Judging the nations

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Today we jump into the prophet Amos, one of my favorite prophets because of his clear message of social justice. Amos probably prophesied and wrote in the 750's BCE in the Northern Kingdom, though he was from the South (Tekoa is about 10 miles from Jerusalem.) In this time Samaria was relatively stable and prosperous, but the Assyrian Empire to the east was becoming stronger and extending its influence. As it turns out, Assyria conquers Israel in 722 BCE.

Amos begins his book with a common form in prophetic writing, the oracle against the nations. Here he presents God's judgment against Syria (Aram), Gaza/Philistia and Tyre. You'll notice a repeated introduction for these oracles: "For three transgressions of_____ and for for I will not revoke the punishment..." This repetition gives structure to this part of the book. God judges these nations for their conduct in war; later we'll see Israel taken to task for social oppression. For Amos especially, news, social relations and politics are all a matter of faith. May we have eyes to see God's guidance everywhere.

God bless,
Sam


Amos 1:1-9
The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of King Uzziah of Judah and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2And he said: The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds wither, and the top of Carmel dries up.

3Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. 4So I will send a fire on the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. 5I will break the gate bars of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven, and the one who holds the scepter from Beth-eden; and the people of Aram shall go into exile to Kir, says the Lord.

6Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they carried into exile entire communities, to hand them over to Edom. 7So I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, fire that shall devour its strongholds. 8I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod, and the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord God. 9Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they delivered entire communities over to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of kinship. 10So I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, fire that shall devour its strongholds.