"For three transgressions... and for four"
Text: Amos 1:3
A SERIES OF EIGHT JUDGMENTS
A quick survey of Amos 1-2 would reveal that these two chapters contain a series of Judgments. The nations judged included the following: –
1. Syria Amos 1:3-5
2. Philistia Amos 1:6-8
3. Tyre Amos 1:9-10
4. Edom Amos 1:11-12
5. Ammon Amos 1:13-15
6. Moab Amos 2:1-3
7. Judah Amos 2:4-5
8. Israel Amos 2:6-16
REGULAR FEATURES
The following are the regular features in all of these Divine judgments: –
1. “Thus says the LORD”
a) To indicate that the origin of these judgments come from the LORD God.
b) Amos was not the one who came up with these judgments.
2. The expression “For three transgressions and for four”
a) This is an idiomatic statement.
b) The point is not so much to list the number of transgressions.
c) The focus is to establish the fact that these nations that were judged were guilty of “transgression”.
3. What are transgressions?
a) Essentially, a transgression is a sin.
b) The nature of sin includes a number of features:
i) The deed itself that is sinful.
ii) There is guilt involved.
iii) It will be judged by God whose laws are being transgressed against.
iv) A punitive element is to be expected.
v) If there is no repentance shown, God reserves the right to pass sentence.
vi) But if there is genuine remorse and repentance there may yet be pardon and forgiveness.