The Great and Little Houses Amos 6:11

Amos the “herdsman” prophet continued to share the devastation that was to come upon Israel. The damage was to be so extensive that “if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die”, and if “a man's uncle shall take him up” and cremates him, there will continue to be those searching for others in the house which will not be able to save themselves even by “mentioning the name of the LORD”. In chapter six and verse eleven of his prophesy, Amos referred to “the great and little houses” where we read:

For, behold, the LORD commands, and he will smite the great house with breaches,

and the little house with clefts.

The verse begins, “For, behold, the LORD commands, and he will smite the great house with breaches,...” Amos began with the word, “For” which is a conclusion word that means “because, since and on account”, “behold the LORD” which refers to “look and see how Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing one and the proper name for the one true God” “commands” which means “charges, gives orders, lays charge and orders”, “and he will smite” or “the LORD will hit, beat, slay and kill” “the great house” which refers to “the large, intense and important dwelling, shelter and abode” “with breaches” or “fragments, dripping to pieces and ruinous parts”. The LORD charged for the “important houses” in Israel to be destroyed with “ruinous parts”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the little house with clefts.” Amos continued, “and the little house” or “the small, insignificant and unimportant dwelling, shelter and abode” “with clefts” which means “fissures, clefts and chinks”. In addition to the “great houses”, the LORD would divide and destroy the small houses as well.

When we consider these words of Amos, we see how the LORD does not distinguish between “important and unimportant” houses in Israel. They were all to be destroyed, and none would be exempt from God's judgment. God Almighty sent His Son Jesus into the world to save “whosoever will”, and when we receive Him as Savior and LORD, we shall be preserved from His eternal punishment. However, if we refuse God's Son Jesus, we shall face “breeches and clefts” that last for all eternity.

Next time we see Amos shares about how the LORD will, “turn judgment into gall and righteousness into hemlock”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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