Amos the
prophet shared the judgment that was going to be imposed upon the
enemies of Israel and Judah. Among them were “Damascus, Aven and
Syria”, and in chapter
one and verse six of his prophesy, Amos declared the judgment that
was to come upon “Gaza” where we read:
Thus
says the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will
not turn away the punishment
thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to
deliver them up to
Edom:
The
verse begins, “Thus says the LORD;
For three transgressions of Gaza, 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”
which means “the three or a triad of rebellions and willful sins”
“of Gaza” which
refers to “a city of the Philistines
located in the extreme southwest of Palestine close to the
Mediterranean”,
“and for four”
or “four transgressions”, “I will
not turn away”
which means “the LORD will not return, turn back, refresh, restore
or repair” “the punishment thereof”
or “tread
out, trample on or be broken and torn”. Amos proclaimed judgment
and “punishment”
upon “Gaza”
because of their “four transgressions”.
The verse continues, “because
they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them
up to Edom:” Amos added, “because
they carried away captive” which means
“uncovered, removed, departed and caused to go into exile” “the
whole captivity” or “the complete,
perfect, full and finished exile of the people who were led into
captivity”, “to deliver them up”
which means “shut, closed up and imprisoned the people within
Israel and Judah” “to Edom”
which means “red” and was “the land of Idumea which was south
and southeast of Palestine”. “Gaza's”
encountered“punishment”
because they aided in the “captivity”
of the people of Israel by turning them over to the “Edomites”
who were Israel's enemies.
When
we think through these words of Amos, we see once again the LORD
bringing judgment against those who oppose His people. “Gaza”
was a Philistine city which is mention many times in the Bible, and
most of the time they were adversaries of Israel. In this instance,
Gaza aided the Assyrians and Babylonians in the “exile” of the
people by turning them over to the “Edomites”. When God's people
go through difficulties and punishment, we should never add to their
misery. This was the sin of “Gaza”, and those who align
themselves with Jesus Christ are to be aware when others are going
through difficult times. Rather than contribute to their misery, we
should give them aid. May the Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit
guide us as we encounter those in need, and rather than transgress
like “Gaza”, let us be like Jesus who extends mercy to
those in trouble.
Next
time Amos
shares how God will send “fire
on the wall of Gaza”,
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.
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