Amos 1 reminds me of the old grizzled
boxing coach in the Rocky movies. He had seen the great ones fall
and potential squandered. He knew arrogance can get you killed. He
understood his pupil was past his peak, but he believed with the
right instruction, they could be champions. Amos was a very early
prophet a couple of hundred years after the time of Solomon’s
Temple, while Israel was still a contender. The Nation had made some
bad decisions and associated with some unsavory partners, but still
had their God-given strength. We read he is “one
of the shepherds of Tekoa“.
He understands humble beginnings and hard work. Amos is not soft and
gentle because he knows there is not much time to make changes. The
chapter begins, “The Lord roars
from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds
dry up, and the top of Carmel withers“.
Natural ability and youthful optimism will only take you so far
before the lack of dedication begins to show. Have you been skipping
workouts and binging on junk food? Today, Amos will point out the
other competitors in the gym to show they do not have the heart and
will be defeated. He may hold up a mirror to remind us of the shape
we are in as well.
Amos
begins with the nearest guy in the room, as he speaks God’s
judgment, “For three sins of
Damascus, even for four, I will not relent… she threshed Gilead
with sledges having iron teeth“.
It seems this city and the people of Aram enjoyed cruelty and
excessive violence against the Hebrews in Gilead. God will retaliate
against these hotheads, “I will
send fire… that
will consume the fortresses…
I will break down the gate of
Damascus; I will destroy the king“.
There is no place for them in the gym, “The
people of Aram will go into exile“.
Is anger keeping you from hearing instruction? Next he points to
Gaza the city of the Philistines. Most of us think of the giant
Goliath when we hear this region. He speaks God’s judgment,
“Because
she took captive whole
communities and sold them to Edom… I will turn my hand against
Ekron, till the last of the Philistines are dead“.
These bullies took the innocent captive and sold them into slavery.
It is hard to win when you make everyone your enemy.
Next
Amos points to Tyre. Remember this port city was a place of commerce
known for doing anything to make a buck. They were all about the
payday. God said they too sold innocents into slavery, “disregarding
a treaty of brotherhood“.
Have you been finding ways to justify broken promises? Next Amos
points to Edom, the descendants of Esau. He had no self-control and
this nation “pursued his
brother with a sword and slaughtered the women… because his anger
raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked“.
This guy punches himself out and consumes himself. What are you so
mad about? Finally, Amos points out Ammon, these were the little
guys that just wanted to get bigger at any cost. They were extra
violent to make up for their shortcomings. God said, “I
will not relent… Because he
ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his
borders“. Their captivity
would also be extra violent, “amid
war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day“.
Friend, are you ready to listen to Godly instruction? It is time to
stop fighting and listen. “Everyone
who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to
get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will
last forever” (1 Corinthians
9:25). Amos might be asking us, what are we waiting for?