"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 21 January 2013, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."
Today's Blog Title: "Punishment of Israel's Sins"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Amos 3:1-15
Today's Blog Key Verse: Amos 3:13-14 "Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, Says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; and the horns of the alter shall be cut off And fall to the ground."
"The whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt," in verse 1, emphasizes the personal, intimate relationship that God had with Israel. "You only have I known," in verse 2, should be understood in the sense of God's setting Israel apart and to bring her into a covenant relationship with Himself. It is used with similar meaning in Psalm 1:6; 147:19-29; and Ezekiel 20:5.
God does not do anything that is morally wrong, but His judgments on sin are undoubtedly experienced by sinful man as "bad news." The voice of God roars through His prophets like the warning roar of a lion. God does not keep his intention to judge sin a secret, but He clearly reveals His plans. There is no excuse for not heeding God's words.
"Ashdod," in verse 9, was one of the five principle cities of the Philistines, on was on the Mediterranean coast, southwest of Israel. For God to call "Philistia" and "Egypt" to witness His judgment on Israel, implies that these pagan nations were relatively more righteous than Israel. These nations had NOT received God's revelation at Sinai; yet Israel, having received it, had violated it grossly and repeatedly.
In verse 10, "For they do not know to do right," pictures the fortresses of Israel as centers for the defense of the land and its people, but as strongholds in which riches taken from the people are preserved for the wealthy. The rich have plundered their own land, and in the process their moral sense has become so warped that they no longer can separate right from wrong.
The "shepherd" in verse 12, was responsible to the owner for the safety of the sheep. He had to make good any loss, unless he could prove it was unavoidable. A "lion" taking a sheep was an unavoidable loss, but the shepherd had to prove that the lion had taken it. The remains of a sheep eaten by a wild animal were saved to prove that the shepherd had not stolen it. When the enemy invades the land of Israel, only a few torn remnants of the people will be snatched from the invaders.
"Alters" and "summer homes" in verse 14, symbolize the flaws in Israel's society: "false religion" and a "passionate materialism" that produced a wealthy class at the expense of the poor. The "summer" and "winter" houses are most likely two residents maintained by the rich, while the dispossessed poor lived in the streets.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."
Jesus Reigns, and He Is, and Always Will Be in Complete and Total Control!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Title: "Punishment of Israel's Sins"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Amos 3:1-15
Today's Blog Key Verse: Amos 3:13-14 "Hear and testify against the house of Jacob, Says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts, That in the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will also visit destruction on the altars of Bethel; and the horns of the alter shall be cut off And fall to the ground."
"The whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt," in verse 1, emphasizes the personal, intimate relationship that God had with Israel. "You only have I known," in verse 2, should be understood in the sense of God's setting Israel apart and to bring her into a covenant relationship with Himself. It is used with similar meaning in Psalm 1:6; 147:19-29; and Ezekiel 20:5.
God does not do anything that is morally wrong, but His judgments on sin are undoubtedly experienced by sinful man as "bad news." The voice of God roars through His prophets like the warning roar of a lion. God does not keep his intention to judge sin a secret, but He clearly reveals His plans. There is no excuse for not heeding God's words.
"Ashdod," in verse 9, was one of the five principle cities of the Philistines, on was on the Mediterranean coast, southwest of Israel. For God to call "Philistia" and "Egypt" to witness His judgment on Israel, implies that these pagan nations were relatively more righteous than Israel. These nations had NOT received God's revelation at Sinai; yet Israel, having received it, had violated it grossly and repeatedly.
In verse 10, "For they do not know to do right," pictures the fortresses of Israel as centers for the defense of the land and its people, but as strongholds in which riches taken from the people are preserved for the wealthy. The rich have plundered their own land, and in the process their moral sense has become so warped that they no longer can separate right from wrong.
The "shepherd" in verse 12, was responsible to the owner for the safety of the sheep. He had to make good any loss, unless he could prove it was unavoidable. A "lion" taking a sheep was an unavoidable loss, but the shepherd had to prove that the lion had taken it. The remains of a sheep eaten by a wild animal were saved to prove that the shepherd had not stolen it. When the enemy invades the land of Israel, only a few torn remnants of the people will be snatched from the invaders.
"Alters" and "summer homes" in verse 14, symbolize the flaws in Israel's society: "false religion" and a "passionate materialism" that produced a wealthy class at the expense of the poor. The "summer" and "winter" houses are most likely two residents maintained by the rich, while the dispossessed poor lived in the streets.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."
Jesus Reigns, and He Is, and Always Will Be in Complete and Total Control!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
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