Israel Did Not Accept Correction
May 9, 2019
Commentary
Israel practiced formal religion. Amos criticizes the people of Israel for believing that their religious practices could compensate for their self-indulgent and sinful lifestyle (vv. 1-5). He begins this section by referring to the wealthy women of Samaria, calling them “cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria” (v. 1). These were insensitive wives of wealthy officials living in luxury to satisfy their self-indulgence at the expense of the poor and needy. When the Assyrian army finally invaded the city defenses would fall and the people would be driven into captivity through the breaches in the wall made by their enemies (vv. 2-3). With a note of sarcasm, it is suggested that the people of Samaria go to Bethel and Gilgal to sin (v. 4). Also with a note of irony the people of Israel are challenged to “Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings for this is what you love to do” (v. 5).
In this passage the Lord reminds the Israelites of the many methods He has used to prompt them to repent and turn from their sins (vv. 6-11). These include famine (v. 6), drought (vv. 7-8), insects and mildew (v. 9), plagues and war (v. 10), and some divine intervention (v, 11). No matter how God warned the people they still ignored Him. Because the Israelites didn’t get the message they would have to meet God face to face in judgment (v. 12). The most repeated phrase in Amos occurs five times in this chapter: “You have not returned to Me, says the Lord” (vv. 6,8,9,10 & 11). This God of judgment is the Creator, mighty and powerful (v. 13)!
Application
The book of Amos has several memorable phrases, but I should never forget God’s invitation to all who have wandered away from Him: Return to Me. If you haven’t returned, do it now.
Amos 4:1– 13 (NET)
1 Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan who live on Mount Samaria! You oppress the poor; you crush the needy. You say to your husbands, “Bring us more to drink!”
2 The Sovereign Lord confirms this oath by his own holy character: “Certainly the time is approaching when you will be carried away in baskets, every last one of you in fishermen’s pots.
3 Each of you will go straight through the gaps in the walls; you will be thrown out toward Harmon.” The Lord is speaking.
4 “Go to Bethel and rebel! At Gilgal rebel some more! Bring your sacrifices in the morning, your tithes on the third day!
5 Burn a thank offering of bread made with yeast! Make a public display of your voluntary offerings! For you love to do this, you Israelites.” The Sovereign Lord is speaking.
6 “But surely I gave you no food to eat in all your cities; you lacked food everywhere you lived. Still you did not come back to me.” The Lord is speaking
7 “I withheld rain from you three months before the harvest. I gave rain to one city, but not to another. One field would get rain, but the field that received no rain dried up.
8 People from two or three cities staggered into one city to get water, but remained thirsty. Still you did not come back to me.” The Lord is speaking
9 “I destroyed your crops with blight and disease. Locusts kept devouring your orchards, vineyards, fig trees, and olive trees. Still you did not come back to me.” The Lord is speaking
10 “I sent against you a plague like one of the Egyptian plagues. I killed your young men with the sword, along with the horses you had captured. I made the stench from the corpses rise up into your nostrils. Still you did not come back to me.” The Lord is speaking
11 “I overthrew some of you the way God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the flames. Still you did not come back to me.” The Lord is speaking
12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel. Because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel!”
13 For here he is! He formed the mountains and created the wind. He reveals his plans to men. He turns the dawn into darkness and marches on the heights of the earth. The Lord God of Heaven’s Armies is his name!