Moab

Bible Study

Amos 2-1-3 ESV

As we continue studying Amos we have to remember the character and nature of God and the word God spoke to the prophets. They are right. They are true. And furthermore they can be historically validated.

I don’t know about you, but I find it amazing that the words the prophets spoke have been validated or will be validated in the future.

Having said that, while I personally believed in the validity of the text, prior to seminary I didn’t fully understand the big picture. In other words, how do we KNOW that’s true.

When I went to seminary I sat under brilliant professors who had spent their lives studying scripture. In addition to that in their PhD programs they studied the context and history of scripture. I learned from them that the Old Testament has a rich history protected and validated by Hebrew scholars. The Hebrew people protected the text.

At some point down the road we will look at the history of the early church and the validity of the New Testament text and how it was protected during the early days of persecution and the scattering of the Gospel message that followed the persecution. That in itself it a fascinating story.

Now to Amos…in today’s lesson he prophesied about the sins of Moab.

In Amos 2:1-3 the words of the prophet tell us, “For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he burned to lime the bones of the King of Edom.

So I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth, and Moab shall die amid uproar, amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet; I will cut off the ruler from its midst, and will kill all its princes with him,” says the Lord.”

Amos began this section about Moab that would not be revoked dealt with the desecration of burning the bones of the King of Edom. That grave action meant the bones were dust, or lime. In the eastern ancient world that act violated their customs and meant burning the bones forever erased the fact that the king lived. Burning the bones was a final act that erased the fact that he even existed.

As a result, God told Amos fire would come upon Moab to burn their fortresses and remove their ruler.

The overall judgment of God highlighted the importance of God’s justice and punishment to Moab for disregarding dignity of life, which included the bones of the dead.

God spoke the final words.

In God, Deborah         

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