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. Amos 1:1
The book of Amos is about judgment
on Israel’s neighbors: Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, Israel.
God
was also angry at Israel and their sins.
They relied on other nations for help, not turning to God with their
needs. He hated the altars they built to
other gods, especially in Bethel. As a result, God
basically detested and rejected their offerings to him.
God
begged them to seek him and live, but eventually they did not and he needed to
punish them after hundreds of years of patience.
Though
they dig down to the depths below,
from there my hand will take them.
Though they climb up to the heavens above,
from there I will bring them down.
Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,
there I will hunt them down and seize them.
Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea,
there I will command the serpent to bite them.
Though they are driven into exile by their enemies,
there I will command the sword to slay them.
from there my hand will take them.
Though they climb up to the heavens above,
from there I will bring them down.
Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,
there I will hunt them down and seize them.
Though they hide from my eyes at the bottom of the sea,
there I will command the serpent to bite them.
Though they are driven into exile by their enemies,
there I will command the sword to slay them.
“I
will keep my eye on them
for harm and not for good.” Amos 9:2-4
for harm and not for good.” Amos 9:2-4
However,
by the end, God promised restoration to his people, always swearing to keep his
eye on them, never completely abandoning them.