Judgment on Israel

Amos 2:6–16
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After charging many of Israel’s enemies, including the nation of Judah, Amos turned his attention to Israel itself. Using the same formula of condemnation that he had employed for Israel’s enemies, he warned that the nation of Israel would not escape punishment for its behavior. Amos mentions five specific transgressions:

1.     They Enriched themselves at the Expense of the poor (v. 6). - Amos criticized Israel of selling “the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals”. This probably alludes to the practice of selling debtors into slavery when they couldn’t pay off their loans.

2.     They used the legal system to Exploit the poor (v. 7a). – The courts sided with the creditors against the debtors, thus trampling the poor into the dust. 

3.     They committed Sexual Immorality (v. 7b). – God’s Law forbids all forms of fornication (sex outside of marriage), and for a father and his son to share a woman sexually was equivalent to incest (Lev. 18:6-18). For God’s people to commit such sin showed great dishonor to God’s name and His character.

4.     They broke pledges with one another (v. 8a). – The Law states that an individual might borrow another’s garment only on the condition that the garment be returned by nightfall (Exo. 22:26-27). A poor individual’s cloak might be their only shelter at night.  

5.     They perverted the worship of God (v. 8b). – Israel clamed to worship Jehovah but they did it in the form of two golden calves, one located in Bethel and the other in Dan (1 Kings 12:28-29). Instead of true worship, they chose to drink and party. 

They had forgotten God’s redemptive work on their behalf. The Lord rehearsed his mighty acts (vv. 9-12). He raised up prophets to instruct his people in righteousness. The Lord’s judgment was inevitable and inescapable (vv. 13-16).

Application

It is good to remember what God has done in my life. It is a good thing to go back and remind myself how God has worked in the past when I begin to feel unhappy with the present. Most of all, keep a record of the meaningful lessons I have learned from God’s Word.