Amos 3:1-8
[1] Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you,
against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt,
[2] You only have I known of all the families of the earth:
therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
[3] Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
[4] Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey?
will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
[5] Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him?
shall one take up a snare from the earth,
[6] Shall a trumpet be blown in the city,
shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?
[7] Surely the Lord God will do nothing,
but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
[8] The lion hath roared, who will not fear?
the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
Introduction:
Outline of the Book
"The most extensive use of repeated vocabulary to demarcate sections is probably in the Book of Amos." [footnote 1]
Main divisions of the book of Amos: chapters 1-2, 3-6, 7-9
Interruptions noted at 5:18-6:4 (5:18, 21; 6:1, 4), 7:10-17, and 8:4-14.
Five visions of 7-9 noted at 7:1, 4, 7; 8:1 and 9:1.
Outline of chapters 3-6
Significance of 3:1-8
"Hear this Word!"
Are your ears open or shut?
Are you listening?
Are you really listening?
Do you hear Him?
He has some questions for you - will you hear them?
Do you want to know why?
Are you sure that you really want to know why?
He has spoken - what will be your response?
I. The Relationship of God with Israel is the Basis for their Judgment (3:1-2)
[1] Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you,
O children of Israel,
against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt,
saying,
[2] You only have I known of all the families of the earth:
therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
1. The Call of the Lord to Hear His Word of Judgment (3:1)
Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you,
O children of Israel,
against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt,
saying,
Covenantal documents:
Deut. 4:1 - Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you.
Deut. 5:1 - And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
Deut. 6:3 - Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
Covenant lawsuit material:
Amos 4:1 - Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
Amos 5:1 - Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.
Jeremiah 2:4 - Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
Hosea 4:1 - Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
Here and in verse 8 are the only two places in Amos where the Lord is the express subject of the verb "to speak". [footnote 2]
2. The Relationship to the Lord as the Basis for His Judgment (3:2)
You only have I known of all the families of the earth:
therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
"For nation or man to be allowed to go on in sin without rebuke is the greatest curse that can befall it or him." [footnote 3]
"Know" = sovereign choice, election, favor = intimate relationship -
Genesis 18:19 - For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Deut. 7:7-8 - The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: [8] But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
John 10:14 - I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
2 Tim. 2:19 - Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
This also applies to God's "foreknowledge" which may never be reduced to a bare "prescience" or "foresight":
Romans 8:29 - For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 11:2 - God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Acts 2:23 - Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
"Election to privilege is consequently only another name for election to duty!" [footnote 4]
"Responsibility flows from relationship." [footnote 5]
II. The Reasons of God for Judgment Upon Israel are Assumed (3:3-6)
[3] Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
[4] Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey?
will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
[5] Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him?
shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
[6] Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?
shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?
1. A Question Concerning Walking Together (3:3)
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Do two walk together,unless they have agreed to meet? (ESV)
Do two walk together, unless they have made an appointment? (RSV)
Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment? (NASB)
Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? (NLT)
Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? (NIV)
Psalm 119:63 - I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 - [14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? [15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? [16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. [7:1] Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephes. 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
James 4:4 - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Who is walking together here, or not?
Is this focused on Amos' relationship with God, or Israel's?
Who agrees with who?
Have you agreed with God?
Or, do you expect Him to agree with you?
The movement in the next six questions is from a rural and natural setting transitioning into the urban and human realm. Once again we see the inevitable and implacable onslaught of God stripping away the defenses of man where he feels the most safety.
2. Two Questions Concerning the Lion and His Prey (3:4)
Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey?
will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
Rural/natural setting
Amos 1:2 - And he said, The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.
Hosea 5:14 - For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
Hosea 11:10 - They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
3. Two Questions Concerning the Snare and the Bird (3:5)
Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him?shall one take up a snare from the earth,
and have taken nothing at all?
Suburban/human interaction with nature setting
4. Two Questions Concerning the Evil and the City (3:6)
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?
Urban/human setting
"Evil which is sin the Lord hath not done, evil which is punishment for evil the Lord bringeth." [footnote 6]
Isaiah 45:7 - I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
Lament. 3:38 - Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
Micah 1:12 - For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem.
Today this would be a siren, or more likely, a radio/TV warning system.
III. The Revelation of God Concerning Judgment must be Announced to Israel (3:7-8)
[7] Surely the Lord God will do nothing,
but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
[8] The lion hath roared, who will not fear?
the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
1. The Revelation of God Through His Prophets Precedes His Judgment (3:7)
Surely the Lord God will do nothing,
but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
No "sucker punches", no "sneak attacks"
2. The Revelation of God Through His Prophets Cannot Be Restrained - Two Climactic Questions (3:8)
The lion hath roared, who will not fear?
the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
"The Gospel of the Lion’s Roar!" [footnote 7]
1 Cor. 9:16 - For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Conclusion:
"Hear this Word!"
Are your ears open or shut?
Are you listening?
Are you really listening?
Do you hear Him?
He has some questions for you - will you hear them?
Do you want to know why?
Are you sure that you really want to know why?
He has spoken - what will be your response?
Footnotes:
1. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Toward an Exegetical Theology, Biblical Exegesis for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981), pg. 74. Concerning the questions in this section Kaiser writes that they are a "...series of nine rhetorical questions that lead irrevocably and unmistakably to the cause-and-effect conclusion towards which Amos' argument is aimed: "The Lord has spoken, who can but prophesy?" (3:8)." Op. cit., pg. 75.
2. A. Berkeley Mickelsen, Interpreting the Bible (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1963), pp. 58, pp. 83-84 - note 7, 84.
3. H. R. Reynolds, and Prof. Whitehouse in Ellicott's Commentary on the Whole Bible, A Verse by Verse Explanation, ed. Charles John Ellicott (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, n.d.), III:454.
4. George I. Robinson, The Twelve Minor Prophets (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1926), pg. 57.
5. H. A. Ironside, Notes on the Minor Prophets (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, Inc., Bible Truth Depot, n.d., 1st ed. 1909), pg. 151.
6. Augustine, cited by Reynolds and Whitehouse, op. cit., III:455.
7. Robinson, ibid.
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