King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, July 09, 2024
Chapters: Amos Chapters 1-4
Message: God’s Warning of Repentance
Hello My Friend,
You do not need to be a scholar to know that something is going on in the world, the war between Israel and Palestine is a big one, not to mention outbreaks, crazy weather, and grotesque sin being promoted like you would not believe. Well, part of all this is God’s warnings to His people that judgment is coming, but much of it has to do with God’s judgment on the world for their treatment toward Israel. It is like this, [Proverbs 24:17-18 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.]
The Book of Amos contains nine chapters, and was written by Amos to Israel as well as the their enemies. The timeline is approximately 776-763 BC. The purpose of the book was to call Israel back to God. What we are to learn from the book is that God calls all nations to prepare for the day they will meet Him for judgment, [Amos 4:13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.]
Yesterday, we read about Assyria invading Samaria, it was Amos who was given this prophecy probably about fifty years earlier, at the beginning of Uzziah’s reign in Judah. Amos, was the father of Isaiah, a shepherd, and sent to not only to Judah and Israel to warn of God’s judgment upon them, but to all the nations surrounding them who took advantage of the judgment God had placed on them.
[Amos 1:1-3,5 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither. 3 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: 5 I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.]
[because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:] Damascus, was the capital of Syria, and Gilead as where the half tribe of Manasseh lived. When Hazael was king, he barbarously had the people executed, many being tortured to death, [2 Kings 8:12 And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.]
While some of these judgments have taken place already, many more are to come and if you think the fights we are seeing today with Israel are not related to what happened during this time, think again. Israel has been fighting with Gaza for centuries. In fact, God warned of the judgment.
[Amos 1:6,8-9 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: 8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD. 9 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:]
[because they carried away captive the whole captivity,] Gaza, was a city of the Philistines, and now the metropolis of that country, they were guilty of capturing Israel and taking them captive for the Edomites, who were sworn enemies to the people of God. They carried them off attempting to cut off the name of Israel. In fact, Tyre was guilty of that as well, who was supposed to allies with Israel, [1 Kings 5:1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.]
These judgments that we are seeing all over the world, are only a glimpse of what God is going to do. Notice that God was hitting their posterity, the judgments were placed on the very strength of their nations. Now, God goes on to warn of the judgment Edom, as well as Ammon. And every one of the judgments had God sending fire on them to devour them except for Ammon.
[Amos 1:11-14 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: 12 But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. 13 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border: 14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:]
[because he did pursue his brother with the sword,] Edom, never had the strength and courage to face Israel in battle, but whenever any other enemy had put Judah or Israel to flight, then there were the Edomites taking advantage of the situation. Edom, descendants of Esau, brother to Jacob (Israel) twin brother to be exact, were always at odds with each other, and even though they reconciled until the Exodus when Israel was set free from Egypt and headed to the promise land and Edom would not allow them to pass through, [Numbers 20:18-21 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. 19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. 20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.]
[because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead,] God’s judgment toward Ammon would come suddenly, without warning, with a great force, and a tornado. While some of God’s judgments are quick others do tend to linger unless some repentance is involved. When Jesus returns, there will be no warning, except for the sound of trumpet, [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]
Amos, was warning them all of the judgment two years before the Assyrians seized Israel and took most of them captive to Assyria. God, will always give ample warning before judgment takes place to give them a chance to repent before it happens. And He will also tell you why He places judgment. Moab is also included in the judgment, but notice why God is judging them. Those that deal cruelly, shall be dealt with cruelly, but God was not done, now, He is warning His people of the judgment coming to them, first Judah.
[Amos 2:1-4 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime: 2 But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet: 3 And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD. 4 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:]
[because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:] We thought that God hated Edom, but what Moab did was unthinkable, he not only burned the bones of the king by fire into ashes, he used his ashes instead of lime to plaster the walls and roofs of his palace. Let me tell you as harsh as we think that God can be with His judgments, they are nothing to be compared to mans. God’s judgment is much better to deal with than mans because God’s judgment is just, while mans is cruel and inhumane, [2 Samuel 24:14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.]
[For three transgressions of Judah, and for four,] You see, God, was giving Judah ample time to repent before He sent judgment upon them, which is why He is telling them this now. As for the rest of Israel, their opportunities were over, God, has been warning them since Jeroboam had those stupid calves made and turned the nation away from Him. Take note though, what their transgressions are.
[Amos 2:6-8,14-16 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; 7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name: 8 And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god. 14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: 15 Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself. 16 And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.]
[because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;] People will sell themselves out literally for a pair of shoes. They want to blame their actions on someones skin color, oppression, guns, religion, or privilege, but the truth is they are the only ones to blame. The Jews have this false assumption that because they are Jews they are automatically saved, this is false, and so is the assumption that all religions lead to God. A Catholic is no more privileged to be saved than a Baptist, we all face the same judgment, [Romans 2:9-11 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.]
[the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:] Do you know what the best way to bring a nation back to God is? Weaken them. Take away their strength, and they will either return or reject God, and then there will be judgment. Every time a religion or individual picks and chooses what they believe and follow from the Word of God rather than the entire Law they are despising God’s Law. We cannot choose to obey what we want, if we are going to choose God, then we believe and follow all of His Word. And this is exactly what God was telling Israel.
[Amos 3:1-4,7-8 Hear 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, 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? 4 Will 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? 7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?]
[The lion hath roared, who will not fear?] It is time for every saved, born again Christian to open their ears because the lion of Judah, Jesus Christ Himself is roaring and it is time that we come out of hiding and start telling preaching the Gospel because the world does not know any better and neither does religion.
[Amos 3:10-12,14-15 For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. 11 Therefore 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. 12 Thus 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.14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. 15 And 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.]
[For they know not to do right, saith the LORD,] Do you know how many religions claim to know God, and Christ for that matter, but certainly do not walk together with God? They walk around in their pride as though they know God or are God, oblivious to the fact that they know not what they do. And no matter what God does to show them that He is serious they continue to reject the warnings, and choose their false gods over Him. And this is exactly what God is telling Israel, this was their last warning.
[Amos 4:1-2,4-6 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. 2 The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. 4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: 5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. 6 And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.]
[that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.] Bashan, is the name being taken from the strong, well-fed cattle of the pasture country east of Jordan, The remnant of Israel which wss left after the first punishment, were drawn to the bribes like fish caught on a hook. [Come to Bethel, and transgress;] Amos, is being sarcastic, and when you think about it, this is the very heart of false religion, they love to offer sacrifices to their idols, rather than give themselves to Christ, even preferring these to Him. They too will face judgment from God, all their altars and comforts and pleasures will be destroyed. We cannot pretend to worship God and live under the laws of false religion, [Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.]
To the world, Christ, truly is a mystery because God chose to only reveal Himself to the true believers. And there is a difference between a true believer and someone pretending to be. No matter what God does to show them that He is true, and serious about His judgment, they continue to reject the warnings, and choose their false gods over Him. And this is exactly what God is telling Israel, this was their last warning.
[Amos 4:9-12 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 10 I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.]
[because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God,] Keep in mind that these are people who are very well aware that God is real, they just choose their own man made gods over Him. God, did not choose Israel to be His people because of their faithfulness and righteousness, He did it because of one mans faithfulness and righteousness, and the promise that He made to Abraham. Likewise, the same is true for the saved, born again Christian. God’s mercy endures, but there does come a time when enough is enough.
[Matthew 11:23-25,27 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Amos 4:11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You are the LORD, God of hosts, Lion of Judah, that is Your name. You are also, the Almighty and only living God, who has an abundance of mercy on all who call upon You. Thank You, for loving us so much to warn us repeatedly of Your judgment so that all have a chance to seek You, and live. Thank You, for showing us the right way, and what we need to do to live peacefully in this dark world. Lord, keep us faithful and growing as we await Your return. Open the hearts of those whom have not returned to You, and bring them to repentance. Give us Your power and strength to reach whomever You place before us with the Gospel. Keep us humble, and let us be the Godly example You need us to a world that knows not what they do. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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