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THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson13,Chapter8
LastweekinAmoschapter7webeganstudyingaseriesof4visionsthatthe
ProphetreceivedfromTheLord.BecauseoftheplaceintheAmosmanuscript
wheresomeoneseveralhundredyearsagodecidedtoarbitrarilydividechapter7
fromchapter8(rememberingthatoriginallytherewerenochapterorverse
markingsordivisions)the4
th
visionwoundupbeingplacedinchapter8,which
essentiallyruinedtheflowofthepresentationofthe4visions.All4visionsare
aboutwhatYehovehintendstodotoIsraelaspunishmentfortheir
unfaithfulnesstoHim.Thefirst2arequitedifferentfromthesecond2.Thefirst
2haveAmoshearingwhatGodintends,thenAmosadvocatingforIsraelasan
intercessor,andGodrelentingbysayingthatHewon’tdoit.Thesecondpairof
visionshasGodinterrogatingAmos,Amosresponding,butGodrefusingto
relent.
Let’sreadAmoschapter8.
READAMOSCHAPTER8all
Thenatureofthe4
th
visionthatbeginsthischapteristhesameasthethirdvision
thatendedchapter7:bothareword-playvisions.Thatis,wordsthatsoundalike
whenspokenarechosentopresentthevision.Therefore,thevisionsaremore
symbolicthanliteral.Thus,inthe3
rd
visionwesawthataword-playonthe
Hebrewwordsfortin(anak)andmoan(anaq)areusedtoexplainsymbolically
thatthedefensivewallsofIsrael’swalledcitieswillbelikesofttintotheinvaders
whowilleasilybreechthem,andbecauseofthatthecities’residentswillmoan
andgroanastheyareputtotheswordbytheenemy.
This4thvisionofchapter8verses1–3basesitsword-playonatypeoffruit
containedinabasket;oftentranslatedassummerfruit.Tobeclear:theitems
mentionedinthevisionarealmostirrelevant;theyhavenorealsignificance.
Theywerechosenbasedonhowthewordssoundwhenpronouncedoutloud.
Thebasketismerelyawovenbasketusedtogatheranytypeoffruit,andifwe
candrawanyconclusionatallaboutthefruititwaspicturedascontaininginthis
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vision,verylikelyitisfigs.Godusesthesightofthisbasketasaproptopresent
thevision.
Sonow,inverse2,thefocusbecomesnotwhattheactualobjectis(abasketful
offigs),butratherwhatitsoundslikewhenthewordisspoken.TheHebrew
wordforsummerfruitisqayits,whichisessentiallyahomonymforanotherand
differentHebrewwordthatsoundsjustlikeitwhenspoken.However,that
secondwordmeans“thefinalhour”or“thehourofdoom”.Ahomonymisa
relationshipbetweentwowordsthatsoundthesameorarespelledthesame,
butthosetwowordshaveentirelydifferentmeanings…oftenbeingopposites.
HomonymsareliterarydevicesstandardinmanylanguagesincludingEnglish
andHebrew.Interestingly,thehomonymofthesesound-alikeHebrewwordsin
the4
th
visiononlyworkswhenthewordsarespokenusingthedialectofHebrew
thatwasspokenintheNorthernKingdomofEphraim/Israel.Itwouldn’tworkat
allifitwaspronouncedasthewordswerepronouncedinJudah.So,thismakes
italltheclearerthatthisvisionisaimedsquarelyatEphraim/Israelandnot
necessarilytoJudah.Aswiththethirdvision,themeaningisasimpleone:
God’sdeclarationofIsrael’sviolentdemiseanddestructionatthehandofa
foreigninvaderwillneitherbedelayednorreversed.
Verse3concludesthe4
th
visionbyportrayingawholesaleslaughterofthe
populationofEphraim/Israel.Formerlyjoyfulandupliftingsongssungand
playedattheTempleinBethelwillbecomefuneralsongsofmourningbecauseof
thepilesandpilesofdeadbodiesstackedupthroughouttheland.Whatthe4
visionsdepictwhentakentogetherasawholeisofcertain,unavoidable,severe
andwidespreaddestructionanddeathtoeverylevelofIsraelitesociety,butnot
oftotalobliterationofthepeople.Godwillpreservearemnantthatwilllater-on
(asitturnsout,about27centurieslater-on)returntotheland.Thisreturnis
happeninginourtime,asIspeak.
Verses4–6speakabouttheshadyandhypocriticalbusinesspracticesthat
go-onintheNorthernKingdom.Bythe8
th
centuryB.C.,Israelhadevolvedinto
a2-classsocietyofhavesandhavenots.Notbyaccident,thiseconomicsystem
wasdeliberateanddesignedtobenefittheupperclassbysubjugatingthelower
class.ThisisdirectlyagainstthemoralcodelaidoutbyGodintheLawofMoses
andissomethingthatmodernWesternsocietiesneedtotakeintoconsideration
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eveninourtime.AlthoughanumberofpassagesintheTorahdealwiththis
matter,IthinkthesetwopassagesdoagoodjobofsummingupGod’sattitude
andcommandsaboutsocietalstructureespeciallyasitconcernsfinancesandthe
economy.InExodus,wereadthis:
CJB
Exodus23:6"Donotdenyanyonejusticeinhislawsuitsimplybecauseheis
poor.
AndtheninDeuteronomy…
CJB
Deuteronomy15:7-11
7
"Ifsomeoneamongyouisneedy,oneofyour
brothers,inanyofyourtownsinyourlandwhichADONAIyourGodisgivingyou,
youarenottohardenyourheartorshutyourhandfromgivingtoyourneedy
brother.
8
No,youmustopenyourhandtohimandlendhimenoughtomeethis
needandenablehimtoobtainwhathewants.
9
Guardyourselfagainstallowing
yourhearttoentertainthemean-spiritedthoughtthatbecausetheseventhyear,
theyearofsh'mittahisathand,youwouldbestingytowardyourneedybrother
andnotgivehimanything;forthenhemaycryouttoADONAIagainstyou,and
itwillbeyoursin.
10
Rather,youmustgivetohim;andyouarenottobe
grudgingwhenyougivetohim.Ifyoudothis,ADONAIyourGodwillblessyou
inallyourwork,ineverythingyouundertake-
11
fortherewillalwaysbepoor
peopleintheland.ThatiswhyIamgivingyouthisorder,'Youmustopenyour
handtoyourpoorandneedybrotherinyourland.'
I’vepointedoutseveraltimesduringourstudyofAmosthatoneofthechief
complaintsthatYehovehhasagainstIsraelisthetreatment(orbetter,
maltreatment)ofthepoor(thelowerclass)ofIsraelitesocietybytheupperclass.
Everysocietyonearthissusceptibletonotproperlycaringforthelessfortunate
intheirownsocietybecausetodosoviolatesthesecondofthetwofoundational
principlesthatGodhasbuiltHisentiremoralcodeupon:loveyourneighboras
yourself.Somesocietieshavedelegatedthatdutytothegovernment,andothers
relyentirelyonthecharityofindividuals.Clearly,Godwantsabalanceof
responsibilitybetweenthegovernmentandindividuals.Thenthereisalsothe
issueofexploitation.Thatis,takingadvantageofthelower-classworkersbynot
fairlypayingthemfortheirlabors.Sooftenthisshowsupasanenormous
imbalanceoftheelitewealthybecomingwealthybeyondevenourabilityto
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comprehendit,whileatthesametimethepeopletheyemployhaveahardtime
makingendsmeet.Godviewssuchbehaviorasgreedandalackoffairness.How
tosolveandproperlybalancethesemattersinourmoderncomplexsocieties
takesmuchwisdom.ButthebeginningofwisdomistotakeGod’s
commandmentsseriouslyconcerningcaringforthepoor,andtreating
employeesfairly.Ephraim/Israeldidn’ttakethesecommandsseriously,andnow
thewealthyandeliteareonthebrinkofnotonlyhavingitalltakenawayfrom
them,butalsobylikelylosingtheirlives;andthisisatGod’sdoing.Letthose
withears,hear.
Whileverse4openedthepassagespeakingoftheeconomichypocrisythatwas
goingon,verse5getsintotheactualaccusations.Thefirstaccusationisthat
IsraelitemerchantswantRosh-Hodesh(thenewmoonobservance)tohurryup
andgetoverwithsothattheycangetbacktosellingandmakingaprofit.And,
itisessentiallythesameattitudeaboutShabbat.Shabbathasbeenreducedto
anannoyancethatpreventsthemfromdoingbusinessonthatday.
ItisinterestingtonotethatapparentlyEphraim/IsraelobservedRoshHodeshby
makingitanadditionalsabbathday(asisdonewithsomeofthebiblicalfeasts).
RoshHodesh,theheadofthemonth,signaledthemomentthatthemonth
changed,anditwasdoneaccordingtotheappearanceofthenewmoon.Asan
aside:thenewmoonisnottobeconfusedwiththefullmoon.Thenewmoonis
whenthemoonis100%dark.DuringtheBibleera,theHebrewcalendarwasa
lunar/solarhybrid.Thelunarcalendarwasusedtofixthemonths,andthesolar
calendarwasusedtofixtheyears.However,sinceanewmoonappearsevery29
½days,thencalendar-wiseonemonththenewmoonbegana29-daymonth,
andthenextnewmoonbegana30-daymonthsincethereislittleotherwayto
accountforahalf-dayonacalendar.Therefore,sinceasolaryearis365days,
but12newmoons(12lunarmonths)addupto354days,awayhadtobe
developedtoaccountforthe11-daydifference.Thus,everyfewyearsan
additionalmonthwasadded(yes,insomeyearsoftheHebrewcalendarayear
consistsof13months).
WhatisinterestingisthatthereislittleevidenceintheTorahthatRoshHodesh
waseverintendedbyGodtobeanadditionalsabbathdayeachmonth.Themain
instructionaboutobservingRoshHodeshcomesfromtheBookofNumbers.
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CJB
Numbers10:10
10
"Alsoonyourdaysofrejoicing,atyourdesignatedtimes
andonRosh-Hodesh,youaretosoundthetrumpetsoveryourburntofferings
andoverthesacrificesofyourpeaceofferings;thesewillbeyourreminder
beforeyourGod.IamADONAIyourGod."
WhilethereissomeevidencethatatvariouspointsinIsrael’shistoryRosh
HodeshwasscrupulouslyobservedbyIsrael,thereisnoreasonableevidenceto
sayitwasalsotreatedasasabbath.So,whatwelearnfromthispassagein
AmosisthatoneofthemanyreligiousobservancesoftheNorthernKingdomof
Israelinthe8
th
centuryB.C.wastonotonlyobservetheNewMooncelebration
butalsototreatitasasabbath.Ephraim/Israelwasadeeplyreligiouskingdom
andwentoutoftheirwaytorituallyembellisheveryeventandobservance.The
problemwas,theyessentiallyre-wrotetheTorahastheysawfitbyincorporating
theirTraditions,andthenaddedmanypaganelementstoitaswell.Ashappens
insuchsituations,thesenewobservancesalongwiththecustomsusedto
celebratethemaredeclared“holy”bythereligiousauthorities,andthereforeare
holytothepeople,withallbelievingthatGodisquitepleasedwiththeir
observances.Christianityhasdonethesamewiththenon-biblicalholidaysof
EasterandChristmas.It’sonethingtoaddanobservanceasareligiousTradition;
itisquiteanothertodeclareitholy.OnlyGoddecidesanddeclareswhatisholy.
Humanshavenoauthoritytodoso(althoughCatholicismsaysthePopeindeed
doeshavesuchauthority).Onthesurfacethismayseemharmlessenoughand
tospeakagainstitismakingamountainoutofmolehill;itisnot.Rather,itisthe
sameslipperyslopeIsraelbegantoslidedown,whichbeganwithsmall
changestoGod’sTorahandtovariousbiblicallyordainedobservances;butthat
soonledtobiggerandbiggeronesuntiltheirTraditionsandcustoms
overwhelmedGod’sbiblicalcommandments.Whatwewindupwithisa
manmadereligioninsteadofamostspecific,God-ordainedanddesignedbiblical
faith.ThissortofscenariogreatlyriledYeshuaandHespokeoutaboutit.
CJB
Mark7:13Thus,withyourtraditionwhichyouhadhandeddowntoyou,you
nullifytheWordofGod!Andyoudootherthingslikethis."
AmospaintsanunflatteringpictureofthemerchantsandthewealthyofIsraelas
begrudgingthattheyhavetostopmakingmoneyonRoshHodeshandon
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Shabbat.Theypretendpiousness,butintheirheartstheyaregreedy.This
greedynaturecontinuesintothenextissueAmosbringsup,whichistheuseof
unethicalbusinesspracticesinordertoincreasetheirprofits.Theyusefalse
weightsandmeasures.First,theyshrinkthesizeofanephah.Anephahequates
toabouthalfabushel.Thatis,theyuseabasketformeasurementpurposesthat
issupposedtolegallyrepresentanephah,butinrealitythebaskettheyuseis
intentionallysmaller.Second,theyoverweighttheshekel.Ashekel,unliketoday
inIsrael,wasnotaunitofmoney(likeadimeoraquarter),butratheritwasa
measurementofweight,suchasanounce.Ashekelatthattimewasthe
equivalentofaround2/3rdsofanounce.Thetrickeryworkedthisway:abalance
scalewasused.Merchantshadsmallstandardweightsthatrepresentedvarious
amountsofashekel;oneweightmightbeahalfshekel,anotherashekel,
anotherthatwas2shekels,etc.Ifwhatwasowedwas1shekelofsilver,the
merchantwouldputa1-shekelweightononesideofthebalancescale,andthen
putanamountofthebuyer’ssilverontheothersideuntilthescalebalanced,
indicatingthattheamountofsilverequaled1shekel.But,themerchantswere
dishonest.Theywoulduseweightsthatwerealittleheavierthantheywere
supposedtobe.So,forinstance,perhapsasupposed1-shekelstandardweight
mightactuallyhavebeenmadetoweigh1.1shekels.Therefore,whentheyput
thatweightonabalancescale,thebuyerwouldhavetoputontheothersideof
thescaleanamountofsilverthathethoughtwas1shekel,butitactuallymore
andwasnonethewiserofthedeception.
Thethirdwaythemerchantscheatedwassimplybyusingscalesthatwere
riggedintheirfavor.TheLawofMosesspecificallyaddressedtheseissues.
CJB
Leviticus19:35-36
35
"'Don'tbedishonestwhenmeasuringlength,weightor
capacity.36Rather,useanhonestbalance-scale,honestweights,anhonest
busheldry-measureandanhonestgallonliquid-measure;IamADONAIyour
God,whobroughtyououtofthelandofEgypt.
Verse6speaksofbuyingtheneedy.Thisisquiteliterallytalkingaboutslavery;
humantrafficking.Thisissomethingthatwasacceptedandparforthecourseon
mostnationsonearthatthattime;butitwasnotallowedaccordingtotheLaw
ofMoses.Thisslaveryisnotthesameasbondservitudeinwhichaperson
agreed,orwasjudiciallysentenced,toworkforanotherpersonuntiladebtwas
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paidoff.Apoorpersonhadfewwaystoacquirematerialthingsiftheydidn’t
havethemoneyonhand(whichtheyhardlyeverdid),andbondservitudewas
oneofthem.Buttheywerenot“slaves”;theywerenotownedbytheirmasters.
Theywereclosertohowwethinkoflaborersundercontracttotheiremployer.
However,clearlyinIsraeltheyhadadoptedthecommonpracticeoftheirpagan
neighborsofbuyingandsellinghumanbeings.
EarlierinAmoschapter2,thepracticeofsellingthepoorintoslaverywas
condemned.Herethepracticeofbuyingthemisspokenabout.Thebuyersare
thosewithmoneywhocanpurchaseahumanbeingatadirt-cheappricesothey
canusethemasthecheapestpossiblelaborinorderforthemtomakemore
profit.Tobuyapoorperson“forapairofshoes(sandals”),isanancient
expression(justasdirt-cheapisanexpressionandnotliteral).But,thelackof
integrityofthemerchantsgetsevenworse.Theyareaccusedofsweepingupthe
refuseofthethreshingfloorandaddingittothegraintheysell,orsellingit
separatelytothepoorestasverycheapfood.
Verse7makesitclearthatdespitetheunethicalmerchantsandthegreedyrich
thinkingtheyaregettingawaywithsomething,Godseeswhatthey’redoingand
HeneverforgetswhatHesaw.Foronereason,YehovehhasnominatedHimself
astheprotectorofthepoor.ButwhatisthisaboutYehovehmakingavowand
swearingtoupholditaccordingto“Jacob’spride”?Therealityisthatthisisthe
onlyplaceintheBiblethatwefindsuchanexpression,andsonoonecanbe
certainwhatit’sgettingat.Perhapsthetwomostcommoninterpretationsare
that1)Jacob’sprideisthelandGodgavetoIsrael,and2)itisactuallyanironic
expressionthatGodofferstoguaranteetoIsraelsomethingthatisbasedon
Israel’sprideandarrogance.Idon’tknowifitisoneortheother…orneither.The
importantpointisthatGodismakingavowtodowhatHesaysHe’sgoingtodo.
Andhere,toneverforgetmeansthatpunishmentforthelistedcrimeorcrimes
willhappensoonerorlater.TimemaypasssuchthatIsraelforgetsabouttheir
crimes,butGoddoesn’tforgetandpunishmentwillbeunleasheduponthemat
somepoint.
Inverse8,theabundantlandofIsrael…sofertileandproductive…alandthathas
broughtforthgreatwealthforIsrael,willsuddenlybecomeadeath-pitforthem.
Acompletereversaloftheirsalvationhistoryaccompaniedwithacomplete
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reversaloftheirblessings’history.Whatwasanincredibleblessingforthem
(theirland)becomesaplaceoftormentanddeath,muchthesamewayan
auto-immunediseaseworksinahuman.Ourimmunesystemswerecreatedby
Godtoprotectusfromillness.But,whensomethinggoeswrongwiththemand
theybecomecorrupted,whatwasintendedforourprotectionbecomesan
enemythatafflictsus.
Inspeakingabouttheconvulsingoftheearth,nodoubtitisreferringto
earthquakes.EarthquakesareamongthemostcommonsymbolsofGod’sanger
andwrathintheBible.Oneofthemostvividandmemorablebiblicalpassages
describinganearthquakeanditseffectsisfoundintheBookofIsaiah.
CJB
Isaiah24:17-20
17
Terror,pitandtrapareuponyou,youwhoarelivingon
earth.
18
Hewhofleesatthesoundofterrorwillfallintothepit.Hewhoclimbsup
outofthepitwillbecaughtinthetrap.Forthewindowsabovehavebeenopened,
andtheearth'sfoundationsshake.
19
Theearthcracksandbreaksopen,the
earthcrumblestopieces,theearthtremblesandtotters.
20
Theearthstaggersto
andfrolikeadrunk,swaysbackandforthlikeawatchman'sshelter;its
transgressionweighsheavyuponit;itwillfallandnotriseagain.
Inanearthquake,thelandliterallytremblesbecauseitrisesandcontortsand
usuallyfallsbackagain,eachcataclysmicmovementcausingfearandmore
damage.So,itislikenedbyAmostotheNileRiverthatalsorisesandfloods,then
recedesandrests.Itcanbeforgood(wateringandfertilizingfields),butitalso
causedterribledamageanddeathattimes.
Theopeningwordsofverse9…“onthatday”…indicatethebeginningofanew
literaryunit.“Onthatday”isequivalenttotheDayofJudgmentortheDayofthe
Lord.Itissomethingthatisguaranteedtocome,butitisnotspeakingabouta
specific24-hourperiodthatwecancircleonourcalendarwithadayandaname.
Ratheritisaboutsomeunspecifiedtimeinthefuture,andofanunspecified
periodoftimeduringwhichGod’sjudgmentisfinallypouredout.Godsaysthat
whenthattimearrivesHewillmakethesungodownatnoon,andduringnormal
daylighthoursallwillturntothedarknessofnighttime.Thisisspeakingofafull
solareclipse.Thatis,thesunisnotgoingtoliterallyrushacrosstheskyatdouble
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speedinordertosetoverthehorizonhoursbeforeitnormallydoes.Rather,at
mid-day,atthebrightestpartoftheday,thesun’slightwillsodimmishthatit
willbejustaslikewhenthesundisappearsoverthehorizonevery24hours.
TheideamayhavebeenforIsraeltorecallthehelplessstumblingaround
experiencedbytheEgyptiansinordertogetPharaohtoreleaseIsrael.Or,Ithink
morelikely,itistorecallacursepronouncedintheLawofMosesforIsrael’s
rebelliousnessagainstHimsinceAmosconstantlyequatesIsrael’ssinsandtheir
punishmentstowhatissaidintheTorah.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:28-29
28
ADONAIwillstrikeyouwithinsanity,blindness
andutterconfusion.
29
Youwillgropeaboutatnoonlikeablindpersongropingin
thedark,unabletofindyourway."Youwillbecontinuallyoppressedandrobbed,
andtherewillbenoonetosaveyou.
Justaswiththefear,mourning,andlamentingthatoccursaftertheearthquake,
verse10saysitwillbethesamefortheaftermathofthesolareclipse.It’snot
hardtounderstandthedevastatingemotionalandpsychologicaleffectsofabig
earthquake;butwhywouldasolareclipsefreakouteveryonesobadlysinceit
causesnoactualharm?Itisbecausebothofthosethingssignifytheunleashing
ofGod’swrath.Festivalsareusuallyatimeofjoyandcelebration;butnotwhen
thiscosmiceventhappensthatannouncesGod’sintenttoharm.Ratherthere
willbeintensemourningandwailingallacrosstheland.Donningsackclothand
shavingone’sheadarestandardwaystheancientsmourned.Thegrievingwillbe
sointensethatitwillbeassorrowfulaswhenanonlysondies.Thedeathofan
onlysonsignifiedtheendofafamily’sbloodlineandlittlewasasgreatlyfeared
asthateventuality.TheideaisthatthegriefoftheIsraeliteswillbeasuniversal
asitisextreme;allwillbeaffected,therewillbenonespared.
Wearenowpresentedinverse11withanotheroracleofdoom.GodsaysHeis
goingtosendafamineovertheland.Itwillnotbeafamineinthetypicalsense
ofthelackoffood,butratheritwillbeasalackofHispresence.Yehovehwill
becomeinaccessibleandunavailable.Whatismeantbythis?Especiallyin
ancienttimes,thepresenceofone’sdeitywasparamountinpeoples’thoughts
andreligion.Thepresenceofone’sgodwasquiteliteral;itwasbelievedthatthe
Templeshousedthedeitiesandthattheyliterallywerelocatedthere.ATemple
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waswhereaparticulardeity’spriestswouldapproachhimorher.Especiallysince
itwasthoughtthatdeitieswereregional,andthattheyoperatedwithinspecified
territories…usuallytheterritoryofwhatever’snationalgodtheywere…thento
theIsraeliteswayofthinkingYehovehissayingHeisgoingtoleavetheterritory
ofEphraim/Israel.
WhentheversespeaksofIsraelbeingdeprivedofhearingthewordsofYehoveh,
donotmistakethisformeaning“theWordofYehoveh”.Thisisnotaboutthe
peoplebeingunabletoaccesstheTorah…theBible…whatweoftenlabeltodayas
God’sWord.Rather,itmeansthatYehovehwon’tresidethereanylonger.
Therefore,whenHeissoughtbyIsraeltoprovideanswerstoproblemsor
questions,theresultwillbesilence.Further,inthatera,itwasmainlyGod’s
ProphetsthatprovidedcommunicationfromGodtothepeople.Itwasthe
Prophetsthattaught,warned,andalsoactedasintercessorsforIsrael.Thus,if
Godwasnotthereintheland,neitherwouldHisProphetsbethere.Thepeople
willlackthedivinedirectiontheyclaimedtocountupon.ThisputsIsraelata
distinctdisadvantageagainsttheirneighborsastheywillhavetheirgods
availabletohelpthem,butIsraelwon’t.Thisisthedisasterabovealldisasters.
Thesurvivors,asexiles,willfindthemselvesinforeignlandswheretheirgods
areactivebywhereIsrael’sgodisnowheretobefound.Evenso,thereishope.
ThishopewasexpressedintheTorahthatEphraim/Israelbarelyknewany
longer.InamostremarkableprophecycontainedintheBookofDeuteronomy
wereadthis:
CJB
Deuteronomy4:25-31
25
"Whenyouhavehadchildrenandgrandchildren,
livedalongtimeintheland,becomecorruptandmadeacarvedimage,a
representationofsomething,andthusdonewhatisevilinthesightofADONAI
yourGodandprovokedhim;
26
Icallontheskyandtheearthtowitnessagainst
youtodaythatyouwillquicklydisappearfromthelandthatyouarecrossingthe
Yardentopossess.Youwillnotprolongyourdaystherebutwillbecompletely
destroyed.
27
ADONAIwillscatteryouamongthepeoples;andamongthe
nationstowhichADONAIwillleadyouaway,youwillbeleftfewinnumber.
28
Thereyouwillservegodswhicharetheproductofhumanhands,madeofwood
andstone,whichcan'tsee,hear,eatorsmell.
29
However,fromthereyouwill
seekADONAIyourGod;andyouwillfindhimifyousearchafterhimwithallyour
heartandbeing.
30
Inyourdistress,whenallthesethingshavecomeuponyou,
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intheacharit-hayamim,youwillreturntoADONAIyourGodandlistentowhat
hesays;
31
forADONAIyourGodisamercifulGod.Hewillnotfailyou,destroy
you,orforgetthecovenantwithyourancestorswhichhesworetothem.
Amosinverse12amplifiesthislackofdivinedirectionbypicturingthepeople
metaphoricallystaggeringfrom“seatosea”andfromthe“northeventothe
east”.ThisisaboutpeopledesperatelysearchingforGod’sdirectionandwisdom
butnotfindingit.Here,however,themeaningofthephrase“wordofYehoveh”
shiftsfromwhatitmeantinverse11.Inverse11ithadtodowithGod
communicatingthroughHisprophetstothepeopleofIsraelonaregularbasis.In
verse12,thesenseisofBOTHtheTorah(theLawofMoses)andprophetic
revelations.Theexpression“seatosea”meansfromtheMediterraneanSeato
theDeadSea.FromthenorthtotheeastspeaksofIsrael’snorthernandeastern
territorialboundaries.Onemightaskwhy“south”wasn’tmentioned(northto
southratherthannorthtoeast).WhileIcan’tbecertain,Ithinkitisbecauseto
thesouthofIsraelisJudah,andJudahisnotyethavingGodremoveHishandof
blessingoverthem,norisHeyetremovingHimselffromJudah.Inotherwords,
thisoraclepertainsonlytoEphraim/IsraelandnottoJudah.Thisclaritywould
havebeenimportanttoAmosandtotheHebrewpeopleofthatera.
Verse13openswith“atthattime”.Thisisarathercommonpropheticword
formulathatindicates(attheleast)anewthought;ormoretypicallyanew
oracleofjudgment.“Thattime”isofcoursespeakingaboutthemomentthatthe
manypredictedjudgmentsagainstIsraelfinallyhappen,butoffersnohintasto
thenearnessortothedistantfuturenatureoftheevents.Theprophecyisthat
youngpeoplewillfaintfromthirst.ThewordinHebrewthatisusuallytranslated
asyoungwomenorfairvirginsisyapheh.Itmeansbeautifulorhandsome.So,
inEnglishthebettertranslationisbeautifulvirgingirls.TheHebrewthatspeaks
oftheyoungmenisbachur.Itmeansyouthfulmales.Thenotionisofyoung
womenandmen…probablymidtolateteens…thosewhoareinthefloweroftheir
youthandthemostresilientagainsthungeranddisease,thatwillsuffergreat
thirst.Thisthirstoughttobetakenliterallyasalackofavailablewater,which
inevitablygoesalongwithfamine.Asiscommoninmostcultures,itissovery
sadformatureadultstoseeyoungpeoplewiththeirentirelivesaheadofthem,
beingsuddenlythrustintoasurvivalmodesoearlyinlife.
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Thethoughtcontinuesinverse14.Thosewhoswear(thatis,theymakevows)
bythesinofSamaria,asstillspeakingoftheyouthwhohavebeentrainedsince
birthintheirpervertedmanmadereligionpracticedbytheNorthernKingdom.
Theseyouthknownootherway.The“sinofSamaria”mayspeakofthevarious
Ba’alidolsthatwereinrampantuseinSamaria.Or,itmayalsobeindicatingthe
calfgodthatwaserectedinbothDanandBethel.Theyoungpeople,when
makingvows(andvowmakingwasaratherregularactivityinthatera)callon
thegodsofSamariaastheirguarantorinsteadofYehoveh,GodofIsrael.Itisin
thiswaythatsuchinvokingoffalse-godsissin.
“AsthyGod,Dan,lives”isanoathformula.Ihavenodoubtthisisreferringto
thegoldencalfgoderectedatthecityofDan;agodtheynonethelesscalledThe
GodofIsrael.AlthoughI’vemadethispointbefore,I’llmakeitagain.Thepeople
whospokethatoath,andwhoworshippedthegoldencalfweresincereintheir
beliefs.And,ifyouaskedthemwhotheywereworshippingtheywouldsayitwas
theGodofIsrael.Theabsurdityofsuchanotionwouldhaveflownrightoverthe
headsofthoseancientEphraim/Israelites.Theywouldhaveseenno
contradictioninusingapagangodsymboltorepresenttheirIsraeliteGod,
Yehoveh…evenoneasstrictlyoutlawedasagoldencalf!Theyweremostsincere
inwhaticontheyworshippedandthatitwasgodlyandinlinewiththeTorah.Yet,
sincerelybelievingsomethingdoesn’tmakeittruth.Icouldsincerelybelievethat
Iwasagaragedoor;butthatdoesn’tmakemeone.Suchbeliefsdon’thavetobe
asabsurdasthatinordertoputusonthewrongtrack.ForIsraeltohave
reachedthispointofmindlessdeception,ittookmanydecadesofincorrect
doctrinaltraining.
Theotheroathformula“asthewayofBe’er-Shevalives”,issimilartothelast
one.AlthoughlocatedinthesouthinJudah,Be’er-Shevaatthistimeidentified
morewithEphraim/IsraelthanwithJudah.So,theytoohadsomesortofidol
theyworshippedthere.ToalltheseIsraeliteworshippersoffalsegods,thefinal
wordsofGodinthischapterare:“theyshallfallandneverriseagain”.This
meansthattheirdemisewillbetotal.Israelhasnohopethatwhathasbeen
prophesiedwillsomehowpassthembyorbecalled-off.
We’llbeginthefinalchapterIsaiahthenexttimewemeet.