CHAPTER 4

1 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. 2 The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. 3 And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD.

In the introduction to this book, it was stated that though Amos was from Judah (Tekoa, South of Jerusalem), he prophesied to Northern Israel. Samaria is located in Northern Israel territory, and Bashan was a fertile area, North and East of the Sea of Galilee. Bashan produced very sleek cattle.

Therefore, Amos' statement "kine of Bashan" is equal to calling the people "fat cows!" By use of the feminine gender, there is somewhat of a slam against the women of the social elite because they were responsible for oppressing the poor and crushing the needy. In all probability, the women were making demands upon the men for higher and more elite lifestyles.

Demands of the social elite for more luxuries is generally at the COST of the "poor" and "needy." When social elitness is demanded by some it is a sin against humanity.

God is holy and prizes "holiness" (vs 2). Holiness is purity, and relates to all humans as worthy of God's love and care. Special favoritism in society is NOT part of God's plan, and it opposes His "holiness." This sin of preferential treatment at the cost of the poor was already bringing God's punitive judgment against Northern Israel. Note the words "shall come upon you." The grammar suggests that God is ALREADY bringing the judgment upon them (cf below, vss 7, 9 & 10).

In those days, captors fashioned "hooks" from large thorns. The "hooks" were placed in the nose of the captives, a string or rope was attached to the hook, and they were led away. The children ("posterity") would be led away using "fishhooks."

The walls of the cities would have "breaches," or large breaks in them during the conquest. The captives would be led through these large holes in the walls. They would be taken to the "palace" or homes of the captors, and would become SLAVES!

4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: 5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

This statement is filled with irony. The people were coming often to make sacrifices, but they were farther and farther away from a real relationship with God. Their religious activities had become only a "show" and made no differences in their actions.

There are many people in our country today who believe they can go to the "boat" on Saturday night and attend church on Sunday without any consequences. Gambling always oppresses the "poor" and "needy!" A religion which "fulfils the lusts of the flesh" (Rom. 13:14) is a religion where the "works" are in VAIN!

6 And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 7 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. 8 So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 10 I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. 11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

God had already been sending punitive damage upon them because of their sins, but they weren't paying attention. He had withheld the rain (vs 7), sent "blasting and mildew" (vs 9), sent "pestilence" and war (vs 10). As a result, they had "cleanness of teeth" (or hunger) and many of their soldiers had died in battles. But the people did not repent and turn back to God.

This year (2005) several hurricanes have hit the Gulf coast of America. Houses, families, and businesses have been destroyed. Yet people do not see this as a message from God in response to the decadent lifestyles. State governments are not only sponsoring but also promoting gambling and the other sins related to gambling: drinking, prostitution, graft and corruption. As a result of these hurricanes, governments are feeling the "sting" by loss of revenues. If repentence is not soon made in genuineness, governments may experience tremendous shame through bankruptcy.

12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. 13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

God is He Who "forms the mountains," and "creates the wind". It is God who reads the "thoughts" of man, and knows his intentions. He is the Almighty, the Eternal, the Holy, Omnipotent God. He is the CREATOR of all mankind, and the RULER of all things and people. He is the Jesus Who came to earth, died for our sins and rose from the grave. He is the LORD Who ascended to heaven, and has "authority" over all things in heaven and in earth. God is IN CONTROL!

God has ways of destroying cities, states and even countries without ever a shot being fired! If we do not repent from our social games which oppress the poor and needy, God will USE those means!

Are YOU prepared to "meet thy God?" The ONLY manner of preparation for meeting God is REPENTANCE and SURRENDER!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.