The Lord Roars Judgment
Opening Prayer
Father, You patiently call out to a world that has turned from You. Help me to draw them while there is still time.
Read Amos 1:11-2:5
[11] This is what the LORD says: “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, [12] I will send fire on Teman that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.” [13] This is what the LORD says: “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, [14] I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah that will consume her fortresses amid war cries on the day of battle, amid violent winds on a stormy day. [15] Her king will go into exile, he and his officials together,” says the LORD. [1] This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will not relent. Because he burned to ashes the bones of Edom’s king, [2] I will send fire on Moab that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth. Moab will go down in great tumult amid war cries and the blast of the trumpet. [3] I will destroy her ruler and kill all her officials with him,” says the LORD. [4] This is what the LORD says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, [5] I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What might God say to our society?The refrain, “For three sins … even for four” isn’t an easy idiom to capture in English. The sense seems to be that the fourth crime, which is then described, is such a flagrant sin that it triggers judgment. It’s not just an exercise in tallying. The character of the crimes in themselves are so atrocious that they demand judgment on their own.Edom is condemned for utter ruthlessness that is beyond all proportion and cannot be alleviated (11); Ammon, for atrocious cruelty in slaughtering pregnant women solely to gain territory (13b); Damascus, for wanton and pointless destruction (1:3); Moab, for denying the dead proper burial (2:1); Gaza, for selling captured communities into slavery (1:6b); and Tyre, for doing this despite sealing a treaty of brotherhood with God’s people (1:9b). All of these nations are promised the fire of judgment in the Lord’s thundering roar: none of them, however independent they might believe themselves to be, is beyond the scope of his authority and power. However strong their fortresses and armies might be, they cannot be strong enough to withstand the wrath of God.
Apply
No human power or nation is beyond the reach of God’s justice. Trust him to bring about what is right.
Closing prayer
Lamb of God, willingly going to the cross, help us not forget that You are also the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.