Your Palaces Destroyed Amos 3:11

Amos the prophet declared the people of Israel “know not to do right” and were as those“who store up violence and robbery in their palaces”. He continued to share how the LORD would judge them in chapter three and verse eleven of his prophesy, as he declared how their “palaces” would be “destroyed”. We read:

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down your strength from you, and your palaces shall be spoiled.

The verse begins, “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land;” Amos began with the word, “Therefore” which means “in conclusion, on this account and because of this” “thus says” or “utters, proclaims and declares” “the Lord GOD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God”; “An adversary” or “foe, enemy or oppressor” “there shall be even round about” which is the Hebrew word “cabiyb” means “places round about or a circuit” “the land” which refers to “the earth, territory, region or district”. God proclaimed that a “foe and enemy” would come upon Israel and surround their land.

The verse goes on to say, “and he shall bring down your strength from you, and your palaces shall be spoiled.” Amos continued, “and he shall bring down” or “descend, decline, march down, sink down and protrate” “your strength from you” which means “might both physical and spiritual and also material and political”, “and your palaces” or “citadels and fortresses” “shall be spoiled” which means “plundered, preyed upon, seized and despoiled”. The result of the enemy's encircling would be the removal of any “power” and “fortress” in which they felt secure.

When we meditate upon these words of Amos, we can almost hear the pathos in his thoughts. The people of Israel were God's chosen people, and yet, they forsook Him and His ways. He loved them, and they rejected Him. He cared for them, and they wandered away from His precepts. Thus, they would be judged by “an adversary” who would destroy everything in which they thought themselves safe. Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins and turn us to the living and loving God, and should we reject him and wander from His ways, let us not be deceived into thinking our “power” and “fortresses” will never be destroyed. The wise person will give their lives to Jesus Christ now before their “palaces” fall beneath the mighty hand of God.

Next time Amos writes concerning the way “a shepherd takes out of the mouth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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