AMOS LESSON 3


     We will begin this lesson in Amos 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,"

     This is speaking of all the twelve tribes of Israel, that God
brought to the promised land out of Egypt. They were not thankful for
the fact that God had brought them out of great darkness into His
marvellous Light. Because God had entrusted them with His law, and He
had done that with no other nation, they were more responsible for
their sins. Notice, it is the Word of the LORD coming from the mouth
of Amos that has spoken against them,

     Amos 3:2 "You only have I known of all the families of the earth:
therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."

     They had known God, and yet, they had turned from Him to the
worship of false gods. The very first commandment that He had given
them had forbidden this very thing. God had accepted them as His wife
during the wilderness wanderings. Their unfaithfulness to Him has not
been overlooked. He still loves them, but He is just, and He must
punish them for their sins. The agreement God had made with them was;
He would bless them, as long as they were obedient to Him. He, also,
promised to curse them, if they turned from Him and did not obey His
voice.

     Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

     In this Scripture, Amos is saying, the message he brings is in
total agreement with the wishes of God. The answer to the question
above, of course, is no. They would stumble and fall.

     Amos 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?"

     The comparison, here, is that a lion, who is about to attack,
roars.  The young lion cries out from the den, because he does have
the prey.  Amos is crying out like this lion. Israel is like this
prey.  They are helpless to get away from this threatening roar from
God, that comes through Amos.

     Amos 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?"

     A "gin" is a noose for catching animals. The trap that all
sinners set for themselves is sin. These Israelites are no different.
They have worshipped false gods, now they are caught in a net of their
own making.

     Amos 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]?"

     The trumpet being blown is a warning of impending danger. Amos'
message from God to these people is like the trumpet blowing. It is
warning of impending danger. The trumpet blowing causes terror to rise
in the hearts of the people. The warning from Amos should do the same
thing.

     Amos 3:7 "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth
his secret unto his servants the prophets."

     Before God acts in judgement against His people, He tells the
prophet what He is going to do. The prophet tells the people, so they
will have time to repent, and not be punished. God gives them every
opportunity to repent, and they do not.

     Amos 3:8 "The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD
hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"

     When the lion roars, it strikes terror in his prey. God has
spoken through the prophet. It would be impossible for the prophet to
withhold this message.

     Amos 3:9  "Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces
in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains
of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the
oppressed in the midst thereof."

     The Philistines and the Egyptians were both to be witnesses to
the happenings in Israel. The Israelites had sought treaties with
them.  God had called them Israel's lovers. God was their only true
help.  Even the heathen would have condemned some of the terrible
things they had been doing. God has turned His back on them. God wants
the heathen to see that He is just, and punishes His own when they do
evil.

     Amos 3:10 "For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who
store up violence and robbery in their palaces."

     They have turned against the righteous teachings of their God,
and gone for false gods. They have turned completely away from a life
of justice and righteousness. They are doing what is right in their
own sight. The office that goes with living in a palace is, also, one
of great responsibility. It seems justice has been forgotten. They are
violent robbers. They are even worse than the heathen who live around
them.

     Amos 3:11 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary [there
shall be] even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy
strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled."

     Their adversary is really the LORD. Their land will be desolate
around them. God has spoken judgement upon them. God will send an army
against them, that will destroy the palaces and take all the goodly
things home.

     Amos 3:12 "Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the
mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the
children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of
a bed, and in Damascus [in] a couch."

     There will be only a very few saved in all of this. That is what
is intended by finding a leg or an ear left in the lion's mouth. They
will be carried away with none of their wealth. This is speaking of
the remnant of the twelve tribes being very small, and scattered in
the lands around them. There are so many lost, that they are spoken of
today by some as the 10 lost tribes of Israel. They are scattered in
other lands.

     Amos 3:13 "Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the
Lord GOD, the God of hosts,"

     This is a call to hear and understand. They must tell this in the
house of Jacob. The house of Jacob speaks of all 12 tribes of Israel.
This double announcement of this being from God is the fact of God's
great power in the heavens and in the earth to execute judgement on
whomever He will. This is speaking of the self-existent, Eternal One.

     Amos 3:14 "That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions
of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Beth-el: and the
horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground."

     The horns of the altar were cut off, because that was where the
blood had been applied. God will not allow them to sacrifice the blood
of the lamb on the altar again. Judgement has come from  God. They had
greatly angered God, when they brought a calf into His house to be
worshipped. This happened at Bethel. The idol worshippers and their
idols are destroyed.

     Amos 3:15 "And I will smite the winter house with the summer
house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses
shall have an end, saith the LORD."

     They were so affluent, that the kings and princes had winter and
summer homes. They had pampered themselves to the extent, that they
had put walls of ivory in these palaces. God will destroy all of this
finery, they have made to spoil themselves. God said it, it will be
done.










                          Amos 3 Questions


1.  Who had God spoken against in verse 1?
2.  Who had brought them out of Egypt?
3.  Why were the Israelites more responsible for their sins?
4.  They had known God, and yet, they had done what?
5.  God had accepted them as His _______.
6.  What agreement had God made with them?
7.  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
8.  What is the comparison of the lion and its prey with what was
    happening to them?
9.  What is a "gin"?
10. The trap that all sinners have set for themselves is ______.
11. What was the trumpet in the city blown for?
12. Amos' message from God to these people was like the _______ _____.
13. What had God done, prior to sending judgement upon His people?
14. When the lion roars, it strikes _________ in its prey.
15. Who were to witness this action of God?
16. Why did God call them to be witnesses?
17. They had turned against the ___________ teachings of their God.
18. They are doing what is right in their own _______.
19. Who is their true adversary?
20. Who will God send against them?
21. What is meant by verse 12?
22. What happens to the remnant?
23. What is verse 13 a call to do?
24. Where does God cut off the horns of the altar?
25. What terrible thing had they brought into worship in God's house?
26. Who is the God of hosts?
27. Quote Amos chapter 3 verse 15.