Daily Bible Reading Friday 21st March 2025

Amos 1

1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds1 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 years2 before the earthquake.

Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

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.”

Thus says the LORD:

  “For three transgressions of Damascus,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,3
  because they have threshed Gilead
    with threshing sledges of iron.
  So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael,
    and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.
  I will break the gate-bar of Damascus,
    and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven,4
  and him who holds the scepter from Beth-eden;
    and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir,”
      says the LORD.

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.
  So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza,
    and it shall devour her strongholds.
  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.

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 princes5 together,”
      says the LORD.

Footnotes

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

(ESV)

Teaching by Rev. William Moody

Amos was a shepherd, who lived at Tekoa which was in Judah but close to the border with the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos’ prophesy came during the reign of two kings, Jeroboam II the King of Israel (2 Kings 14 23-29) and Uzziah the king of Judah (Azariah 2 Kings 15 v1-7).

The reigns of these two kings were long and stable, and brought much prosperity to Israel and Judah. Amos’ message was mainly against how in these good days, the poor in Israel were being exploited by the rich.

The opening part of the prophesy is a series of poems which the Lord roars (v3) against the nations which surrounded Israel. In chapter 1 the nations mentioned are Damascus (Syria, v3-5), Gaza (Philistines v6-8), Tyre (v9-10), Edom (v11-12) and Ammon (v13-15). These nations are facing judgment because of how they have treated God’s people. Gilead (v3, 13), was the main fortress for the Israelite tribes to the east of the Jordan. It was captured different times and King Ahab died trying to deliver it.  The ‘whole people’ being transported (v6,9) possibly refers to 2 Chronicles 21 v16-17.

It is comforting to know God really cares and will hold accountable those who mistreat His people. We ourselves need to really care for other believers and particularly those who face persecution from others.