God Abhors Jacob and Hates His Palaces Amos 6:8

The LORD was displeased with the people of Israel and the manner in which they lived luxuriously while continuing in practices of religion. Their sacrifices, offering, singing and musical instruments were “hated” by God because their actions outside of worshiping Him were incongruent. They were to “go captive with the first that go captive” and those who “stretched themselves” were to “be removed”. In chapter six and verse eight of his prophesy, Amos shared how God “abhorred the excellency of Jacob” and “his palaces” where we read:

The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, says the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.

The verse begins, “The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, says the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces:” Amos continued, “The Lord God” which refers to “the title spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence for the divine judge and ruler” “has sworn” or “adjure and take an oath” “by himself” which means “of God's own self, soul, person, mind, desire, emotion and passion”, “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” “the God” or “the divine ruler and judge” “of hosts” which means “those who go forth as an army for war or warfare such as angels”, “I abhor” or “God loathes and puffs at disdainfully” “the excellency” which means “the exaltation, majesty and pride” “of Jacob” whose name means “heel catcher or supplanter” and refers to “the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham and father of the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel” “and hate” or “utterly and odiously despise” “his palaces” which means “citadels and fortresses”. Because God could swear by no one higher, he swore by Himself concerning His despite of “the excellency of Jacob” and it's “fortresses”.

The verse goes on to say, “therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.” Amos continued, “therefore” which is a conclusion word that means “on account of, since and wherefore” “will I deliver up” or “close, shut up and imprison” “the city” which refers to “the guarded and protected city by a waking or a watch” “with all that is therein” which means “the fullness, that which fills, a handful, a multitude and the entire contents of the city”. The LORD's purpose was to deliver the “guarded and protected city” and everything within it to its foes.

When we meditate upon these words of Amos, we see how thorough and ominous the judgment of the LORD can be. God “hated the excellency of Jacob” and therefore He would do away with its secure places. The LORD was their “security”, and they forsook Him. The LORD was their provision, and they rebelled against His ways. No wonder He delivered them over to their enemies. Jesus came to be our security and provision, and He provides for those who believe in, rely upon, trust in and cling to Him. Woe be to us if we like “the excellency of Jacob” avail ourselves to the same “hatred” and judgment God pronounced upon them.

Next time we see Amos shares about how, “ten men in one house shall die”, 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.