ORACLE OF WARNING TO THE WEALTHY WOMEN OF SAMARIA (AMOS 4:1). We can tend to forget that the women of Israel/Judah were regularly equally guilty with the men, but the prophets never forgot it, for they saw it before their very eyes (compare Isaiah's vivid word picture in Isaiah 3:16 to Isaiah 4:1; I... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO INDICTMENTS OF THE PEOPLE WHICH WILL RESULT IN A SERIES OF CHASTISEMENTS (AMOS 4:1). A new oracle now begins with the words ‘hear this word ---' (compare Amos 3:1; Amos 5:1) and consists of indictments, first on the wealthy women of Israel (Amos 4:1), and then on all of Israel who are not true t... [ Continue Reading ]
ORACLE OF WARNING TO ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL (AMOS 4:4). Amos constantly attacks Israel on two major subjects, false worship and social injustice. In Amos 4:1 he has attacked social injustice. Now in Amos 4:4 he again attacks false worship and idolatry. He points out that the superficial and sync... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH FIVE TIMES EXPRESSES HIS CONCERN THAT IN SPITE OF HIS JUDGMENTS ISRAEL HAVE NOT RETURNED TO HIM (AMOS 4:6). Having made clear His indictment of the women and men of Israel, both because of social injustice and because of false religious practises, YHWH now five times expresses His concern that... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING FAILED TO RESPOND TO ALL GOD'S PLEADINGS BY JUDGMENT THERE COULD ONLY BE ONE INEVITABLE END. LIKE PHARAOH BEFORE THEM THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT THE SEVERITY OF HIS JUDGMENT WHEN ALL ELSE HAD FAILED (AMOS 4:12). It is made apparent that God had done all that He could to win them back to Him... [ Continue Reading ]