November 8, 2015 February 21, 2016

“Judge not, that you be not judged “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

the speck from your brother’s eye. 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

Amos The Judge Is At the Door November 8, 2015 February 21, 2016 Amos The Judge Is At the Door

1The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa...

Fearless Messenger

two years before the earthquake. 1The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

(Syria) (Jereboam) Tekoa (Uzziah)

Twenty-one times, we read phrases such as: “Thus says the LORD…” “Hear the word of the LORD…” “This is what the LORD showed me…

Chiastic Structure of the Book of Amos Chiasm A repetition of similar ideas in the reverse sequence

Chiastic Structure of the Book of Amos A Judgment of the Land (1:2) B. Judgment of the Nations (1:3–2:3) C Judgment of Judah and Israel (2:4–9:10) C ́ Restoration of Judah and Israel (9:11) B ́ Restoration of the Nations (9:12) A ́ Restoration of the Land (9:13–15)

“For three…and for four” A total of eight times in the book. “N and N+1” Also used in other ancient Near Eastern cultures Often the second item is enumerated Context of “enough, more than enough”

“For three…and for four” 1,2 – (Job 33:14; Psalm 62:1) 2,3 – (Job 33:29) 3,4 – Proverbs 30:15; 18; 21; 29) 6,7 – (Job 5:19; Proverbs 6:16) 7,8 – (Micah 5:5)

“For three…and for four” “16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19  A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

The words “transgress” and “transgression” occur 12 times. Key Words The words “transgress” and “transgression” occur 12 times. This highlights one of the key elements of the book, the judgment of God on Israel for her sinful ways. A key phrase of the book is “I will not revoke its punishment because . . .” J. Hampton Keathley III

Key Verses Hear this word which the LORD has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt, “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities. Amos 3:1-2.

Key Verses “I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD. “Therefore, thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I shall do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” Amos 4:11-12.

to seek the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.” Key Verses 11 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the LORD. 12“And people will stagger from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.” Amos 8:11-12

Judgment on Syria 3 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Damascus have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They beat down my people in Gilead as grain is threshed with iron sledges. 4 So I will send down fire on King Hazael’s palace,  and the fortresses of King Ben-hadad will be destroyed.

Threshing Sledge

5 I will break down the gates of Damascus     and slaughter the people in the valley of Aven. I will destroy the ruler in Beth-eden, and the people of Aram will go as captives to Kir,” says the Lord.

Judgment on Philistia 6 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Gaza have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They sent whole villages into exile, selling them as slaves to Edom. 7 So I will send down fire on the walls of Gaza, and all its fortresses will be destroyed.

8 I will slaughter the people of Ashdod and destroy the king of Ashkelon. Then I will turn to attack Ekron, and the few Philistines still left will be killed,” says the Sovereign Lord.

9 This is what the Lord says: Judgment on Tyre 9 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Tyre have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They broke their treaty of brotherhood with Israel, selling whole villages as slaves to Edom. 10 So I will send down fire on the walls of Tyre, and all its fortresses will be destroyed.”

11 This is what the Lord says: Judgment on Edom 11 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Edom have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They chased down their relatives, the Israelites, with swords,     showing them no mercy.

In their rage, they slashed them continually and were unrelenting in their anger. 12 So I will send down fire on Teman, and the fortresses of Bozrah will be destroyed.”

13 This is what the Lord says: Judgment on Ammon 13 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Ammon have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! When they attacked Gilead to extend their borders, they ripped open pregnant women with their swords.

14 So I will send down fire on the walls of Rabbah, and all its fortresses will be destroyed. The battle will come upon them with shouts, like a whirlwind in a mighty storm. 15 And their king and his princes will go into exile together,” says the Lord.

1This is what the Lord says: Judgment on Moab 1This is what the Lord says: “The people of Moab have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They desecrated the bones of Edom’s king, burning them to ashes. 2 So I will send down fire on the land of Moab, and all the fortresses in Kerioth will be destroyed.

The people will fall in the noise of battle,     as the warriors shout and the ram’s horn sounds. 3 And I will destroy their king     and slaughter all their princes,”     says the Lord.

4 This is what the Lord says: Judgment on the kingdom of Judah 4 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They have rejected the instruction of the Lord, refusing to obey His decrees. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors. 5 So I will send down fire on Judah, and all the fortresses of Jerusalem will be destroyed.”

6 This is what the Lord says: Judgment on the kingdom of Israel Injustice 6 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Israel have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They sell honourable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample helpless people in the dust and shove the oppressed out of the way...

Judgment on the kingdom of Israel Immorality 7 …Both father and son sleep with the same woman, corrupting My holy name.

Judgment on the kingdom of Israel Idolatry 8 At their religious festivals, they lounge in clothing their debtors put up as security. In the house of their gods, they drink wine bought with unjust fines.

Judgment on the kingdom of Israel Indifference 11 I chose some of your sons to be prophets and others to be Nazirites… 12 “But you caused the Nazirites to sin by making them drink wine, and you commanded the prophets, ‘Shut up!’

Judgment on the kingdom of Israel Future Defeat 13 “So I will make you groan like a wagon loaded down with sheaves of grain. 16 On that day the most courageous of your fighting men will drop their weapons and run for their lives,” says the Lord.

The LORD will be faithful to keep all of His covenant promises! What Next? The LORD will be faithful to keep all of His covenant promises!

What Next? My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. James 2:1

as yourself,” you do well… What Next? My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” you do well… James 2:1;8

What Next? 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:21-24

What Next? “…prepare to meet your God!”

3 …why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?... 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3;5

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord… 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! James 5:7-9