When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?

Amos 3:1-15

You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins.

Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?

When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued, with only the head of a bed and a piece of fabric from a couch.

“Hear this and testify against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty. “On the day I punish Israel for her sins, I will destroy the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the mansions will be demolished,” declares the Lord.

Punishment: Israel, the people who have known God's special love and care, the people he brought out of Egypt have broken their covenant-agreement with God. In consequence, they must suffer punishment. It is simple cause and effect. God has spoken' he will act. Of beautiful Samaria, with its great stone houses and exquisite ivory panels only a trace will be left; just enough to show that the city once existed. And God will demolish the trappings of debased religion at Bethel.

Why?
Israelites were chosen by the Lord, they knew the Lord, so when they turned away from God to other idols, God's punishment pours on them.

Disaster belongs to the Lord, when disaster comes to a city it is the Lord caused it to warn us turn back to the Lord.

Israelite sins are great so the Lord gave them punishment and destroy this city. Let people know that He is the Lord.
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特殊的關係有特殊的責任。享受特權，就要承擔更多的責任。認識你們，相當於密切如夫妻。被誰教訓而願意聽，通常都是愛我們的人。

主發命令，人怎麼能不說?怎麼沒有反應?同心是指兩人約定好，才會走在一起。我們曉得有些事情發生一定有原因。現在有吹角難道不反應呢?我們對神的作為，無動於衷嗎？

神不是馬上回應我們的禱告，而是依據神的計劃來回應我們的禱告，所以我們要等候。

一定要謙卑下來。

以色列人現在只剩下斷垣殘壁，就像遲到的人只剩洗碗的份。不再被保護。過去罪人、逃犯，欠債的只要來到祭壇，抓住祭壇的角，人就不能定他的罪。祭壇的角被砍下，連宗教性的赦罪也沒有了，即使讀經禱告、聚會似乎可以赦罪的儀式，神也會拿走。

行公義、好憐憫是神要人做的。阿摩司重點不在守祭，而是在生命生活中的好見證，價值觀，待人方式是否合神心意，還是只有宗教活動?

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How?

Give honor to the Lord and obey God's command, disaster comes are under God's plan, turn to the Lord is the rescue way.