Amos 3 -- Old Testament -- Gospel Daily

Amos

Chapter 3

Israel's Special Privilege Brings Special Judgment

The LORD declares that he has known Israel alone of all families of the earth, therefore he will punish them for all their iniquities. Using rhetorical questions, Amos demonstrates that judgment always follows transgression as surely as causes produce effects. The LORD reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets, and Amos must prophesy. The palaces of Ashdod and Egypt will hear of the great tumults and violence stored up in Israel's palaces. When the LORD visits the transgressions of Israel, he will also visit the altars of Beth-el, cutting off the horns of the altar, and striking both the winter house with the summer house, destroying the houses of ivory.

Chosen peopleSpecial accountabilityDivine revelationDestruction of idolatry

¹Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,

²You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

³Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

⁴Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?

⁵Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

⁶Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

⁷Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

⁸The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

⁹Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.

¹⁰For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

¹¹Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.

¹²Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.

¹³Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,

¹⁴That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.

¹⁵And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.