Judgment Against Moab Amos 2:1

As we completed the first chapter of Amos' prophesy, we saw how God would “kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind” which would also lead “their king” to go “into captivity, he and his princes together, says the LORD”. In chapter two and verse one of his prophesy, Amos pronounced God's judgment against the people of “Moab” where we read:

Thus says the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

The verse begins, “Thus says the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof;” Amos began with the words, “Thus says” or “utters, declares and proclaims” “the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God”; “For three transgressions” or “the three or a triad of rebellions and willful sins” “of Moab” which means “of his father” and was “the land inhabited by the descendants of the son of Lot”, “and for four” or “four transgressions”, “I will not turn away” or “the LORD will not return, turn back, refresh, restore or repair” “the punishment thereof” which means “the treading out, trampling on or being broken and torn”. “The LORD” was to bring judgment upon the people of “Moab” because of their “four transgressions” against His people.

The verse continues, “because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:” Amos added, “Because he burned” which means “since and on account of he kindled and set on fire” “the bones” or “the firmness and skeletal strength” “of the king” which was “royal ruler” “of Edom” which means “red” and was “land of Edom, Idumea which encompassed the land south and south east of Palestine” “into lime” which refers to “whitewashed plaster or seed”. The people of “Moab” were so cruel they took the leader of “Edom” and burned his body which made his bones be like “whitewashed” seed.

When we meditate upon these words of Amos, we see how “Moab”, which is modern day “central western Jordan”, was to be judged by “the LORD” for their “four transgressions” against “Edom”. Not only did they attack the people themselves, but also “Edom's” “king” whose “bones” they burned and made “into lime”. We must remember, God will take vengeance upon those whom He will, and whenever people find themselves in opposition to Him, they will be judged. Jesus Christ came into the world to save people who are already “condemned”, and if we align ourselves with Jesus Christ which is God's remedy for judgment, we shall never find ourselves in the state “Moab”.

Next time we see how God will “send a fire upon Moab”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.