God's Eyes on the Sinful Kingdom Amos 9:8

When Amos the prophet proclaimed the judgment of God upon the people of Israel, he shared how the LORD would not allow anyone to escape. God is all-powerful, all-knowing and everywhere present, and there was nothing He could not do or know, and no one He could not find who attempted to flee from Him. The LORD asked whether Israel was “as the children of the Ethiopians unto” Him, and He reminded them of how he rescued them out of “Egypt, Philistia and Syria”. In chapter nine and verse eight of his prophesy, Amos shared how “the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom” where we read:

Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the LORD.

The verse begins, “Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth;” Amos began with the word, “Behold” which means “look, observe and take note”, “the eyes of the Lord” or “the face, countenance and sight of the title spoken in place of
Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence” “GOD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing and becoming One and the proper name for the one true God” “are upon the sinful” or “the offensive habitual sinfulness” “kingdom” which means “dominion, reign, sovereignty or realm”, “and I will destroy” or “exterminate, annihilate and devastate” “it from off the face” which means “the sinful kingdom from the surface, appearance and presence” “of the earth” or “of the land, ground, territory, country, district and region”. God saw the “sinful kingdom” of Israel and promised to “exterminate” it from the “earth's” surface.

The verse goes on to say, “saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the LORD.” Amos continued, “saving” or “ceasing or ending with finality” “that I will not utterly” which is the Hebrew word “shamad” or “exterminate, annihilate and devastate” “destroy” which again is the Hebrew word “shamad” and means “exterminate, annihilate and devastate” “the house” which refers to “dwelling, habitation, shelter and abode” “of Jacob” which means “heel holder or supplanter” and was “the son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham and father of the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel”, “says” which means “utters, proclaims and declares” “the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing and becoming One and the proper name for the one true God”. In the midst of God's destruction of Israel, we see that He will save a “remnant” who “dwell” in “Jacob”.

When we think through these words of Amos, we see how the LORD in the midst of His judgment was merciful and gracious. There was to be a “remnant” of people whom God would save, and though He was purposed to destroy Israel, he would not “utterly destroy the house of Jacob”. God is a merciful and gracious God, and He extended His evidence of this through His Son Jesus Christ. God's arms are open wide, and He is ready to receive all who will turn from their wicked ways and repent. Lest we be among those who are “destroyed”, let us receive Jesus as our Savior and LORD today.

Next time Amos shares how God will “sift the house of Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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