Amos 3:9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great tumults within her and the oppressions in her midst. ¹⁰ "But they do not know how to do what is right," declares the LORD, "these who hoard up violence and devastation in their citadels." ¹¹ Therefore, thus says the Lord God, "An enemy, even one surrounding the land, Will pull down your strength from you And your citadels will be looted." ¹² Thus says the LORD, "Just as the shepherd snatches from the lion's mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel dwelling in Samaria be snatched away-- With the corner of a bed and the cover of a couch! ¹³ "Hear and testify against the house of Jacob," Declares the Lord God, the God of hosts. ¹⁴ "For on the day that I punish Israel's transgressions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off, And they will fall to the ground. ¹⁵ "I will also smite the winter house together with the summer house; The houses of ivory will also perish And the great houses will come to an end," Declares the LORD.

THE CREDIBILITY GAP/AMOS 3:9-15

George Barna commenting on a recent survey said, "[t]he survey pointed out that while most Americans think themselves as being highly spiritual, that view is not supported by other self-perceptions or behaviors evident in their life." And, he said, "It certainly seems that millions of Americans are fooling themselves into thinking that they have found the appropriate balance between God and lifestyle." This is similar to the condition we find the people to whom Amos preached, nearly 2800 years ago. So, Amos’ message is still relevant today!

I) AMOS’ CALL TO WITNESS GOD’S JUSTICE–Vv.9-10

A) God, speaking through Amos, is calling upon the heathen nations to assemble to observe Israel’s, God’s own special people’s, wickedness. How is it that God would have Amos call upon two enemies of God, and His people (Philistines and Egyptians), to come and observe the embarrassing condition of God’s covenant/holy people (v.9)? God was using ruthless, bloodthirsty heathen nations as a testimony against His own people who were acting worse than such nations. What greater offense could there be? God’s own holy and chosen people acting worse than the heathens! We should expect such behavior from heathens, but not from God’s own.

B) So what was the problem? Verse 10 tells us that they didn’t know how to do what was right. Instead of loving God and others, they were too busy oppressing the poor and doing them violence. How could such things be? The answer brings with it an application for us today.

1) Those to whom Amos preached didn’t even know that they were poor, miserable, blind, spiritually powerless, and alienated from God, while all the time thinking themselves blessed and safe from harm. But, God would soon prove to them the peril of their condition. And, they were in this condition because of their disobedience to God’s Word. As we noted last week, their privileged position did not spare them from God’s chastisement; chastisement that came as a result of not living up to their God-given responsibilities. Are we in danger of the same? As we considered last week, we are responsible to be obedient to God’s Word for His glory and our good. An obedience that is possible only if we are reading and applying God’s Word daily in our lives. We are responsible to make every effort at consistency–our talk and walk matching. This, so a watching world can see, the reality of our faith; a faith that works, not a faith of words. We must be committed to loving God and others through obedience to God’s Word cf. John 14:15.

II) GOD’S SURE JUDGMENT–Vv.11-15

A) For their violations of God’s covenant He promises judgment upon them, and this by a heathen nation (v.11). This enemy will come and take of their riches, and destroy their strongholds. All that they hoped in will be destroyed–their fortified cities, their great wealth (v.15), and their religious altars (v.14). God brought judgment upon those things that they put their trust in. God acted rightly against them, as He had given them His laws to know how to live as His special people.

B) God poured out His wrath, more so and to a greater extent, upon Jesus while He was on the cross. God exploded His wrath upon Jesus for our sins, the sins of all who come to Him by faith. We who are in Christ can rest assured that we will not see God’s wrath against our sins, as Christ has borne the wrath of God for us. This is our hope, and cause for rejoicing. But, if you are not in Christ by faith, then the wrath of God abides upon you, and one day God will unleash His wrath upon you. What can you do? Turn to Christ is repentance and faith today. Don’t delay! Trust Christ today while salvation is still being offered. Oh, that God would shake you from your false sense of security–health, looks, where you live, what you possess, who you know, etc.! May you experience His grace, and not His wrath!