8/20/26

A warning made to Judah and Israel can be looked at today as a warning to the church. Judah and Israel are God's chosen. So is the Bride of Christ, the church. If the church is following in the footsteps of Judah and Israel by acting like its surroundings rather than its God, then it can expect a similar response. After all, both serve the same God. He is the only God.

Amos 3:13-15 NASB95 “Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,” Declares the Lord GOD, the God of hosts. “For on the day that I punish Israel’s transgressions, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off And they will fall to the ground. “I will also smite the winter house together with the summer house; The houses of ivory will also perish And the great houses will come to an end,” Declares the LORD.

Amos 4:1-2 NASB95 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, “Bring now, that we may drink!” The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness, “Behold, the days are coming upon you When they will take you away with meat hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.

Hear and testify; the Lord God is speaking to the prophet. Telling him you have a responsibility to hear my words and then share them with the people. Most of the time, the people have refused to hear a word from God, but the prophet still has to do as the Lord speaks to him.

In this case, the Lord refers to Himself as the LORD GOD, the God of hosts. This is Adonai (the Creator, the foundation of creation), then Yahweh (the self-existent one), then Elohim (plural, the triune God), last Saba (leader of heaven's army). He has made it clear who is talking and the power He has.

He says that He will punish their transgressions, or rebellion against Him as their Lord. They were putting others in front of God and teaching or guiding others to do the same. The Lord shows His punishment will be severe. Their place of worship will be destroyed from the inside out. It will start at the altar. It is being used, but not to worship Him. Then He begins to destroy their places of escape: their home and their vacation home. Places they feel relaxed will be places of ruins. Once again He uses His name, Yahweh.

Then He speaks to the people in Bashan. Bashan is the place where the best cattle are grown. The grass is green, and the growth of the cattle come easy. Bashan is famous for its flocks. They are mentioned in Deuteronomy and Ezekiel, and the Bulls of Bashan are mentioned in Psalms. However, here God speaks of the cows. The female cattle who are ordering around the bulls. This is not God's plan. Therefore He says, "The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness, 'Behold, the days are coming upon you When they will take you away with meat hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks." They will struggle so badly for refusing God's design that they will diminish to the point that they will be forced to follow with a small fish hook.

God clearly warns that when His chosen people refuse to follow His design their will be punishment brought on by the armies of heaven. We are blessed to be able to read the Bible and learn from the past failures of His people. The question is, will we learn?

Let's all start today and be the church that looks like God instead of the world. This message goes out to the Church that meets in many locations under many different names, but all worship the one and only God.

The LORD GOD, the God of hosts.

Love Brother Scott