Basic HTML Version
national defeat and captivity. From
721-718 B.C., the northern House
went captive to the murderous Assy–
rians under the leadership of the
dreaded Shalmaneser (II Kings 17).
Cause and Effect
Why didn't Israel heed the messages
of her prophets? What made them
so complacent-so intent upon self–
justification?
Amos described the national con–
dition in chapter 6: "Woe to those
who are at ease in Zion, and to
those who feel secure on the moun–
tain of Samaria, the notable men of
the first of the nations, to whom the
house oflsrael come!" (Verse
1.)
The problem centered on the po–
litical and religious leaders who sat
ship with Israel that rendered her
more accountable: "Hear this word
that the Lord has spoken against
you, O people of Israel, against the
whole family which 1 brought up
out of the land of Egypt: 'You only
have 1 known of all the families of
the earth ; therefore 1 wiU punish
you for a ll your iniquities'" (Amos
3: 1-2).
In the days of Moses, when God
had brought Israel out of slavery in
Egypt, He had entered into a cov–
enant relationship with her. The na–
tion was to become a showpiece for
God's way of life upon the earth.
They were to become a nation of
priests, an example for aU to follow
(Isa. 42:6; Ex. 19:5-6; Deut. 4:6-8).
Instead, the Israelites rebelled
"1 gave you cleanness of teeth
in
all your cities, and lack of bread
In
all
your places, yet you did not retum to me." (Amos 4:6)
in the seat of government. They
were "at ease," lulled into a false
sense of persona l securily. After all,
were they not the leaders of the
"chief of the nations"- lsrael? Was
not Israel the chosen nation of G od,
the covenant people? And did not
its citizens come respectfully lo
these great sages for advice and
counsel? Why should they become
alarmed at the preachments of sorne
self-appointed shepherd-prophet?
They were willing victims of their
own self-deception. The leaders and
the people alike had blinded them–
selves to the cri tica! seriousness of
the national condition. They looked
upon the deceptive barometer of
temporary national prosperity as an
indicator of God's approval. They
allowed themselves to become pre–
occupied wi th the pleasures of high
living and personal self-indulgence.
Amos indicted them for their he–
donism: "Woe to those who lie upon
beds of ivory, and stretch them–
selves upon their couches, and eat
lambs from the ftock, and calves
from the midst of the stall ; who sing
idle songs to the sound of the harp,
and like David invent for them–
selves instruments of music; who
drink wine in bowls, and anoint
themselves with the finest oi ls, but
The
PLAIN TRUTH February 1978
are not grieved over the ruin of Jo–
seph!" (Amos 6:4-6.)
' 'Eat, driok, and be merry- for
tomorrow will never come" was the
national philosophy. The na tion's
eli te was preoccupied with petty
pleasures while the country disinte–
grated from within. No one seemed
to be sufficiently concerned to take
action. Somehow the nation's lead–
ers were unable to exercise suf–
ficient vision to see the end result of
what was happening within Israel.
Amos spoke of them as those "who
put far away the evil 9ay" (verse 3).
Any national crisis was relegated to
the distant future.
Speclflc Sins
Wha t, exactly, was ancient Israel
guilty of before God? What was
happening within that nation thal
so angered God that He was will ing
to bring about such devastating
punishment?
Amos does no t leave any room
for uncertainty. The record is clear.
Chapters 3 through 6 of the book of
Amos specifically list the many sins
of which the northern House was
gui lty.
Before itemizing the sins of the
nation, God pointed out that He
had entered into a special rela tion-
from the beginning. They failed to
live up to their part of lhe bargain.
Again and again God sent prophets
lO warn lhem and remind them of
the curses that were in store for
those who would disobey ( Lev.
26: 14-46; Deut. 29:2 1). Prophet af–
ter prophet reminded them of their
fai lure to fulfill the covenant obliga–
tion (Jer.
JI :
1-4; 22:9, 31 :32; Ezek.
16:59; 44 :7; Mal. 2: lO). Still, the
nation rebelled.
Inte rna! decay and corruption
continued to worsen. In King James
te rmin ology, " their s ins waxed
worse and worse." Just what were
these sins?
Drastlc lncrease In Crime
Crime, graft, bribery, political cor–
ruption and resultant societal insta–
bi lity prevailed in the days of Amos.
He spoke of "great tumults" and
"oppressions" within Israel {Amos
3:9). He said : "They do not know
how to do right ... those who store
up violence and robbery
in
their
strongholds" (verse
JO).
It was a lso a time of payoffs. hush
money and political corruption.
Every man had his price. Therefore
Amos wro te: "... How great a re
your sins- you who afl:lict the righ–
teous, who take a bribe, and turn
21