Amos 1 (4)

Pray Psalm 2.1, 2.
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed…

Sing Psalm 2.1, 2.
(Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High)
Why do the nations vainly rage,
conspiring together from age to age?
Earth’s kings and all of their couns’lers stand
against the LORD and His Right Hand.

Read and meditate on Amos 1.1-12; meditate on verses 9-12.

Preparation
1. Why was God angry with Tyre?

 2. What would He do to them?

Meditation
The Gentile city of Tyre was guilty of the same sin as Gaza: selling the people of Israel into captivity to Edom (v. 9). The people of Tyre had a long-standing covenant with the people of Israel, dating back to the days of Solomon (1 Kgs. 5.1-10). Despite Israel’s rebellion against Judah, relations with Tyre seem to have remained intact. But when Tyre piled on with Gaza to take a large number of people captive and sell them to Edom, that was the end of their covenant and of God’s patience with Tyre.

The punishment was yet in the future, when Nebuchadnezzar would burn the city-state of Tyre to the ground and leave its rubble beside the Mediterranean Sea. The people of Tyre, stubborn and determined, rebuilt their city on an island just offshore, thinking this an impregnable redoubt. But Alexander would come, around 333 BC, and, using the rubble from old Tyre, build a causeway to new Tyre, lay siege, and subdue it entirely.

Tyre’s palaces and all its people were “devoured”, just as the Lord said.

God’s judgment can be long in coming sometimes. But that doesn’t mean His Word has failed. Judgment can occur suddenly—as in the fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians (Dan. 5.30, 31); or it can take the form of a process of steady decline unto ultimate destruction (Rom. 1.18-32).

Either way, it’s not somewhere we want to be.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;
rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded!” (Ps. 7.6).

The enemies against God’s people were vicious indeed. The description of them is frightening:
“…he pursued his brother with the sword, and cast off all pity; his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever” (Amos 1.11).

Prayer is the only way to fend off that kind of hatred. We can only give that to God and wait for Him to judge and deliver. As David prayed:
“O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me;
and deliver me, lest they tear me like a lion, rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver…
Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just;
for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart.
God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Ps. 7.1, 2, 9-11).

Paul also experienced this same terrifying anger from his enemies, yet he said:

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Tim. 4.17, 18).

God sees. God knows. And God is angry with the wicked every day.

And we never want to fall on the wrong side of that equation.

Have we ever pursued a Christian brother with a sword?
“There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword…” (Prov. 12.18).
Have we ever cast off all pity toward anyone, or any group?
Has our anger toward any person or persons torn at them perpetually?
Or torn into our own hearts continually?
Have we kept wrath going about anything?
What if there is something in our life, or in our church, that God is angry about every day?

Are there three transgressions, maybe even four, from which we need to turn?

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Pet. 2.1-3).

God’s judgment fell against Tyre.
God’s judgment will fall against our enemies.
God’s judgment will happen…

“God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Lk. 18.13).

Reflection
1. What’s the best way to keep from coming under the discipline of the Lord?

2. How would you counsel a friend who came to you burdened with some sin?

3. How can believers encourage one another to stay on the Lord’s path?

He uses nearly the same words respecting Tyrus which he did respecting Gaza, and charges it with the same sin, which was that of removing the Jews from their country, as refugees and exiles, into Idumea, and of selling them as captives to the Idumeans. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Amos 1.9-12

Pray Psalm 2.10-12.
Pray for a great worldwide awakening to Jesus in all the nations of the world, and that God would spare His wrath and multiply His mercy and grace.

Sing Psalm 2.10-12.
(Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High)
Be wise, O kings, O judges, hear,
and tremble with joy, serve the LORD with fear.
Embrace the Son, keep His wrath at bay,
or you shall perish in the way.

His wrath is kindled like a flame
at all who refuse to bow to His Name.
Beware His anger and judgment grim:
How blessed are all who trust in Him!

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).

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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.