Horns By Our Own Strength Amos 6:13

While conveying the LORD's judgment against the people of Israel, Amos the prophet asked, “Shall horses run upon the rock? Will one plow there with oxen?”, as he declared they had “turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock”. In other words, their hearts were so hardened against the LORD they were like attempting to run horses and plow oxen on rocky crags. In chapter six and verse thirteen of his prophesy, Amos wrote they “rejoice in a thing of nought” while the took “horns by” their “own strength” where we read:

You which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say,

Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?

The verse begins, “You which rejoice in a thing of nought,...” Amos began with the words, “you which rejoice” or “are merry and glad” “in a thing” which means “a speech, utterance, occupation, act, matter, case or manner” “of nought” or “that without or with nothing”. The people of Israel were “merry and glad” over matter that meant nothing.

The verse goes on to say, “...which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?” Amos continued, “which say” or “utter, proclaim and declare”, “Have we not taken” which means “fetched, laid hold of, seized, received, acquired, bought, snatched and taken away” “to us” which refers to “the people of Israel” “horns” or “which were a symbol of power” “by our own strength” which means “through their own power”. The reason for their “rejoicing” over matters of “nothing” was because they thought themselves to have come into power by their own “strength”.

When we think through these words of Amos, we see why the people of Israel were so “glad” over their present “nothingness” condition. They thought they were exalted above the nations of the earth by their own power which by implication eliminated God's work in their lives. We have obtained nothing in this life by our own strength or ability, and particularly if its is an area of “power, authority or control”. God ultimate rules everything, and should we be in positions of authority, let us remember that only through Jesus Christ do we have access to the Heavenly Father who gives that power unto men. May we heed the words of Amos when we consider areas of authority that have been awarded us.

Next time we see Amos tells Israel how the LORD will, “raise up against you a nation”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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