During the past few weeks, we have been reading the historical accounts of the actions of the kings of Israel and Judah. In this week’s readings, we transition to look at God’s response to the kingdoms through the prophets Hosea and Amos.
God commanded Hosea to marry “a promiscuous woman” and to have children with her. The prophet’s marriage and children mirrored God’s view of how the Israelites treated the covenant relationship between themselves and God. Hosea’s reconciliation with his wife also reflected the manner in which God would always seek after His Chosen People, while her time of adultery pointed towards the impending exile of the Israelites.
Amos, who described himself as a shepherd and a keeper of sycamore-fig trees, offered prophecies against the excesses of Israel’s neighbors and the injustices within Israelite society. As his ministry began, Amos condemned Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon for their “three sins…even for four,” due to their actions against the Israelite people. These sins included enslavement, the breaking of treaties, and the killing of pregnant women.
Amos then reminded Israel that they were the God’s Chosen Ones, and for that reason, He would punish them for their sins, using the armies in Egypt and Ashdod, a Judean city that commentators believe had been captured by the Assyrians. Even in a time when God had declared judgment and destruction against Israel, He would still allow a remnant to remain.
God, speaking through Amos, gave further detail of Israel’s sins, which included the oppression of the poor, participation in pagan worship in locations that had once been centers of the worship of the Lord, and breaking God’s commandments about proper worship of Him. The prophet reminded Israel of the various ways that the Lord had sought to draw them back, yet Israel had not returned.
In a final call to turn from their sinful ways, Amos offered the prophecy that Israel should “seek good, not evil, that you may live.” They should turn from their oppression of the poor and needy while building large homes for themselves. The Israelites should cease taking bribes that resulted in the distortion of justice or else God would visit destruction upon them.
In a beautiful scene, Amos reminded Israel that on the Day of the Lord, when judgment would occur, they would be sent into exile. Israel as a nation would be destroyed. Their sin had made God’s Chosen People into a nation that was no more special than any other, and all would be punished for it. Even in a moment of judgment and destruction, God still promised a return for Israel wherein they would rebuild and be restored.
Our Psalm of the week, Psalm 53, points us towards the God’s eye of judgment. Much of this psalm is reminiscent of the words of Psalm 14, which we read during February, reminding us that God desires that we not be like those who have turned from Him and become corrupt.