When
the judgment of the LORD was to come upon Israel, many of the people
within the nation would attempt to flee from Him. Their efforts would
fail though they “dig into hell, climb into heaven, hide in the
top of Carmel or at the bottom of the sea”. In chapter nine and
verse four of his prophesy, Amos shared how God “will set”
His “eyes upon them for evil, and not for good” where we
read:
And
though they go into captivity before their enemies, there will I
command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes
upon them for evil, and not for good.
The
verse begins, “And though they go into captivity before their
enemies, there will I command the sword, and it shall slay them...”
Amos began with the words, “And though they go” or
“though the people of Israel “walk, depart, proceed, move or lead
away” “into captivity” which means “as those who have
been exiled or taken as prisoners” “before” or “in the
presence, person or face” “their enemies” which refers
to “their adversaries or foes”, “there will I command”
which means “charge, give orders, lay or give charge with” “the
sword” or “the knife or cutting stone”, “and it shall
slay them” which means “kill, destroy, ruin, murder or
slaughter”. The LORD added another venue by which the people of
Israel may attempt to escape, “captivity”, which would be met by
God's “sword” of destruction.
The
verse goes on to say, “... and I will set mine eyes upon
them for evil, and not for good.” Amos continued, “and I
will set” or “put, place, appoint and make” “mine
eyes” which refers to “God's eyes or ability to see” “upon
them” which refers to “upon the people of Israel” “for
evil” which means “for bad, disagreeableness, malignancy,
unpleasantness and worst than the worst”, “and not for good”
or “pleasantness, agreeableness, excellency, value in estimation,
gladness and right”. While the people “go into captivity before
their enemies”, the LORD would cast His gaze upon them for “evil”
and not for goodness.
When
we consider these words of Amos, in addition to not being able to
escape God's judgment by fleeing to “hell, heaven, mount Carmel
and the bottom of the sea”, even if the people of Israel were
to go “into captivity before their enemies”, God would
“see” them and slay them with His “sword”. Let us be
aware of the LORD's presence at all times and everywhere we are. He
has sent Jesus Christ His Son into “all the world” to
“seek and to save that which was lost”, and those who are
wise will not only know His saving power, but also His ability to
destroy those who attempt to “flee” from Him.
Next
time Amos tell how the Lord GOD is “he
that touches the land”,
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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