Chapter 3

The Judgment of God upon His People

1. THE INDICATION OF JUDGMENT (Amos 3:1-2 [1] 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.
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1. The Opening of the Discourse (Amos 3:1Hear 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,
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1. Noted by the words, “Hear this word.”
2. The same opening lines can be found in other discourses in Amos (Amos 4:1Hear 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.
   See All...; Amos 5:1Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.
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2. The Opposition of the Discourse (Amos 3:1Hear 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,
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1. This discourse is “against” the children of Israel.
2. Though they are His people, the whole object of this discourse is to speak out “against” the iniquity of His people.
3. The Audience of the Discourse (Amos 3:1Hear 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,
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1. The children of Israel
2. The whole family which He brought up from the land of Egypt
4. The Accountability of the Discourse (Amos 3:2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
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1. Their relationship with God
1. The Lord states, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.”
2. Is it true that the only people God had knowledge of were the children of Israel?  No.
3. Consider also the words of the Lord Jesus to the unsaved in the future (Matthew 7:23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
   See All...).  Does the Lord really not have knowledge of those who are not saved?  The answer is “no.”
4. Obviously the word “known” or “know” is a more intimate word having to do with fellowship and relationship.
2. Their accountability in judgment
1. This judgment is brought on because of their fellowship with God.
2. Notice the word “therefore.”
3. This reminds us of the passage where it says, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
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2. THE QUESTION OF JUDGMENT (Amos 3:3-8 [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? [5] Can 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? [6] Shall 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? [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?
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1. Seven Simple Questions (Amos 3:3-6 [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? [5] Can 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? [6] Shall 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?
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1. Introduction to the questions
1. Each question would have been simple for the people of God to answer.
2. Each question has a negative answer.
3. Each question has an answer that reveals the condemnation of Israel.
2. Can two walk together…. (Amos 3:3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
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1. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
2. The obvious answer to this question is “no”.
3. This question allows Israel to consider with whom they are walking and why they are walking with them.  It also causes them to ponder why the Lord is not walking with them.
3. Will a lion roar in the forest…. (Amos 3:4Will 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?
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1. “Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey?”
2. The obvious answer to this question is “no.”
3. The question must drive Israel to consider that God is roaring from Zion because He is taking some prey to Himself (Amos 1:2And 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.
   See All...).  They might just be a part of that prey.
4. Will a young lion cry out of his den…. (Amos 3:4Will 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?
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1. “Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?”
2. The obvious answer to this question is “no.”
3. A young lion is to be quiet in the den until the mom returns with food, and then the young lion can let out a cry.
5. Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth…. (Amos 3:5Can 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?
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1. “Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him?”
2. The obvious answer to this question is “no.”
3. A bird cannot fall into a trap that was never set.
4. Israel must liken themselves to a bird that is about to be snared by the Lord because of their sins.
6. Shall one take up a snare from the earth…. (Amos 3:5Can 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?
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1. “Shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?”
2. The answer to this question is “no.”
3. Israel might have felt safe because they had as of yet not been judged for their sins, but the Lord wants them to consider that He as the faithful hunter has not removed His snare and will not until He takes them.
7. Shall a trumpet be blown in the city…. (Amos 3:6Shall 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?
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1. “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?”
2. The obvious answer to this question is “no.”
3. One of the main reasons for the blowing of the trumpet was the alarm of an incoming attack (Numbers 10:9And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
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4. The Lord was suggesting that He is blowing the trumpet and Israel ought to fear.
8. Shall there be evil in the city…. (Amos 3:6Shall 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?
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1. “Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done?”
2. Though some would struggle with the answer to this question, it is quite simple.  Nothing happens without the Lord doing it directly or indirectly.
3. Consider the following thoughts on the word evil in scripture.
1. Although the Bible meaning of evil includes the idea of sinfulness or wickedness in many cases, it also has a broader meaning that is commonly used. In this broader meaning, evil refers to those things that are generally thought of as bad or undesirable; or as the dictionary says, "causing pain or trouble." This would include things such as wars or disease and this is the kind of evil referred to in Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
   See All..., not wickedness.
2. Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
   See All... makes two contrasts. First, light is contrasted with darkness. That makes perfect sense because the two ideas are exact opposites. Then, the verse contrasts peace with evil - "I make peace, and create evil." If evil means wickedness, this does not make sense. Peace is not the opposite of wickedness. However, if evil refers to troubles and sorrows as those found in war, it makes perfect sense. The second pair of ideas would then be complete opposites.
3. Lot feared to go into the mountain when he fled from Sodom, "lest some evil take me, and I die." He was not talking about iniquity catching him. He was referring to something bad happening.
4. Genesis 37:20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
   See All..., 33 both refer to an "evil beast." This obviously refers to a harmful beast; one that could hurt someone. The verses are not calling the beast sinful.
4. The Lord is letting His people know that when the evil comes upon them, they are not to think it is anyone other than the Lord.  He is the one that is bringing evil upon them.
2. The Prophets of God (Amos 3:7-8 [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?
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1. The revelation of secrets (Amos 3:7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
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1. The Lord does not have to ask permission before acting, yet it is a characteristic of the Lord to reveal the secrets of His coming labour.
2. The Lord chooses to reveal His secrets to certain people (Genesis 18:17-18 [17] And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; [18] Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
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2. The work of the prophets (Amos 3:8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
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1. “The lion hath roared, who will not fear?”
1. If a lion roars, the people will fear.
2. This is an easy question to answer and the Lord is setting the people up to answer His next question.
2. “The Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?”
1. If the Lord speaks will someone prophesy?
2. Because of the last question, we are compelled to say that surely someone will have to prophesy the words of the Lord.
3. This is consistent with other passages in scripture (Jeremiah 20:9Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
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3. THE PROCLAMATION OF JUDGMENT (Amos 3:9-15 [9] Publish 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. [10] 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. [13] Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, [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.
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1. An Invitation to the Heathen (Amos 3:9-10 [9] Publish 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. [10] For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
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1. The publication of coming judgment (Amos 3:9Publish 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.
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1. Publish in the palaces at Ashdod.
2. Publish in the palaces in the land of Egypt.
2. The invitation to witness the coming judgment (Amos 3:9Publish 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.
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1. Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria.
2. Behold the tumults in the midst thereof and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
3. The reason for the coming judgment (Amos 3:10For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
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1. Their inability to do right
2. They are storing up violence and robbery in their palaces.
2. The Coming Captivity (Amos 3:11-12 [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.
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1. The captivity (Amos 3:11Therefore 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.
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1. The setting for this judgment is in the northern kingdom of Israel where Samaria is located.
2. Israel was taken into captivity by Assyria (2 Kings 17:22-23 [22] For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; [23] Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
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3. They never fully returned to the land (2 Kings 18:11-12 [11] And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: [12] Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
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2. The restoration (Amos 3:12Thus 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.
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1. Unlike Judah, Israel never fully returned to the land.
2. They will, however, return one day (Isaiah 11:10-13 [10] And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. [11] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. [12] And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. [13] The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
   See All...; Jeremiah 3:17-18 [17] At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. [18] In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.
   See All...; Jeremiah 30:3-4 [3] For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. [4] And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
   See All...; Jeremiah 31:31-34 [31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: [33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
   See All...; Jeremiah 33:7And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
   See All...; Ezekiel 37:15-28 [15] The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, [16] Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions: [17] And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. [18] And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? [19] Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. [20] And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. [21] And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: [22] And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. [23] Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. [24] And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. [25] And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. [26] Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. [27] My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [28] And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
   See All...; Hosea 1:11Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
   See All...; Zechariah 10:6And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.
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3. The significance of the shepherd is that he will only remove a remnant of the lamb from the mouth of the lion.  In like manner a remnant of Israel shall be removed to return back to the land.
3. The Coming Judgment from the Lord (Amos 3:13-15 [13] Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, [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.
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1. The Lord calls for attention (Amos 3:13Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
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2. The Lord to visit the altars of Bethel (Amos 3:14That 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.
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1. This is where Jeroboam set up a golden calf for worship.
2. This altar had already been destroyed (1 Kings 13:4-5 [4] And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. [5] The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.
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3. It was probably rebuilt and then destroyed by Josiah (2 Kings 23:15Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.
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4. Much of what we have read has a twofold application.  It is historical and prophetic.  It is likely that these altars will again show up in the future.
3. The Lord to visit their houses (Amos 3:15And 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.
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1. The winter houses (Jeremiah 36:22Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
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2. The summer houses
3. The houses of ivory (1 Kings 22:39Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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4. The great houses