Daily Devotions
Amos
"The remnant of the Philistines shall perish"
Text: Amos 1:8
ANCIENT CITY WALLS
In ancient cities, high walls were erected to give protection to the city dwellers. These high walls gave to the inhabitants some measure of security. Enemies would find it difficult to conquer these walled cities. But what were these walls to God?
GOD’S PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED
Amos prophesied the judgment and the punishment of the Philistines, once and for all.
“‘But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
Which shall devour the palaces.
I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod,
And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
I will turn My hand against Ekron,
And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,’
Says the Lord GOD.”
Amos 1:7-8
1. Gaza
a) God will destroy the city of Gaza with fire.
b) The city walls would not be able to withstand the fire sent from the Lord.
c) Even the mighty palaces would be razed to the ground.
2. Ashdod, Ashkelon and Ekron
a) These cities of the Philistines were allied closely together.
b) Each one had a mighty lord who held the sceptre.
c) If one city was to fall, the Philistines may flee from one city to another.
i) They gave support to each other.
ii) Each city was supposed to be strong enough to fend for itself.
iii) But in the event, a city is defeated, the fleeing Philistines may flee to other Philistine cities.
iv) These three were mentioned as the strongholds of the lords of the Philistines.
v) Gaza in the south would be dealt with. It would be destroyed by fire.
3. “I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod”
a) Gaza cut off all fleeing inhabitants of Israel.
b) The Philistines would experience Divine retribution.
c) God would similarly cut off any fleeing Philistine inhabitant.
4. “And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord GOD”
God solemnly declared that He would destroy the Philistines completely. He would not even leave a remnant or else they would rise up one day and pursue wicked activities!