#1146 Amos 9 Kick It In

 

I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and He said:

“Strike the doorposts, that the thresholds may shake,

And break them on the heads of them all.

I will slay the last of them with the sword.

He who flees from them shall not get away,

And he who escapes from them shall not be delivered.

2 “Though they dig into hell,

From there My hand shall take them;

Though they climb up to heaven,

From there I will bring them down;

3 And though they hide themselves on top of Carmel,

From there I will search and take them;

Though they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea,

From there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them;

4 Though they go into captivity before their enemies,

From there I will command the sword,

And it shall slay them.

I will set My eyes on them for harm and not for good.”

5 The Lord God of hosts,

He who touches the earth and it melts,

And all who dwell there mourn;

All of it shall swell like the River,

And subside like the River of Egypt.

6 He who builds His layers in the sky,

And has founded His strata in the earth;

Who calls for the waters of the sea,

And pours them out on the face of the earth—

The Lord is His name.

7 “Are you not like the people of Ethiopia to Me,

O children of Israel?” says the Lord.

“Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt,

The Philistines from Caphtor,

And the Syrians from Kir?

8 “Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom,

And I will destroy it from the face of the earth;

Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”

Says the Lord.

9 “For surely I will command,

And will sift the house of Israel among all nations,

As grain is sifted in a sieve;

Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.

10 All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword,

Who say, ‘The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.’

Israel Will Be Restored

11 “On that day I will raise up

The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,

And repair its damages;

I will raise up its ruins,

And rebuild it as in the days of old;

12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom,

And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,”

Says the Lord who does this thing.

13 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

“When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,

And the treader of grapes him who sows seed;

The mountains shall drip with sweet wine,

And all the hills shall flow with it.

14 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;

They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;

They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;

They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.

15 I will plant them in their land,

And no longer shall they be pulled up

From the land I have given them,”

Says the Lord your God. Amos 9 NKJV

Amos 9 

The prophet, in vision, saw the Lord standing upon the idolatrous altar at Bethel. Wherever sinners flee from God's justice, it will overtake them. Those whom God brings to heaven by his grace, shall never be cast down; but those who seek to climb thither by vain confidence in themselves, will be cast down and filled with shame. That which makes escape impossible and ruin sure, is, that God will set his eyes upon them for evil, not for good. Wretched must those be on whom the Lord looks for evil, and not for good. The Lord would scatter the Jews, and visit them with calamities, as the corn is shaken in a sieve; but he would save some from among them. The astonishing preservation of the Jews as a distinct people, seems here foretold. If professors make themselves like the world, God will level them with the world. The sinners who thus flatter themselves, shall find that their profession will not protect them. - Matthew Henry

1-4 I saw the Lord standing by the altar - Amos has a vision of the Lord, a Theophany, for God is a spirit, yet men do not see this way, and often He has visited in the form of a man, even the preincarnate Christ.  The altar is at Bethel, and as we have learned this is a place of an apostate form of Judaism, with it's own priest, who were not called by God, and who wanted Amos to leave. Assyria will come as stated, but it is at the call of God, under His sovereign decree, He is the judge.

“Like the boss of a demolition squad or the commander of an invading enemy, he snaps his orders for the smashing of the temple and takes personal responsibility for seeing that the last offender is brought to justice.” (Hubbard)

Strike the door posts that the thresholds may shake - This is structurally the strongest part of the building, and it reminds me of a blind Samson, who was brought out as entertainment by his Philistine captors. He was a thorn in their side for some years, but at a place where they felt safe and in charge, as these who congregate under the roof of their form of religion, neither the Philistines nor those at Bethel had truly built upon an unshakable foundation. The Philistines worshiped pagan gods, and the people at Bethel thought they worshiped the true God, the God of the Hebrews, yet He will only be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth. The religions of both parties were to the same effect, calling for God's judgement. 

…62You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left few in number, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God. 63 Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and multiply, so also it will please Him to annihilate you and destroy you. And you will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess. 64Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.… Deuteronomy 28: 62-64

…25The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”… Matthew 7: 25-27

Though they dig into hell - Men will scream for the mountains to fall upon them, and they will look to their own forms of religion, of humanism, yet the towers they built against the rising flood waters will not be high enough. Jonah, in the belly of a fish, at the bottom of the sea, thought that God could no longer hear him, but there is no place out of God's reach. Ah, the futility of religion as a crutch, as insurance against the possibility of God, the science of men trying to make up another god, so that they may ignore the voice of the only true God. 

…7Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? 8If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. 9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea,… Psalm 139: 7-9

5-9 The Lord God of Hosts - This goes on to remind them of Who God is, His power, His majesty, that He is also the Creator and there is nothing and no one like Him. It reminds us of God's conference with Job and his companions.

. Amos uses the title Lord GOD again – used 12 times in Amos 7-9, emphasizing the sovereignty of God. “That sovereignty is symbolized in the name of God that dominates this section – Lord God, literally ‘My Master Yahweh’” (Hubbard).

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?

Tell me, if you understand.

5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6 On what were its footings set,

or who laid its cornerstone—

7 while the morning stars sang together

and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38: 4-7

The Philistines from Caphtor - Israel looked down upon their neighbors, but they had much more in common with them than with God. God made them all in His image, yet Israel was given more light, which should also demand more humility. 

Caphtor was the place where the Philistines came from prior to this time.

Kir 

…8Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. 9So the king of Assyria responded to him, marched up to Damascus, and captured it. He took its people to Kir as captives and put Rezin to death. 2 Kings 16: 8-9

…22just as He had done for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day. 23And the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, were destroyed by the Caphtorites, who came out of Caphtor and settled in their place.) Deuteronomy 2: 22-23

The eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom - Being related to Abraham did not cause God to look the other way. He has compared them at other times, through other prophets, to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities that He smashed into dust.

Who say, the calamity shall not overtake or confront us - They had a false sense of confidence, in things that God did not regard, and He has called to them, through His prophets, for some time, to repent. Judah suffered the same issues with prophets that claimed there would be deliverance from Babylon, then adjusted and hedged their bets, saying that the captivity would only last a couple of years, but they were all wrong and all speaking of their own, not for God, He didn't send them. We do the same today, someone has asked me before, "do you think I'm a good person?" By what standard, mine? You can go and find someone, a million someones who agree with you on an issue. Many people in cults all agree with each other on things that God despises, and all of them confidently express that they are in the right. People get mad at me when I say I don't agree with them when they express confidence and security in being American, like that puts you off limits to God's just wrath. I have said before that I have heard a pastor say, "that won't happen here because it's a free country and there are too many godly people here." Really? Well, it doesn't matter what I think about you, I can be wrong, or you can fool me, I have been fooled lots of times, but what does matter is what God thinks about you. He is never wrong and He looks at the heart. 

…37As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. 39And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.… Matthew 24: 37-39

…12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. 14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”… Ephesians 5: 12-14

…13What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you? 14The visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading. 15All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?”… Lamentations 2: 13-15

11-15 I will raise up the tabernacle of David - God had a covenant with David, and it is in David's line that Messiah will come. Amos is prophesying to the northern kingdom, the ten tribes that split away from the Davidic dynasty, but one day all the tribes will be one again under Messiah. 

…41Others declared, “This is the Christ.” But still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? 42Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 43So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus.… John 7: 41-43

1Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel. 2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel— One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. 3Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel.… Micah 5: 1-3

4And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it. 5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.… Revelation 5: 4-6

…47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”… Mark 10: 47-49

This is an abrupt change from the strong message of rebuke and judgment. “The transition from verse 10 to verse 11 is the most abrupt and surprising in the entire book. The sword of judgment gives way to the trowel of reconstruction” (Hubbard).

I will raise up its ruins - God will restore Israel, and Messiah will come to rule and judge the nations. 

…18“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old. 19Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 20The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.… Isaiah 43: 18-20

…34And on the west side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali. 35The perimeter of the city will be 18,000 cubits, and from that day on the name of the city will be: THE LORD IS THERE.” Ezekiel 48: 34-35

And all the Gentiles who are called by My name - The inclusion of some Gentiles was not an invention of the New Testament. It was always Israel's call to be a light to the nations. God has a remnant that He has chosen from the peoples and they come from all over the world. 

…2In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.… Isaiah 2: 2-4

…31Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God. 32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord— Selah 33to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.… Psalm 68: 31-33

And no longer shall they be pulled up - This looks forward to a future time when Israel will rebuild under the rule of Messiah as Prince of peace. 

…7On this mountain He will swallow up the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken. 9And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”… Isaiah 25: 7-9

…26The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise Him. May your hearts live forever! 27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him. 28For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.… Psalm 22: 26-28