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Amos 2:6-7  This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent.  They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.  They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.  

Although Amos was from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, he was sent specifically to the Northern Kingdom of Israel to deliver the LORD’s message of judgement (and hope).  This message of judgement is particularly damning.  Amos will go on to remind God’s chosen Covenant People (see verses 9-10) how their God had brought them out of bondage in Egypt and given them the land belonging to the Amorites, not only as his promised gracious provision for them because he loved them, but because of the utter sinfulness of the Amorite people – and now the Israelites were showing themselves to be even more sinful than the Amorites, and therefore, because of their covenant privileges were proving themselves to be even more culpable.

Paul makes it clear in Romans 2:14-15 that all mankind is under God’s wrath, even the Gentiles who do not have the benefit of the written Law revealed to Moses, because of the conscience we all possess as God’s image-bearers.  Paul calls it ‘the requirements of the law’ that is ‘written in their hearts’.  So the God of justice is acting consistently with his character by pouring out his wrath on all the non-covenant nations surrounding Judah and Israel (1:3 – 2:3).  If this is the case, how much greater will his wrath be against those who blatantly disobey the Law he has given!  This Law, spelt out in detail from Exodus to Deuteronomy and summarised in the Ten Commandments, is replete with instructions warning against the exploitation and oppression – including sexual abuse – of the vulnerable.

Where does this place us as a nation?  We are not a theocracy like Judah-Israel, but nor are we totally ignorant of biblical truth (although we are heading in that direction!).  Either way, Amos warns us that we will be called to account about how we treat the poor and the needy, the alien and the refugee, even how we ‘use’ (ie abuse) those within our own family, because they hold a special place in the heart of God.

We have just had a ‘Remembance Day’ when we have honoured those who made great sacrifice to in war to protect us from the aggression and oppression of regimes that don’t share our important values, and many of us have given thanks to God for protecting our hard won freedoms; so, in the light of today’s verses of God’s judgement on Israel, where does that place us if we persist in pursuing a course that blatantly rejects the truths God has revealed to us in his inspired Word?

– Bruce Christian