Hear This - Amos 8:4

Amos the “herdsman, fig picking” prophet shared the LORD's words about how “the songs of the temple shall be howlings in” the “day” when “the end is come upon Israel”, and he shared “there shall be many dead bodies in every place” which “they shall cast them forth with silence”. In chapter eight and verse four of his prophesy, Amos calls for the people of Israel to “hear this” where we read:

Hear this, O you that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,

The verse begins, “Hear this, O you that swallow up the needy,...” Amos began with the words, “Hear this” which means “listen to, perceive and obey what is about to be declared”, “O you that swallow up” or “gasp for, pant after, long for and breathe heavily for” “the needy” which refers to “those in want, chiefly poor and subject to oppression and abuse”. Amos called attention to those within Israel who “panted after” those who were the “poor” among them.

The verse goes on to say, “...even to make the poor of the land to fail,” Amos continued, “even to make” or “cause to cease, desist, exterminate and destroy” “the poor” which refers to “the afflicted, humble, weak. meek and wretched” “of the land” which means “the country, territory, region and district” “to fail” or “cause to cease, desist, be exterminated and destroyed”. The desire to destroy the weakest people within the land of Israel was these wicked people's drive.

When we think through these words of Amos, we can imagine the LORD's disgust with those who were taking advantage of the poor. We often see those who are the weakest endure the greatest punishment by others, and this was rampant within the land of Israel. Their judgment had come, and that which they had carried out upon others was to be their own fate. Jesus Christ came to “bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1), and should we find ourselves in those whom society sees as “in want, chiefly poor and subject to oppression and abuse”, let us remember, the LORD is watching and will prevail against those who are against us.

Next time Amos asks questions about the “new moon and the sabbath”, 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.