Amos 1:1-15
The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.
This is what the Lord says:
1.For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not relent. Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth,
2. For three sins of Gaza, even for four, I will not relent. Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom,
3. For three sins of Tyre, even for four, I will not relent. Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,
4. For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not relent. Because he pursued his brother with a sword and slaughtered the women of the land. Because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked,
5. For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not relent. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders
Amos condemns the nations round about Israel, one by one - Syria, Philistia,, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab. The Syrian are guilty of wanton cruelty; The Philistines of selling their own people, Tyre and Edom have transgressed the laws of kinship. Ammon's atrocities have been committed simply to gain more land. By desecrating a corpse Moab has violated one of the most universal of all ancient unwritten laws. God will punish each and every one. No doubt the listening Israelites were happy to hear their enemies condemned.
Why?
God knew what people have done to his people, so God's word comes upon Amos, to say the punishment to neighbour nations of Israel.
God's punishment has reason and it is not for his chosen or random angry, but for God's rightousness and love to his people.
God will revenge for his people.
歷史學家稱當時為銀色時代，僅次於所羅門王，社會繁榮。表面上看來好像神的祝福。神卻在警告各國及以色列。這大地震是警告，提醒人 。社會繁榮，屬靈光景走下坡的 。
迦密山代表繁榮，若枯乾表示其他地方更糟。
大馬色用農器來殺人
非力士人，以東把人當商品買賣。人的價值看他多少獲利能力。價值觀完全被扭曲。
推羅，西頓是兄弟之邦。
以東是以色列兄弟關係，卻攻打對方。
殺孕婦等於說是趕盡殺絕。
神降火是要使人潔淨。這裡是要燒滅宮殿。人以為最安全的地方反而要被燒，被審判。
所有代表繁榮的，是我們的安全感建立在此，我們是否以耶穌基督作為我們的安全感基礎。
人不斷在犯罪，神不斷提醒，不斷給人機會，我們是否願意把握。是否一犯再犯，三番四次的犯罪？
How?
For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.
