Today’s passage: Amos 2:4-16
Helpful thoughts:
- After listing several judgments on the foreign nations. The Lord now turns to Judah and Israel.
- Judah and Israel had something all the other nations did not, the Lord. Yet, they did all the same things as the other nations, even refusing to hear from the Lord.
- Amos’ primary prophetic ministry was to Israel, they get the most detailed list of reasons for God’s judgment.
- There is much prosperity recorded in Israel during this time. However, that wealth remained with those in power while the poor and righteous were used and abused for personal “gain.”
- Everything from the middle of verse 7 through 8 was probably part of their idolatrous practices. The god in verse 8 should be a little “g”. The Israelites built houses to “their” gods (Initially the sin of Jeroboam, making the altars to the golden calves – 1 Kings 12:25-29).
Questions to consider:
- What were the rich and powerful in Israel doing to the righteous and poor? What does their prosperity and strength (Verses 14-16) indicate the leaders of Israel valued over righteousness and their rightful Lord? Should we always assume that everything is great when the economy is good and there is “peace?”
- In what way was Israel’s and Judah’s sin even more acute than that of the other nations? What does verse 12 say they did with God’s gracious provision of truth for them? What must the posture of our hearts and minds be as we approach the Word of God?
- What was Israel trusting in for its safety and protection? And…safety and protection from what/whom? What is the salvation that man truly needs? Who is our rock, shelter, rescuer, and our salvation?