God’s Reasons for Punishing Israel

Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:(A)

I have known only you(B)
out of all the clans of the earth;
therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.(C)
Can two walk together(D)
without agreeing to meet?
Does a lion roar(E) in the forest
when it has no prey?
Does a young lion growl from its lair
unless it has captured something?
Does a bird land in a trap on the ground
if there is no bait for it?
Does a trap spring from the ground
when it has caught nothing?
If a ram’s horn(F) is blown in a city,
aren’t people afraid?(G)
If a disaster(H) occurs in a city,
hasn’t the Lord done it?(I)
Indeed, the Lord God does nothing
without revealing his counsel
to his servants the prophets.(J)
A lion has roared;(K)
who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken;(L)
who will not prophesy?(M)

Read full chapter

A Higher Standard of Accountability

“Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken about you, people of Israel. It concerns the entire family that I brought from the land of Egypt:

‘You alone have I known from among all of the families of mankind;
    therefore I will hold you accountable for all your iniquities.’”

Seven Questions to Ponder

“Will a couple walk in unity
    without having met?
Will a lion roar in the forest
    without having found its prey?
Will a young lion cry from its den
    without having caught anything?
Does a bird fall into a snare on the ground
    without any bait in the trap?
Will a trap snap shut
    when there is nothing to catch?
And when an alarm[a] sounds in the city,
    the people will tremble, won’t they?
If there is trouble in a city,
    the Lord has brought it about, has he not?”

The Lord’s Purposes

“Truly the Lord God will do nothing he has mentioned
    without revealing his purposes to his servants the prophets.
A lion has roared!
    Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
    Who will not prophesy?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:6 Lit. trumpet