Daily Devotions
Amos
"In the day I punish Israel for their transgressions"
Text: Amos 3:14
DESTRUCTION INSTEAD OF DELIVERANCE
Israel had misread and misunderstood the judgment of the Lord God. This time, severe judgment would fall. In the past, the Lord would only chasten and Israel would be spared. But not now!
“‘Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,’
Says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
‘That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions,
I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel;
And the horns of the altar shall be cut off
And fall to the ground.
I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house;
The houses of ivory shall perish,
And the great houses shall have an end,’
Says the LORD.”
Amos 3:13-15
1. “Hear and testify”
This word was given to Amos. He was to bear solemn witness against the house of Jacob, that is, Israel.
2. “Says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts”
This time round, we have two titles of God attached. This is to signify the gravity and the reality of this judgment that would come from God!
3. “In the day I punish Israel for their transgressions”
The transgressions were many. They are mentioned in this text! The punishment to be meted out was the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
a) The altars of Bethel and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.
i) These altars were created by King Jeroboam at the very start of the Northern kingdom.
ii) One of these altars was located in Bethel; there golden calves were worshipped (1 Kings 12:29).
iii) The people in Israel were encouraged to worship the golden calves at Bethel’s altar.
iv) There was a huge apostasy and Israel from that time on remained an idolatrous nation.
v) The Northern kingdom would come to an end in this judgment of God.
vi) Assyria would be the main enemy who would destroy the nation!
b) The great houses would have an end
i) The rich and mighty rulers possessed many beautiful houses.
ii) They had summer and winter houses.
iii) They even had ivory houses.
iv) Their houses were generally called “great”.
v) The poor were exploited.
vi) King Ahab was a classic example of the bad kings who ruled Israel (1 Kings 21).
There was gross abuse of the royal powers entrusted to the kings! The poor suffered terribly.