Israel

Bible Study

Amos 2:6-7a ESV

And then there was God’s word to Israel.

In Amos 2:6-7a the prophet wrote, “This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Israel,    even for four, I will not relent.They sell the innocent for silver,    and the needy for a pair of sandals.

They trample on the heads of the poor    as on the dust of the ground    and deny justice to the oppressed.”

And then in the same way as before when God called out the other nations, God spoke the name of Israel and God would not relent.

It’s fascinating that God understanding the way of the world and mankind. God knows!

While there have been some changes between men and women we have barely scratched the surface as far as helping the innocent and the poor.

Israel’s sin was that they sold the innocent for silver.

They traded the needy for a pair of sandals.

Israel trampled on their heads like they were dust on the ground.

Then they denied justice to the oppressed.

None of those actions are acceptable to God. But there was a difference between the other nations and Israel.

Israel had been given special standing in God’s eyes. Even so, they were still held accountable for their actions.

Those included injustice and hypocrisy. More to the point, because they were chosen, they had a special responsibility to be compassionate and to be just. Israel was not compassionate to the innocent and the poor and God made it clear through Amos’ prophesy that was unacceptable.

Because of the covenant they would be held responsible for their actions. The special relationship did matter. It meant they would be held to a different standard because of the covenant relationship with God. God had promised special blessings and privileges but they were not exempt from sin.

That included being held responsible for social injustice and engaging in corrupt religious practices.

In God, Deborah

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