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Amos 3 (ESV)
1 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
2 “You only have I known
of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish you
for all your iniquities.
3 “Do two walk together,
unless they have agreed to meet?
4 Does a lion roar in the forest,
when he has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from his den,
if he has taken nothing?
5 Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth,
when there is no trap for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground,
when it has taken nothing?
6 Is a trumpet blown in a city,
and the people are not afraid?
Does disaster come to a city,
unless the Lord has done it?
7 “For the Lord God does nothing
without revealing his secret
to his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared;
who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;
who can but prophesy?”
REFLECTION:
- In the first and second chapters, the author successively prophesied the judgments of God to the nations and all races, and in the third to sixth chapters, he focused on Israel (Northern Kingdom).
- God chose the Israelites so that all the nations knew God through them (2); because God was so promised to Abraham, the ancestor of Israel (see Gen. 12:1-3). Israel did not make any contribution to make them worthy of God’s favour, but only because God was willing to give them this privilege (see Deut. 9:4-6). However, this privilege has led to their pride and complacency, making them no longer aware of God’s will and ignoring the plight of others.
- Amos uses seven parables as examples to point out that Israel’s punishment is inevitable (3-6). Just like the relationship between cause and effect, “how can it” and “if it is not” are the expressions here, hitting the hearts of the listeners one after another, hoping that they will be willing to repent and return to God.
- Even in the midst of fierce anger, God is full of mercy: Before punishment comes, God often uses prophets to warn His people (7). It used to be true to Israel, and it is true to people of God today. Since God has warned us, when the punishment really comes, we have no excuse. As children of God, facing this loving and righteous God, how can we not live more cautiously so as not to fall into the wrath of God?
PRAYER:
Oh God! I am a blessed person. Because of the salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ, I can become Your child, have the hope of eternal life, and my life has purpose and meaning. I hope I will not be ungrateful to You and fall into your wrath.
HYMN:
Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) – youtu.be/61l1zx9Y_MQ
