Amos was sent to speak against the land of Israel, and now…he speaks against the surrounding nations! For a moment the people were startled. His openings words were placed in the framework of judgment; but this is better! Let him condemn the nations that know not God!

However, notice the order which the prophet follows. There is a definite pattern. Be sure to consult a map. Amos begins with the nations rather far distant from Samaria. Slowly the circle becomes smaller, and…the last one is Israel. Let the people not rejoice too quickly.

The very fact that the prophet speaks first of the judgment which is to fall on the nations shows the people that the jurisdiction of their God is not restricted. He is God of all the earth. He is the Almighty. The heathen nations are his concern too. The iniquity of the heathen will not go unpunished.

           

           

The formula which Amos uses to introduce the prophecy of judgment on the nations is the same for each one. “For three transgressions…yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof.” One transgression would make them worthy of death. “Three transgressions” denotes a full measure of iniquity; and four is an overflowing measure. God has waited long enough. He is slow to anger, patient and long-suffering. However, when there is an overflowing measure of iniquity, he will wait no longer. It is settled…will not turn away the punishment thereof.”

The first judgment is pronounced against Syria. No wonder! How brutal and inhuman the Syrians were! God sometimes uses the heathen nations to chastise his people, but let them beware that they go no farther than he permits. The Syrians invaded Gilead in the past. This was that part of the land of Israel that lay east of the Jordan River. God had permitted the Syrians to invade this part of the country, but they slaughtered the people cruelly. They should have remembered the words, “Gilead is mine” (Psalm 60;7) . Because of their wicked deeds, God will send me on the dynasty of Syria. The royal house shall be destroyed. Hazael had been anointed king over Syria by the prophet Elisha. After the anointing the old prophet wept when he was given to see prophetically the cruelty which Hazael would show to Israel. The judgment is now sure. Damascus will be invaded. ‘The inhabitants of two unknown places are named. These will be destroyed. Syria will go into captivity to the place from whence they had come (Amos 9:7). Syria had been a great power, but its days are numbered. They came from Kir—they will go back to Kir. There has been no progress at all for this heathen power. Heathendom has no future.

The second judgment is pronounced against Philistia. This was one of the oldest enemies of Israel. David had fought many of his battles against this warlike people. Will Philistia finally receive its just reward? Israel hopes so. Thus Amos is speaking words which they love to hear. Let the surrounding nations be judged so that Israel may prosperI Syria was to the northeast, Philistia to the southwest. Israel does not yet realize that God’s judgments are closing in and will also strike the northern kingdom.

Philistia’s measure of iniquity is also overflowing. Many evils had been committed against God’s people by the Philistines but Amos mentions only one. God had used also the Philistines to chastise Israel in the past. When Israel sinned God allowed the Philistines to come into the land and plunder it. But Philistia was not satisfied with this role. They did not want to chastise, they wanted to destroy. Therefore God will not tum away their punishment.

The specific sin of Philistia to which the prophet refers is the sin of leading people into captivity. This was a rather common practice in Old Testament times. Later both Judah and Israel were led into captivity. Philistia, however, did more. They carried away captive “the whole people.” This does not mean that all the people of the nation were carried captive, but that whole towns or districts were led captive. Didn’t other nations do the same thing? Yes, but Philistia did more. They were not satisfied with leading conquered people captive to their own land; they delivered them up to Edom. They traded in people! They made slaves of the conquered people and sold them to the Edomites. God’s people were placed on the slave block in the cities of the Philistines. Jehovah will not allow this to go unpunished. Slavery was forbidden in Israel. Although his people have sinned he still watches over them. He will not allow families to be torn apart. He has led them out of slavery and woe to the nation which enslaves them again!

Philistia’s punishment will be similar to the punishment to come upon the land of Syria. He will send a fire on the wall of Gaza and its palaces will be destroyed. That fire need not be the kind of fire which fell from heaven to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. It may refer to the fire of war or other devastation. The other principal cities of the Philistines will likewise be punished. The inhabitants of Ashdod will be cut off. The rulers of Ashkelon will be cut off. God will turn his hand against Ekron. Uzziah had in recent years destroyed the city of Gath (II Chron. 26:6). All the major cities will be laid waste. Even the remnant of the Philistines will perish. The destruction of this ancient enemy of Israel will be complete. Never again will Israel have to fear this people.

These are not the words of a mere man; God has spoken them. Amos is only giving utterance to the words or visions of “the Lord Jehovah” which he “saw.” That is the name of God which Amos uses again and again. This is the God who rules all things and all peoples. His word will come true. When God gives his promise, the thing promised is already real; when he pronounces judgment the judgment is already real. “Let the nations know themselves to be but men” (Psalm 9:20).

Questions for discussion:

1. We bring the Gospel to the heathen with the intention of bringing them to salvation; should we also warn them of God’s judgments on the nations?

2. Why should we be much concerned about the evils committed by the heathen?

3. Why is it that the heathen are said to have no “excuse”? (Rom.1:20)

4. Does God still use the heathen to chastise his people?

5. What comfort is it to you that God rules the world as well as the church?