Year 9, Day 224: Amos 2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Amos 2 continues in the expected manner for a minor prophet.  Amos continues to speak out about the way that human beings mistreat each other and trample on their relationship with God.  From Amos’ perspective, judgment is coming.  It’s time the people make sure they understand why.

Amos keeps his typical tradition against Moab and Judah.  Judgment is coming for them because they are filled with human sinfulness.  However, Amos knows that judgment is still a fair distance off for them.  Their paragraphs are short.  Their descriptions are fairly generic.  The words against Judah do contain a reference to direct offense to God, but they remain quite brief.

The words against Israel, however, are anything but brief.  Compared to the words against the other nations, Amos writes a novella.  Judgment looms closely for the people of the northern kingdom.  Their offenses are personal and grievous.  Amos goes into considerable detail.

What do the people of Israel do?  The people of Israel see one another as a means of economic gain.  They don’t care about the poor.  They are sexually impure.  They corrupt the religious, especially the Nazirites who take vows with God.  They have forgotten that it was God and His power that made them what they are.

What is God going to do?  God plans on removing the strength of the people.  The strong will flee.  The quick will become slow.  The mighty will not be able to stand.  Those with weapons will become timid.

There’s a subtle point here that likely got completely lost by the Israelites who didn’t care.  The Israelites have become so sinful because they are relying upon their own strength and have forgotten God.  God plans to show them the error of their ways.  He will remove His presence and watch the so-called strength of the people evaporate.  We only have strength and greatness when He bestows it upon us.

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