GOD PASSES JUDGMENT AMOS 2:4-8. June 7 Lesson 1. DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 75 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Amos 2:4-16. This is what the LORD says:

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1 Page 1 of 14 June 7 Lesson 1 GOD PASSES JUDGMENT DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 75 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Amos 2: This is what the LORD says: AMOS 2:4-8 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, Graphic: Hemera / Thinkstock 5 I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem. 6 This is what the LORD says: For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample on the heads of the poor 1 1

2 Page 2 of 14 as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. 8 They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines. KEY VERSE 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. Amos 2:4 LESSON AIMS After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to: 1. List the sins of Israel and Judah that the Lord condemned through his prophet Amos. 2. Write a modern parallel for each sin listed in the text. 3. Write a prayer of confession for at least one of the sins identified as a parallel to the sins of Israel and Judah. LESSON OUTLINE Introduction A. A Line in the Sand B. Lesson Background: God s People C. Lesson Background: God s Prophecies I. Indicting Judah (AMOS 2:4, 5) A. Introductory Formula (v. 4a) B. Iniquities Indicated (v. 4b) Functional Saviors"? C. Incendiary Promise (v. 5) II. Indicting Israel (AMOS 2:6-8) 2 2

3 Page 3 of 14 A. Introductory Formula (v. 6a) B. Iniquities Indicated (v. 6b-8) Conclusion What s at the Root? A. What You Deserve! B. Prayer C. Thought to Remember Introduction A. A Line in the Sand The expression a line in the sand may originate from an event that took place in Egypt in 168 BC. Antiochus IV, a king of Syria, had attacked Egypt two years earlier to take advantage of perceived weaknesses there. As a result, he had conquered all of Egypt except the city of Alexandria. He was on his way to finish the task when his entire army was halted by one man: Gaius Popillius Laenas. Popillius had been a consul in the Roman Republic, the highest elected office. The king and the former consul knew each other, and Antiochus extended his hand in greeting. Instead of receiving a hand in return, Antiochus was given a message from the Roman Senate. The message said that Rome did not want Syrian forces in Egypt. Antiochus told Popillius that he and his officers would consider it. The former consul reacted by drawing a circle in the sand, with the king in its center. Popillius then ordered Antiochus not to step outside the circle until he had made his decision. Antiochus had been a political hostage in Rome in his early years, and he knew the might of the Roman army. The one man Popillius could be pushed aside easily, but he represented Rome. The king finally gave his answer: I will do what the Senate thinks right. Only at that point did Popillius extend his own hand in friendship. Actions have consequences, and Antiochus knew it. How much more serious it is when a person or nation violates God s expectations! To cross God s line in the sand is to invite divine judgment. The nation of Israel had crossed that line in pursuit of unrighteousness. As a result, Amos was God s messenger to announce the end of Israel. B. Lesson Background: God s People Solomon was the last king of united Israel. When he died in about 930 BC, his son Rehoboam, his successor, refused a request to reduce the tax load, so the 10 northern tribes seceded. In so doing, they established a separate nation and retained the name Israel. The southern kingdom had only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Judah was the larger, so that became the kingdom s name. The first king of the northern nation was Jeroboam. He quickly realized that he would lose the 3 3

4 Page 4 of 14 allegiance of his people if they continued to go to Jerusalem to worship (1 Kings 12:26, 27). His remedy was to build two centers of worship to rival the temple in Jerusalem. One such was at Dan to the north; the other was at Bethel to the south, only 10 miles from Jerusalem itself. He made a golden calf for each place, and he encouraged idolatrous devotion to the calf-gods (12:28-30). He appointed unqualified people to be priests, and he established an alternative festival (12:31-33). These actions are shocking to us, but the people of Israel had become fascinated by idols. The time had come for emphatic warnings of judgment. God s first messenger to Israel for this purpose was Amos. Amos 1:1 identifies the time period as being during the concurrent reigns of King Uzziah in Judah and King Jeroboam II in Israel. Their reigns overlapped from about 790 to 753 BC, and it is usually suggested that Amos prophesied about 760 BC. C. Lesson Background: God s Prophecies The book of Amos is third in the arrangement of the 12 Minor Prophets. The author identifies himself as a shepherd from Tekoa (Amos 1:1), which was about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. By one count, Amos mentions 38 cities or districts, so he was well informed about current events. God sent Amos from his home in Judah to prophesy in Israel. His purpose was to announce that judgment was coming not only on Israel but on surrounding nations. Amos began his ministry by proclaiming that the Lord roars from Zion (Amos 1:2). The roar of a lion may be heard up to five miles away. It announces to all that this is his territory! The order of the locations cited by Amos begins at the more distant points. The first cities or nations to receive his thundering condemnations were (or were in) Aram/Syria, Philistia, and Phoenicia. Amos was aware of the atrocities of Syria against Israelites who lived east of the Jordan River. Philistine cities and Tyre were accused of selling captured peoples to the Edomites, and this suggests a thriving slave trade (Amos 1:6-10). The formula for three sins... even for four is used to indict each. This figure of speech is generally regarded to mean sin after sin. The transgressing nations and cities had reached the limit, and God was ready to act. One specific sin is mentioned in each case, and fire was promised as judgment. Each indictment affirmed that God would not revoke the punishment. The overall context suggests that the crimes had been committed against Israel or Judah. The next three nations (Amos 1:7-2:3) had historical connections via Jacob or Lot. Edom was another name for Jacob s twin brother, Esau (Genesis 25:29, 30). Inhabitants of Ammon and Moab were descended from Lot, Abraham s nephew (Genesis 13; 19:30-38). An examination of the listed transgressions leads to this conclusion: God expects all nations to maintain standards of decency in the treatment of others. The nations cited by Amos were being brutal for the sake of being brutal, not because defensive measures demanded it. The people of Israel may have been very enthusiastic about the first parts of Amos s sermon. He condemned nations on every side, and his credentials as a prophet of God were strengthened as he listed past crimes and the predicted punishments. These nations were going to receive 4 4

5 Page 5 of 14 what they deserved. Some Israelites may have been aware that God often works with the number seven to signify completeness. So after hearing a series of six for three sins..., even for four (Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1), they may have wondered which nation would be the seventh. Surprise! The seventh nation was Judah, where Amos lived. He was condemning his own nation! (Note: the Lesson Backgrounds for lessons 2-4 also apply to this lesson.) I. Indicting Judah (AMOS 2:4, 5) A. Introductory Formula (v. 4a) 4a. This is what the LORD says: For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Judah is indicted with the same for three... for four formula that is used for the previous six cities or nations (see the Lesson Background). This formula indicates that there have been many occasions when the nation of Judah sinned against God s law. Even the people of Judah have crossed God s figurative line in the sand. The judgment from God is definitely going to take place! God had announced judgments in the past. Examples include those on humanity in general in the days of Noah, on Sodom and Gomorrah in the time of Abraham, and on Nineveh when Jonah was sent there with a message of destruction. The last of this trilogy did not take place as prophesied, and Jesus gives the reason: the citizens of Nineveh repented (Matthew 12:41). God s warnings are motivated by love, for he does not wish that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). If a nation abandons God and does not repent, even after (or especially after) hearing the warnings, then judgment is inevitable in God s time. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin will lead to God s condemnation (Proverbs 14:34). What Do You Think? What factors shape your response when someone accuses you of improper behavior? Talking Points for Your Discussion Considering the source Considering the timing Considering the justification Other 5 5

6 Page 6 of 14 B. Iniquities Indicated (v. 4b) 4b. 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, Here we see that the accusation against Judah is different from that of the six nations and cities condemned thus far by the for three... for four formula. Instead of citing physical atrocities between peoples, the heart of the indictment involves the law of the Lord. Judah is guilty not of violating international covenants but of violating the covenant between the Lord and his people. The people of Judah have the privilege of worship in Jerusalem, and the temple is a constant reminder of God s special relationship to them. Self-deluding lies cause people to go after other gods, and this happens while going through the habitual rituals at the temple. By spurning the statutes of the Lord, the people choose to believe that God s warnings can be ignored (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Their ancestors had to learn the foolishness thereof the hard way (Judges 6:1; 10:7; 13:1; etc.). What Do You Think? What are some ways to follow God s law in the midst of a culture that is hostile to it? Talking Points for Your Discussion When moral purity is mocked as outdated When faith is mocked as ignorance When honesty is mocked as simplistic Other FUNCTIONAL SAVIORS"? In February 2012, the director of counseling at a nonprofit organization in Houston, Texas, confessed to lying about his military record. He had claimed to have received a Silver Star and to have served in multiple combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and South America. He supposedly had recovered from posttraumatic stress disorder. When pressed by a reporter to produce evidence of his claims, he confessed to fabricating most of the stories. The result was a shameful resignation, crushing in the process the spirits of those who had come to think of him as a hero. Idolatry isn t just an interesting cultural manifestation of ancient history. Modern people 6 6

7 Page 7 of 14 create idols as well. Such idols are not necessarily gods as traditionally conceived; they may instead be people in whom trust is placed as functional saviors. But when lies are exposed, idols of all kinds crash to the ground. Let s not dismiss the idea that we may have idols in our own lives. Is there anyone other than Jesus whom you can t imagine life without? Any thing? Beware of idolizing, lest you too walk after lies. D. C. S. C. Incendiary Promise (v. 5) 5. I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem. By this time (mid eighth-century BC) it is not a new thing for Judah or Jerusalem to be victimized by nations that conquer and plunder. The Philistines, Arabs, Egyptians, and even the northern nation of Israel had previously subjugated Judah in these ways. The book of Amos begins with a statement that Uzziah is the king of Judah when Amos prophesies, and Uzziah s father had been taken as a prisoner by the northern nation of Israel. Concurrently, the walls of Jerusalem were broken to humiliate and weaken the city. All this is recorded in the parallel passages of 2 Kings 14:11-13 and 2 Chronicles 25: The latter adds that God so worked that he might deliver them into the hands of Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom (v. 20). This time, however, a more ominous punishment is in view. It is generally agreed that the predicted fire on Judah refers to the coming destruction of Jerusalem by the forces of Nebuchadnezzar in the summer of 586 BC, almost 175 years after this prophecy is delivered. In the same century as Amos, the prophet Micah (see lessons 5-8) bluntly affirms that Zion will be plowed, Jerusalem will be a ruin, and Judeans will go to Babylon (Micah 3:12; 4:10). 7 7

8 Page 8 of 14 Visual for Lesson 1. Keep this chart posted throughout the quarter to give your learners a chronological perspective on the lessons. Fire is also a promised judgment in each of the other six condemnations to this point in the prophecies of Amos (see Amos 1:4, 7, 10, 12, 14; 2:2). Through the centuries, God has used fire to punish (examples: Genesis 19:24; Leviticus 10:1, 2; Numbers 11:1; 16:35; Joshua 6:24). And so it shall be again (see 2 Kings 25:8, 9). Antiochus An-tie-oh-kus. Bethel Beth-ul. Canaanite Kay-nun-ite. Gomorrah Guh-more-uh. HOW TO SAY IT 8 8

9 Page 9 of 14 Jehoash Jeh-hoe-ash. Jeroboam Jair-uh-boe-um. Nebuchadnezzar Neb-yuh-kud-nez-er. Nineveh Nin-uh-vuh. Philistia Fuh-liss-tee-uh. Phoenicia Fuh-nish-uh. Rehoboam Ree-huh-boe-um. Sodom Sod-um. Tekoa Tih-ko-uh. Uzziah Uh-zye-uh. II. Indicting Israel (AMOS 2:6-8) A. Introductory Formula (v. 6a) 6a. This is what the LORD says: For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. Following his surprise prophecy against Judah, Amos continues with the unexpected. He does not stop after the seventh nation, but adds one more by prophesying against Israel a sevenplus-one approach. This is a dangerous thing to do for Amos personally, because he, a Judean, is in Israelite territory at the time (see Amos 7:10-13). The half-verse before us repeats the same for three... for four formula used the seven previous times. But that marks the end of the similarities because many more points of indictment are in store for this particular audience. Amos is just getting started, and his approach uses a pattern of repeated phrases that help organize and bind together all that he says. The eventual outcome is that Amos will be told to go home to Judah and prophesy there (Amos 7:12). The proverbial statement sometimes applied to situations like this is that Amos has quit preaching and gone to meddling. B. Iniquities Indicated (vv. 6b-8) 6b. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. It is important to note that the charges against the northern nation of Israel are different from 9 9

10 Page 10 of 14 what is said about the southern kingdom of Judah. Yes, Israel too despises the law of God, but the violations in this case involve social injustices against fellow Israelites. The rich take advantage of those who are in no position to resist, and Amos is ready to announce God s displeasure in this regard. Impoverished people who are being sold have done nothing wrong. These people are simply betrayed by others who take advantage of them. The greed of the wealthy seems to know no limitations. Some commentators view this as corruption in the courts that the men who sit in the city gates to render judgments are not honest. They are for sale to the highest bidders. 7a. They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground Verse 7 gives three additional situations that violate what God has ordained for the care of the poor (see Deuteronomy 15:7-18). The first one is quite startling: the oppressors treat the poor no differently than the dirt upon which everyone walks! A very similar charge is seen in Amos 8:4 (see lesson 4). What Do You Think? How are the needy taken advantage of today? How can we intercede on their behalf when we see this happening? Talking Points for Your Discussion Regarding monetary lending practices Regarding employment policies Other 7b.... and deny justice to the oppressed. The second situation involves taking advantage of the person who may not have the means to pursue a case with the elders holding court at the city gate. The result is justice denied no one cares. 7c. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. The third indictment has drawn different interpretations. One view is that Amos is condemning religious prostitution. The worship of Canaanite deities combines that degradation with an emphasis on fertility; what would otherwise be called adultery is deemed acceptable because it is an act of worship. It is unclear whether the profaning of the Lord s holy name is the intention of such acts or simply a result that occurs under this interpretation. In any case, God 10 10

11 Page 11 of 14 has forbidden his people to participate in such rituals (Deuteronomy 23:17, 18). The other major view contends that the victim is a young woman who is not a prostitute. Amos knows the word for prostitute (see Amos 7:17), but he does not use it here. This suggests that two men in the same household take advantage of a servant or someone else who does not have the ability to resist. What Do You Think? How can Christians better hallow the holy name that we bear? Talking Points for Your Discussion In worship (1 Chronicles 16:29; Revelation 15:4) In sexuality (Romans 1:24-27; Hebrews 13:4) In treatment of the disadvantaged (Isaiah 58:5-8; James 1:27) Other 8a. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. The northern nation of Israel has sanctuaries at Dan and Bethel (see Lesson Background: God s People). But true worship is to be restricted to the place of God s choice at the tabernacle at first, and then at the temple in Jerusalem after that structure was built by Solomon. Wrongdoing in this regard is compounded by worshippers taking with them the clothing of the poor to unauthorized places of worship. Such clothing comes into possession of those who are better off when surrendered to them as collateral for loans. But the law is emphatic that such clothing must be returned by sundown, when it will be needed for one to keep warm (Deuteronomy 24:10-13). That ordinance is being violated. What Do You Think? How can we show mercy to the poor without doing more harm than good? Talking Points for Your Discussion Regarding how best to meet the need Regarding the danger of creating a cycle of dependency Other 8b. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines

12 Page 12 of 14 A corrupt system can condemn an innocent person (contra Psalm 82:3) and require payment of a fine with whatever the victim has available. In this case such payment is made in wine. The guilty compound their guilt by drinking such confiscated wine in the house of their god. Thus sin multiplies as the first of the Ten Commandments, about having no other gods before the Lord, is violated (Exodus 20:3). Amos came to pronounce God s judgment on these people, and what we see here is only the beginning of a lengthy indictment. WHAT S AT THE ROOT? Did you know that when you look at a group of aspen trees, you re looking at only one tree? Somewhere in the center of the group is a core tree from which a complex root system extends, sometimes for miles. From those roots sprout the other trees. So what looks like several aspen trees above ground is really only one below ground. Because of this shared root system, a grove of aspens is difficult to remove permanently as long as the root system remains intact underneath the ground. That s the way it seems to be with sin as well. Amos described a variety of sins among the nations of Judah and Israel. But this variety could be traced back to a single root system: a disregard for God and his law. That disregard resulted in a focus on fulfilling fleshly desires without moral restriction. We may find it fairly easy to admit that we re sinners in a general sense and even be able to identify sins that need to go. But when it comes to identifying the singular, root motive that sustains them, we may be a bit more hesitant! What does your root system for sin look like? What will have to happen for you to eliminate that root system? D. C. S. Conclusion A. What You Deserve! As descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel and Judah were the special covenant people of God. But this resulted in an attitude problem the attitude that they deserved the blessings that they enjoyed because of who they were. God worked through these people to bring the Messiah into the world at just the right time, but moral failures and social injustices along the way were not ignored. The guilty got what they deserved. But what does any person deserve? Commercials and politicians today use the word deserve to sell goods or to secure votes. But every person is a sinner, and what everyone deserves in that regard is far different from what can be received through an obedient trust in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Christians are the people of the new covenant. By the grace of God, we don t get what we deserve! May our attitudes and actions always be that of humility in light of this fact

13 Page 13 of 14 B. Prayer Almighty God, thank you for the reminders that your people are accountable for the ways that they treat others. May others see Christ in me, as I pray in his name, amen. C. Thought to Remember May our attitudes and actions reflect our covenant status. VISUALS FOR THESE LESSONS The visual pictured in each lesson (example: page 349) is a small reproduction of a large, full-color poster included in the Adult Resources packet for the Spring Quarter. That packet also contains the very useful Presentation Helps on a CD for teacher use. Order No from your supplier. INVOLVEMENT LEARNING Some of the activities below are also found in the helpful student book, NIV Bible Student. Don t forget to download the free reproducible page from to enhance your lesson! Into the Lesson Prepare nine cards featuring the following nine words, one word per card: a / any / BUT / condemns / exalts / nation / people / righteousness / sin. Keep the BUT card for yourself and distribute the other eight cards randomly to learners. Say, The eight word-cards I have just distributed will make two affirmations of four words each when put in the correct order. Have the eight words read aloud randomly. Ask for a volunteer to collect four of the cards that he or she believes can be assembled for one statement and read them in statement order. Ask a second volunteer to collect the other four cards and read them likewise. When assembled correctly, the two statements will read righteousness exalts a nation and sin condemns any people. If the two leaners have not come up with these, ask a third learner what adjustments should be made; repeat as necessary. Then have your two volunteers affix their statements to the board in proper order. Say, I have a significant word to add as you affix the BUT card between the two statements

14 Page 14 of 14 Explain: There is a but because you can t have both righteousness and sin. Thus God warns of the need to forsake sin and commit to righteousness. This truth is from Proverbs 14:34. It is also a message of the book of Amos. Let s take a look. Alternative. Distribute copies of the A Foundational Truth activity from the reproducible page, which you can download. After learners complete as indicated, say, God desires all to forsake sin and commit to righteousness, as we will see in today s text. Into the Word Set the context by reviewing the two sections of the Lesson Background. (Option: You can also include material from the Lesson Backgrounds of lessons 2-4.) Then give each learner a copy of a two-column handout that features the five verses of today s lesson reproduced down the lefthand side and the following Scripture references down the right-hand side: A. Deuteronomy 24:10-13; B. 2 Peter 3:12; C. 2 Kings 22:13; D. Amos 5:11, 12; 8:4; E. Joel 3:3; Amos 8:6. Say, Take a few minutes to see what the passages on the right have to say, then match them with the verses from today s text on the left. Choose the single best match in each case. (Option: You may wish to reproduce the full texts of the passages on the right instead of just their references. This will allow the exercise to be completed faster, but will not yield the learning experience of looking up passages personally.) Allow several minutes for learners to complete the matching exercise individually; then discuss results as a class. (Expected matches: A, verse 8; B, verse 5; C, verse 4; D, verse 7; E, verse 6.) Learners matches that differ from those expected will allow opportunity for discussion and explanation. As you draw the discussion to a close, point out that Amos 8:6, which is part of answer E, will be addressed again in lesson 4. Option. The activity Sin: Then and Now, from the reproducible page, can be used at this point to bridge this segment with the next. Have learners complete this as indicated either in pairs or in groups of three. Discuss as a class; ask learners to defend differences of opinion. Into Life Give each learner a sticky note that is at least 3" x 3" in size. Ask each to write on it the heading Watch Out For. Then ask learners to write below the heading a short list of sins that are typically committed today that relate to today s text. (These can be copied from the Sin: Then and Now activity, if you used it.) Say, Post your note where you will see it often in the week ahead. Each time you are tempted by any of the sins, say a brief prayer to ask God for strength to resist