The people of Israel were
being judged by “the LORD” for their insubordination against His
commandments. Rather than obey Him, they were so corrupt they
influenced their “Nazarites” and “prophets” to
stray from their original spiritual commitments. This cause “the
LORD” to announce that their “swift, strong and mighty”
would fail in their normal abilities, and in chapter two and verse
fifteen of his prophesy, Amos continued to show how their “bow
handlers”, “swift of foot” and “horse riders”
would be affected where we read:
Neither shall he stand
that handles the bow; and he that is swift of foot
shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that
rides the horse deliver himself.
The
verse begins, “Neither shall he stand that handles the
bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver
himself:” Amos
began with the words, “Neither shall he stand”
or “remain, endure, abide or persist” “that handles”
which means “catches, lays hold, seizes and wields”
“the bow” which refers to
“the bending bow with which to shoot arrows”; “and he
that is swift” or “light and
fleet” “of foot” which
means “the body part with which one walks or ambles”
“shall not deliver himself”
or “slip away, escape and save”. Even those who were warriors
equipped with weapons such as “bows and arrows” or “running
quickly” would not be able to escape the “punishment”
of God.
The
verse continues, “neither shall he that rides the horse
deliver himself.” Amos added,
“neither shall he that rides”
or “mounts, sits and draws upon” “the horse” which
refers to “the chariot horses” “deliver himself”
or “slip away from, escape or save himself”. In addition to the
“bow” handler and
the “fast runner”, the “horse riders” would not be able to
“save themselves” from the judgment of “the LORD”.
When we
meditate upon these words of Amos, we see how those who were skilled
in warfare would not be able to defend against “the LORD's”
punishment. When God brings His judgment upon people, nothing with
which they are equipped shall prevent it. God Almighty sent His Son
Jesus Christ into the world to save people from their sins, and
should they reject His sacrifice and offering, it will not matter how
skilled they are in any weapon of life.
Next
time we see
Amos writes about the “courageous”
people,
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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