Amos 3:9-12
Punishment of Israel’s Sins
9 “Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: ‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; see great tumults in her midst, and the oppressed within her.
10 For they do not know to do right,’ says the Lord, ‘who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’ ”
11 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered.”
12 Thus says the Lord: “As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion
Two legs or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be taken out who dwell in Samaria – in the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch!”
Amos 3:11 announces a calamity. This reminds us of the news we see on TV or online in our lifetime. Sometimes it is necessary to turn off the TV or put the phone aside to prevent depression or feeling low because of so much tragedy, one right after another.
Samaria was the capital of the Israeli reign, in which the prophet, under God’s command, would proclaim national calamities as punishment. What faults did that nation have? They didn’t know right from wrong anymore. Justice was perverted. They committed shameful fraud. Maybe this comes to you as no surprise at all, besides, perversion has become a very common thing, which has caused many to not know right from wrong anymore. Yes, dear reader, our times have been lived by Israel before. Imagine the great tumults you have seen, heard of, or maybe even taken place in… Revolted youths, violent protest riots, concerts accompanied by orgies, millions of miserable people in the midst of others’ wealth; a generalized disorder.
In spite of all of this, by delegating this message to prophet Amos, God was giving Israel an opportunity to repent before their judgment came. This also repeats in our days. It is wonderful to know that God is always available to hear our confessions with a repentant heart and to forgive us, thanks to the purifying power of the blood of Christ. We still have time to be saved from the calamity that is approaching. We should never wait for the day of judgment to come so that we settle our debt with God. He desires to grant us forgiveness even more than we seek to receive it! If tomorrow is judgment day, today is still time for forgiveness.
Invite God to start in your life the change that is so necessary for the whole world. Make sure you forgive others so that God will forgive you: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14,15).”
