Amos 1 (2)

Pray Psalm 68.1,2, 32, 33
Let God arise,
Let His enemies be scattered;
Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.
As smoke is driven away,
So drive them away;
As wax melts before the fire,
So let the wicked perish at the presence of God…
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;
Oh, sing praises to the Lord,
Selah
To Him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which were of old!
Indeed, He sends out His voice, a mighty voice.

Sing Psalm 68.1, 2, 32, 33.
(O Store Gud: How Great Thou Art)
Let God arise, let all Your foes be scattered!
Let those who hate You flee before Your face!
As smoke dissolves, as wax in flame is shattered,
let all the wicked perish in disgrace!
Refrain vv. 32, 33
Sing to the LORD, O kingdoms of the earth!
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!
Behold He speaks; His Word is going forth;
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!

Read Amos 1.1-5; meditate on verses 3-5.

Preparation
1. What had Syria (Damascus) done?

2. How would God judge them?

Meditation
The Syrians had horribly “threshed” the region of Gilead in Israel. Gilead was part of the land east of the Jordan which Israel had taken on their way to invading the Canaanite lands. It was the historic dwelling-place of the half-tribe of Manasseh (Num. 32.39), but doubtless people from other of the ten northern tribes had migrated and settled there by Amos’ day. According to Amos’ contemporary, Hosea, Gilead had become a region notorious for evildoers (Hos. 6.8-10). But this did not justify the excessive cruelty Damascus appears to have inflicted on the people there.

God’s judgment would take the form of the destruction of the royal household of Syria’s kings (vv. 4, 5). Further, enemies—probably Assyria—would break into the city of Damascus with murderous results (v. 5). The surviving people of Syria would go into captivity to Kir. It’s not clear where Kir was. It may have been an Assyrian city or outpost. The word means simply “wall” or “enclosure”, suggesting captivity and depravation of the worst kind.

The message to Israel was clear: See what God can do to those who are mightier than you. Repent and return to the Lord, lest worse judgment fall upon you.

Christians are commanded to love our enemies (Matt. 5.44-48). As much as we might like to put someone down, make life miserable for them, gossip about them to others, hold a grudge, or in other ways thresh them with words or deeds, we must desist. Jesus died for our enemies, just as He died for us, Who were His enemies until His love finally broke through and we were saved (Rom. 5.10; Gal. 4.6).

Only God can pass judgment on our enemies. Our duty is to love them.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“…because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron” (Amos 1.3 ESV).
“…because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth…” (Amos 1.3 NIV)
“They beat down My people in Gilead as grain is threshed with iron sledges” (Amos 1.3 NLT).
“…because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron” (Amos 1.3 NKJV).

Any way you write and read it, God is not pleased with those who treat His people—however deserving—cruelly and badly. It is His job to judge His people. It is not for others to do the deed.

For all those who are oppressed politically, personally, financially, familially and fatally—God sees, and He cares. And those who do the oppressing, from them He will “not turn away its punishment” (Amos 1.3).

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
and let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns.’
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD,
for He is coming to judge the earth” (1 Chron. 16.31-33).

“For by fire and by His sword the LORD will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the LORD shall be many” (Is. 66.16).

“…the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Ps. 19.9).

God does not tolerate His people to be threshed with implements of iron, whether that implement of iron is someone else’s tongue, or power, or ill will. Someday those folks will be judged. After He gets through judging the Church. “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4.17). Fair question.

“For three transgressions…and for four” (Amos 1.3) we must not be an implement of iron against anyone else. “The message to Israel was clear: See what God can do to those who are mightier [and perhaps meaner and crueler] than you. Repent and return to the Lord, lest worse judgment fall upon you.”

Reflection
1. Have you ever “threshed” someone with your tongue or works? Are there outstanding amends to be made?

2. What’s the best way to make sure you don’t fall under the discipline of God (Heb. 12.3-11)?

3. How can believers encourage and help one another to avoid the judgment of God?

Damascus was the capital of Syria (also called Aram), a powerful kingdom that had been a frequent adversary of Israel throughout its history. Israelites listening to Amos would have been glad to hear of God’s punishment of Damascus. Earl Radmacher (1933-2014), NKJV Study Bible Note on Amos 1.3-5

Pray Psalm 68.3, 4, 19, 20, 32, 33.
Rejoice before the Lord and give thanks for our great salvation. Praise Him for His sovereign might and rule, and bless and thank Him for all His many benefits. Commit yourself to be an agent of His grace today.

Sing Psalm 68.3, 4, 19, 20, 32, 33.
(O Store Gud: How Great Thou Art)
LORD, let Your righteous ones exult in glory,
let us rejoice and praise Your holy Name!
Now let us sing the Savior’s old, old story—
Who life to deserts brings, we now proclaim!
Refrain vv. 32, 33
Sing to the LORD, O kingdoms of the earth!
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!
Behold He speaks; His Word is going forth;
Ancient of Days—praise Him on high!

Blessed be the LORD, our burden daily bearing,
O God, our God, our Savior and our King!
With us salvation and deliv’rance sharing,
He life from death His people daily brings.
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.

And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.