Daily Devotions
Amos
"The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness"
Text: Amos 4:2
THE SOLEMN OATH OF THE LORD
The Lord does not need to make an oath to affirm any decree He makes. But when He makes an oath, then the word spoken has very solemn undertones!
“The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness:
‘Behold, the days shall come upon you
When He will take you away with fishhooks,
And your posterity with fishhooks.
You will go out through broken walls,
Each one straight ahead of her,
And you will be cast into Harmon,’
Says the LORD.”
Amos 4:2-3
1. “The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness”
a) The word “sworn” suggests the making of an oath.
b) One usually swears in the name of someone higher.
c) But there is none greater.
d) Thus, God swears “by His holiness”.
e) This oath taken would definitely be fulfilled.
f) Holiness is an attribute of God that cannot be violated.
2. What the enemy would do to Israel in the day of its destruction
a) Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC.
The nation was totally destroyed by the enemy.
b) The cruelty of the Assyrians:
i) They will lead their prisoners by fishhooks.
ii) This would have been a painful and horrible experience.
iii) The womenfolk would receive the same treatment as the men.
iv) Even the children (posterity) would not be spared this cruel and humiliating experience.
3. The broken walls
a) Samaria felt safe behind their high walls.
Bashan had mountainous regions that boasted of mighty walls to keep the enemy out.
b) But these protective walls would not prevent the Assyrians from conquering the nation.
4. “He”
Amos declared that God would be the One who would cause this to happen! The Assyrians were merely carrying out His Divine decree!
(The location of Harmon is unknown. But it would be a place in stark contrast to Bashan!)