DBG - September 23 - Amos 6-9, Obadiah 1

In this chapter the coming judgment is described.

vs. 1-6 – God speaks to both of the kingdoms: Zion is Judah and Samaria is Israel.  In vs. 2 He invokes the memory of three nations that had been defeated.  Calneh was on the Tigris River and had been defeated by Assyria.  Hameth was defeated by Jeroboam II in II Kings 14:25).  Gath had been defeated by Uzziah in II Chronicles 26:6).  All three had fallen in the previous twelve years.  The Jews were living the high life and ignoring the coming judgment. 

vs. 7-14 – The desolation that is coming through judgment.  Mighty families will end.  The absurdity of the actions of the Jews is described in vs. 12, as they turned goodness into poison.  Assyria was coming to enact God’s judgments.

In this chapter Amos has three visions.

vs. 1-3 – There are echoes of the Book of Joel here.  Amos sees a vision of locusts devouring the harvest.  The “first cutting” of hay was reserved for the monarch.  The “second cutting” would likely have been in the late summer or early fall.  The prophet intercedes for the people and God changes course.  Some see this vision as referring to the invasion of the Assyrians under Pul in II Kings 5:19.

vs. 4-6 – Amos sees a vision of a great fire that even consumes the depths of the oceans.  He intercedes again, and God changes course.  Some see this vision as referring to the invasion of the Assyrians under Tiglath-pileser II in II Kings 15:29

vs. 7-9 – Amos sees a vision of a wall measured against a plumbline. I cannot help but think this may relate to the earthquake from Amos 1:1.  It speaks of God checking the spiritual state of Israe.  It is prophesied that the house of Jeroboam would end, which it did with the death of Zachariah in II kings 15:8-12. The fulfillment of this is the final defeat of Israel by the Assyrians under Shalmaneser in II Kings 17:6

vs. 10-17 – Amaziah, one of the pagan priests at Bethel, gives a twisted report to Jeroboam II of Amos’s prophecy.  He tries to frighten Amos into fleeing the country, but Amos takes a strong stand on God’s word.  It is declared that Amaziah’s wife would be left destitute after the coming judgment, forced to live as a prostitute to survive. 

In this chapter the corruption of the rich is revealed.

vs. 1-3 – Israel is pictured as a basket of ripe fruit, showing that the harvest (judgment) was ready. 

vs. 4-10 – The abuses of the rich upon the poor are listed.  In vs. 8 is a mention of the earth trembling, possibly another reference to the earthquake of Amos 1:1.  An eclipse may be referenced to in vs. 9.  The was a total eclipse in this area on June 15, 762 B.C.

vs. 11-14 – God withdraws from Israel because of their sin.  Until their hearts turned and idolatry was abolished, he could not guide them as before.  God’s silent treatment is one of his greatest judgments. 

In this chapter the destruction and restoration of Israel are discussed.

vs. 1-10 – The destruction of Israel is in view.  God is seen in vs. 1 beside an altar, which must refer to Bethel and not Jerusalem.  The temple collapses, possibly because of the earthquake in Amos 1:1.  It is used as a picture of the coming collapse of Israel.  There was no escape.  In vs. 5 is another probably reference to the earthquake which has similarities to Amos 8:8.  The Northern Kingdom would fall and rise no more.  The Jewish people would continue on after dispersion.

vs. 11-15 – The restoration of Israel is in view.  James quotes in Acts 15:15-16 from vs. 11-12 to that God was working among the Gentiles before establishing His kingdom on earth.  The tabernacle of David is the royal house and throne.  It is the establishment of Christ on the throne in the Millennial Kingdom.

This is the shortest book in the Old Testament.  It is a prophecy of judgment against Edom, paralleling such prophecies as Jeremiah 49.  The Edomites were descendants of Esau (Genesis 25:30, 32:3).  They are sometimes referred to as Idumea or by the landmark of Mount Seir.  Bozrah and Petra were sites of major cities for the Edomites.  The enmity that began between Esau and Jacob continued through their descendants.  We see that Edom opposed Israel during the Exodus in Numbers 20:14-21.  They were defeated by Saul (I Samuel 14:47) and David (II Samuel 8:13-14) and are also listed as enemies of Solomon (I Kings 11:14).  Under Jehoshaphat they had attempted to invade Israel (II Chronicles 20:22) and had revolted against Judah’s rule (II Chronicles 21:8).

A few quick facts about Obadiah.

vs. 1-14 – God indicts Edom for their pride and declares coming judgment.  They help fortified positions that they felt would never fall to invaders.  Their allies, wisdom, and strength would fail them.  In vs. 9 the clan of Teman is singled out.  They were descendants of a grandson of Esau (Genesis 36:11) and were known for bravery and courage.  The final straw for Edom is that they did not aid Judah when it fell to the Babylonians.  Rather, they stood by watching and cheering. Afterward they stole any remaining goods from the ruins and hunted down survivors.

vs. 15-21 – We see the classic prophetical language of “the day of the Lord.”  We have jumped here to the End Times.  The prophecy grows beyond just Edom into all the nations that stand against God and Israel.   Israel will possess the territory of Edom in the Millennial Kingdom.  The nature of the rule over whatever remains of Edom is described in vs. 21. 

Sometimes we feel like Asaph in Psalm 73 and wonder why God allows the wicked to prosper.  We must remember that His judgment is sure.  His holiness and justice cannot allow sin to go unpunished.  As God was judging His own people, it looked like He was neglecting the sins of the heathen around them.  It was not true.  Their time had not come yet.  Rest assured it will.

Our hymn today is “By Whom Shall Jacob Now Arise?”, written by Thomas Kelly.  It takes up the question from Amos 7:2 and calls for God to restore Israel.

By whom shall Jacob now arise?
For Jacob’s friends are few,
And—what should fill us with surprise—
They seem divided, too.

By whom shall Jacob now arise?
For Jacob’s foes are strong.
I read their triumph in their eyes,
They think he’ll fail ere long.

By whom shall Jacob now arise?
Can any tell by whom?
Say, shall this branch that withered lies,
Again revive and bloom?

Lord, Thou canst tell—the work is Thine,
The help of man is vain.
On Jacob now arise and shine,
And he shall live again.