In this chapter, we see the continuing theme of God offering up Judgement against nations that have sinned against him. However, while the first chapter dealt with all of Israel's enemies, we see in this chapter the inclusion of both Israel and Judah alongside their enemies. If anything, God's response to Israel is harsher and more detailed than the others. Amos takes the time to point out all the things He has done for them (i.e. rescuing them from Egypt, raising up Nazarites and prophets). This serves to illustrate that God has made the efforts to maintain the relationship, but it is Israel who has cast him aside so that they may trade the innocent for silver and corrupt the Nazarites. The wrath of God is nothing to be messed with. Even more so to a nation that had been chosen to be God's special people.
Reading this, I was a little blown away by the similarities between the Israel being judged in Amos and today's world. What's even scarier is how God punished Israel for their transgressions, transgressions that are being committed in today's world as well. Sexual immorality, lack of love for our neighbors, and drunkenness can be found in our society. However, the difference between the Israel of Amos's time and today's world is that one major event has changed our punishment. The actions of the Cross have served to remove us from the path of God's wrath in a manner that I bet the naked warrior fleeing from God in verse 16 would be jealous of. Through the blood shed by Christ, God recognizes us as His adopted children, children that are washed white of sin. The one small yet world-shattering act of the Cross has redeemed us and for that I am thankful. And I'm sure my friends are as well because I doubt they would enjoy the sight of my naked manliness fleeing the wrath of God.
I really came to a similar conclusion about the parallels between Israel and todays world. It really blows me away to see the difference between what happens to these folks, in comparison to what Christ did for us on the Cross. It also seems to me to show that in verse 12 the reason for the wrath is an open lack of allowance of God to rule in their lives, the shut the prophets up, it almost seems like this is more upsetting to God than the sins. If so, we kinda begin to see the theme of God pursuing the heart as opposed to the actions form the gospels.
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