Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20100425.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Amos: Heeding The Word Of The God Of The Whole World
Part II: Heeding God's Word To All Gentiles To Respect Human Life, Amos 1:3-2:3
B. Heeding God's Word To Respect His Image In Friends And Relatives
(Amos 1:9-2:3 with Genesis 9:5-17)
  1. Introduction
    1. Our friends and relatives rely on us to a significant degree relate to them with trust and respect.
    2. However, if we fail to relate to them this way, they suffer significant pain, not only for the material loss of the "bad deal" involved, but especially for the hurt they feel over the break in the strong bond of trust.
    3. God thus severely judges such "unfaithfulness" with friends and relatives, the lesson of Amos 1:9-2:3:
  2. Heeding God's Word To Respect His Image In Friends And Relatives, Am. 1:9-2:3 with Gen. 9:5-17.
    1. After God through His prophet, Amos predicted judgment on Israel's bitter enemies of Damascus and of Philistia (our last lesson, cf. Amos 1:3-5, 6-8), He turned His attention to Tyre (Amos 1:9-10), a former ally of Israel, and then to Edom (Amos 1:11-12), Ammon (Amos 1:13-15) and Moab (Amos 2:1-3), nations who were Israel's blood relatives, pronouncing judgment on them, Bib. Kno. Com., O. T., p. 1431.
    2. In each of these judgments, God pronounced judgment for violating His Noahic Covenant to respect His divine image in friendly and relative nations (as follows), Amos 1:9-2:3 with Genesis 9:5-17:
      1. God's judgments against Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab, as they were in the case of Damascus and Philistia, were based on their violations of the Noahic Covenant of Genesis 9:5-17:
        1. God had told Noah and his sons, the forefathers of the world's nations (Genesis 9:1; 10:1-32) that He would not destroy the world again with a flood, but that they were to practice capital punishment for murder out of respect for the image of God in other human beings, Genesis 9:5-6; Ibid., p. 1428.
        2. This arrangement was meant to prevent the violence that had led to the worldwide flood, Gen. 6:13.
        3. However, the world turned apostate in Genesis 11, and returned to its violence in man against man.
      2. So, in pronouncing judgment on the Gentile nations of Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab, either friendly or relative nations to Israel, God judged them for violating reverence for His image in man in others:
        1. The word "transgressions" in Amos 1:9, 11, 13 and 2:1 (KJV) is pesha' in the Hebrew text, and it was used in secular treaties to describe a vassal's disobedience to a covenant, Ibid.
        2. Since Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab were not in Mosaic Covenant relation with God as was Israel, this means God held them all responsible for violating the Noahic Covenant He had had with them!
        3. Thus, God pronounced judgment on each such nation for disrespecting His image in other people!
    3. We view these judgments in Amos 1:9-2:3, noting they deal with abuses to friendly and relative nations:
      1. First, God pronounced judgment against Tyre for delivering up Hebrew captives to the Edomite slave market in violation of a "brotherly covenant" with Israel, Amos 1:9. This apparently refers to the covenant between Hiram, king of Tyre, and David and Solomon, 1 Kings 5:1-12; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978 ed., ftn. to Am. 1:9. Tyre's unfaithfulness to a "friendly" nation in Israel would be judged by an army that would burn down its palaces (Am. 1:10), a prophecy fulfilled by Alexander the Great's destruction, brutality and captivity of Tyre in 332 B. C., Ibid., Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1429.
      2. Second, God pronounced judgment against Edom for heartlessly pursuing relative Hebrew people in perpetual hatred, Am. 1:11. Thus, God would bring an invading army to burn its palaces, Am. 1:12.
      3. Third, God pronounced judgment against Ammon for brutalizing relative pregnant Hebrew women in Gilead just to extend its border, Am. 1:13. God would thus judge Ammon by an invading force that would burn its palaces with avenging terrifying violence, and its king would be captured, Am. 1:14-15.
      4. Fourth, God pronounced judgment against Moab for profaning the bones of the relative king of Edom, a despicable deed in that era, Amos 2:1; Ibid., B. K. C., O. T., p. 1430. God would thus send an army to burn down its palaces with terrifying violence, and cut off rulers and princes alike, Amos 2:2-3.
Lesson: For failing to respect the image of God in friendly or relative nations whose relationships of trust they were to value before God, He meted out severe judgment on Tyre, Edom, Ammon and Moab.

Application: May we respect the image of God in others, especially if they are our friends and relatives, for the higher degree of trust they put in us God holds us accountable to VALUE!