHMENT–2:4-16
A) The southern and northern kingdoms of Judah and
Israel were no doubt overcome with excitement as they saw the
Gentile nations "getting theirs." But, their
excitement soon turned to sorry, fear, and just stark terror.
Here’s the point: If God dealt severely with those who did
not have His law as did Judah and Israel, then what will come
of those who do have it and disobey it?
B) God locks onto Judah in verses 4 & 5.
He promises judgment upon them, using the same language He
used to bring judgment upon the heathen nations. Their crime
was that they rejected the law of God, and did not keep it.
Because of this they were led to follow after the same false
Gods of the previous generation. And, God did what He promised
in 586 BC, nearly 150 years after Amos’ prophecy.
C) Next, God locks onto, His primary target, Israel
in verses 6-16. Note the same language used in
reference to the nations and Judah. Their crime was also a
rejection of God’s law, but specific violations are
highlighted. All this shows the sorry condition of true
religion in the nations most prosperous of times. Instead of
protecting the needy among them, they exploited them (vv.6-7b).
Sexual immorality was rampant among God’s own people, and
this led to the profaning of God’s Holy Name (v.7c).
They violated the law as it regards the taking of a pledge,
and misappropriated government funds for drunkenness (v.8).
D) Through Amos, God highlights His special work
amongst them. He is saying, "Listen to all that I have
done for you, and this is how you treat Me!" (vv.9-12).
Thus, we hear of their crimes, and now we hear of their
punishment in verses 13-16.
E) God begins the final verses of chapter 2 by
illustrating the burden that His own people have become to Him
in verse 13. Then the pronouncement of judgment comes
... no escape no matter how fast you run, and the bravest
among you will flee in disgrace (vv.14-16). And, this
judgment came to the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC at
the hands of the Gentile nation of Assyria. In less than 40
years of Amos’ prophecy against Israel, God made good on His
treat. Here’s the bottom line: God is serious about
sin (individual and national), and He will judge it in His
time and as He sees fit (even the use of ungodly nations as in
the case of Babylon and Assyria). So, shall we escape? Keep in
mind, that even the truly righteous do suffer in God’s
judgment upon the nations in which they live. God uses such
difficulties to allow for a clear message of hope and
salvation. And, He uses such things to call for genuine
repentance and a pursuit of God’s glory, which is found only
in His Son Jesus Christ. We dare not turn away from the
preaching/teaching of God’s Word! We dare not neglect the
assembling of ourselves together in these days! We dare not
let prosperity become a curse to us! We dare not miss seeing
the need to repent of our own sins, and the sins of our
nation! Our special place in the world, and in God’s economy
of things, calls for a greater appreciation of God’s grace
and mercy to us in Christ. Let’s prepare ourselves for what
God is going to do next in our individual lives, and in our
national lives. Let no one here be surprised at the fiery
ordeal that is to come upon the earth ...
