Thy Strong Word — Amos 1:1-2:5: God’s Judgement Against Human Cruelty

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Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, receives a divine vision that sets the stage for a series of powerful judgments against the nations surrounding Israel. Through vivid imagery and fierce proclamations, God’s justice is declared against the transgressions of Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and others. As Amos turns his focus to Judah, the warnings become even more pointed, reminding us that no one is exempt from divine accountability.

The Rev. Jacob Heine, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Amos 1:1-2:5.

Amos, a simple shepherd and fig tree farmer from Tekoa, was called by God to deliver a powerful message to Israel—a nation steeped in corruption, injustice, and complacency. Unlike the professional prophets of his time, Amos was an outsider, chosen to proclaim a divine warning against the moral decay and social inequalities that plagued the northern kingdom. Through vivid imagery and uncompromising language, Amos called out the wealthy elite for their exploitation of the poor, condemned the nation’s empty religious practices, and foretold the impending judgment that would come if they did not repent.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [e-mail].

Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

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Amos 1:1-2:5

1 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds^[a] of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years^[b] before the earthquake.

Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

² And he said:

“The Lord roars from Zion
and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
and the top of Carmel withers.”

³ Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Damascus,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,^[c]
because they have threshed Gilead
with threshing sledges of iron.
⁴ So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.
⁵ I will break the gate-bar of Damascus,
and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven,^[d]
and him who holds the scepter from Beth-eden;
and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir,”
says the Lord.

⁶ Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Gaza,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they carried into exile a whole people
to deliver them up to Edom.
⁷ So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
and it shall devour her strongholds.
⁸ I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod,
and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;
I will turn my hand against Ekron,
and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,”
says the Lord God.

⁹ Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Tyre,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,
and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
¹⁰ So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre,
and it shall devour her strongholds.”

¹¹ Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Edom,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because he pursued his brother with the sword
and cast off all pity,
and his anger tore perpetually,
and he kept his wrath forever.
¹² So I will send a fire upon Teman,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah.”

¹³ Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of the Ammonites,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead,
that they might enlarge their border.
¹⁴ So I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah,
and it shall devour her strongholds,
with shouting on the day of battle,
with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind;
¹⁵ and their king shall go into exile,
he and his princes^[e] together,”
says the Lord.

2 Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Moab,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,^[f]
because he burned to lime
the bones of the king of Edom.
² So I will send a fire upon Moab,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth,
and Moab shall die amid uproar,
amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet;
³ I will cut off the ruler from its midst,
and will kill all its princes^[g] with him,”
says the Lord.

Judgment on Judah

⁴ Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Judah,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have rejected the law of the Lord,
and have not kept his statutes,
but their lies have led them astray,
those after which their fathers walked.
⁵ So I will send a fire upon Judah,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.”

Footnotes

1. Amos 1:1 Or sheep breeders
2. Amos 1:1 Or during two years
3. Amos 1:3 Hebrew I will not turn it back; also verses 6, 9, 11, 13
4. Amos 1:5 Or On
5. Amos 1:15 Or officials
6. Amos 2:1 Hebrew I will not turn it back; also verses 4, 6
7. Amos 2:3 Or officials

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org