Tyre

Amos Bible Study

Amos 1:9-10 ESV

As we read Amos’ words written in the first half of the 8th Century B.C. we begin to get the idea that God is not telling Amos, Prophet of Judah to choose an army, train them, and send them to northern Israel to get retribution for their actions. There is no mention of preparation.

In Amos 1:9-10 the prophet wrote, “Thus says the Lord:

“For three transgressions of Tyre,    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,    and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre,    and it shall devour her strongholds.”

There is no mention of a military commander leading a charge.

Once again the three transgression and four is mentioned prior to the punishment.

The three transgressions were issued by God for certain sins and those were usually sins of injustice, exploitation, and religious corruption.

It’s almost as if God was patient with man (in this case Tyre and others in Northern Israel) giving them a chance to realize they were wrong and they need to offer mercy. The phrase “and for four” referred to the turning point for God after which He would not relent on His judgment and wrath.

In other words, they went too far and would not receive mercy because they did not offer mercy.

God was past the point of no return because northern Israel and others including Tyre did not “remember the covenant of brotherhood”. It gives us a sense that those from the north did not even treat people like they were people…the cruelty inflicted was an abomination to God.

The irrevocable promise was that God would send a fire on their wall (which would have been devastating) and all of their strongholds would be completely devoured.

Because we are reading Amos in hindsight we know the words were spoken two years before the great earthquake in the region.

Just a note…as we read and study we are reminded that the region we are studying was vastly different than the Israel we know today. What has not changed is the promise of God to those who turn to God.

Even though the geography may change, the promise of God to the people of God remains the same.  

In God, Deborah/acrazyjourney.com