(REFLECTIONS ON Amos 1:1-15)

In today’s Scripture, we see a pattern of God’s judgment for the transgressions of the nations surrounding Israel. There is also a repeated phrase used, “For three transgressions of [nation], and for four…”

What does this mean? No, it isn’t saying that they did three evil things and it is because of the fourth that judgment is coming to them, but rather it is a Hebrew rhetorical expression indicating an accumulation or fullness of transgression, something like ‘sin upon sin’ or ‘again and again, and now beyond measure.’

Interestingly, Amos 1 focuses only on the nations surrounding Israel and how they destroy one another in wickedness. It reminds us that God isn’t just concerned with justice for Israel, but as the God of all creation, He is concerned with all injustice and all wickedness.

However, before Israel can celebrate because their enemies are destroying each other and being judged by God, we will see in Amos 2 and 3 that all humanity is guilty.

Does this remind you of anything? Is this pattern shown anywhere else in the Bible? This is one of the things I love about studying theology. Rather than just reading the Bible as separate books and stories, we can see a theological connection that I can only explain as being the work of the Holy Spirit.

Paul in the Book of Romans also uses a similar method of presenting the sins of the world, the sins of the Jews, and ultimately the unrighteousness of all humanity, as we see in Amos 1–3.

Romans 1 reveals the sins and wickedness of the pagan/Gentile world. However, before the Jews can point and judge the sins of the Gentiles, Romans 2 reveals their own wickedness.

In Romans 3, Paul writes that none are righteous, not even one, and the righteousness that is available to us through the faith of Jesus Christ is God’s righteousness and not our own.

It is a reminder that it is so easy to see the wickedness in others, to judge others, to see all the short-comings and faults of everyone else but our own. However, while we sit back and look at people destroying one another, society fading into brokenness, let us not forget to look in the mirror and see our own brokenness.

Yes, all of creation is broken, and so we all are in need of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We are in need of the Holy Spirit to shine the light of truth on us, and realize it isn’t just everyone else’s fault, but all of creation is broken.

I will end today’s devotional with a reminder from Jesus Christ in Matthew 7,

3 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Amos 1