Title Bashan Cow/Amos Chapter 4
Content Amos 4 The Bashan Cow
[Earth]
一. Samaritan women's sins and God's judgment foreshadowing (1-3)
二. Rebuking Israel's idolatry (4-5)
three. Reprimanded for not repenting despite being repeatedly disciplined (6-11)
4. Encouragement to prepare to meet God (12-13)
One
Cows of Bashan who dwell in the mountains of Samaria Refers to the noble women of the city of Samaria. Bashan is located in the northeastern part of the Jordan River and is a fertile place where cattle and sheep can be well fed (Deuteronomy 32:14, Psalm 22:12, Ezekiel 27:6). The Israeli women lived a prosperous and prosperous life with the produce of the fertile land God had given them, but they did not love God and people, but rather abused and oppressed the poor. Failing to care for needy relatives is also a form of abuse and oppression of the poor.
Say to the head of the house, bring the wine and let us drink. The head of the household refers to Australia, and refers to Israeli women who tell their husbands to bring alcohol and drink it and lead a life of pleasure and self-indulgence. Today, this is the generation in which women wielded power and ascended over men. There are many women who cry out for the feminist movement, do not receive guidance from their husbands, and practice luxury and debauchery while doing their own thing. In the last days, it is said that women will gain authority (Isaiah 3:5-12). Revelation 18:7 says, “How much she glorified herself and how much she had extravagance, repay her with suffering and mourning.
2-3
God has decided to judge Israel, where women seize power and practice luxury and pleasure, abuse the poor, and oppress the needy. The Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness, but the holy Yahweh cannot see the iniquity of Israel. Because the Israelite women profaned God's holiness and did evil, God is angry and will lead them with hooks when the time is right, and the rest will be led by fishing. This indicates that God will send the enemy Assyria to destroy the city and take the Israelites captive and lead them to the ruins of the city. The price of sin is to bring such disastrous results. Harmon is the place where the Israelites were taken captive and abandoned.
4-5
Bethel and Gilgal were places where the Israelites worshiped idols (1 Kings 12:28-33, Hosea 4:15, 9:15, 12:11). The Israelites made a golden calf in Bethel and worshiped it as God. The Israelites sacrificed the golden calf and other idols every morning and tithe every third day.
Pay your tithe every three days, and the Bible tells you to pay a special tithe every three years (Deuteronomy 26:12). This is the same zeal as the Pharisees fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12). But no matter how hard they tried to pay tithes to God, it was in vain. The reason is that zeal is special, but it is in vain because it is not right according to the Bible. All acts of serving God apart from the Bible are like this.
Mercury sacrifice (酬恩祭) (Toda) is a sacrifice offered to God in gratitude for the blessings already received (Leviticus 7:12-14; 22:29). The free offering (樂獻祭) (Nevada) is a voluntary offering offered with joy (Leviticus 22:17, 23 ; Num 15:3). It is invalid to offer mercury and free offerings to God while serving idols. Even today, there are many people who believe in Jesus without keeping Sunday holy. We must keep Sunday holy according to the Word of God, give tithes and offerings, and worship God in spirit and truth.
6-8
Although the people of Israel were frequently disciplined by God, they did not realize it and did not return to God. The calamity that God brought upon them as punishment
First, it is a disaster of famine (verse 6). The plague ran out of food, leaving the teeth idle. This refers to the inability to eat because there is nothing to eat. Even in the midst of such poverty, he did not return to God.
Second, it is a plague of famine (verses 7-8). Because God did not send rain, there was a severe famine in the land. Three months before the harvest, the crops had withered and there was no water to drink, and if there was rain, they staggered around to get water. In spite of these great calamities, they did not repent and return to God. This is proof that they have become too hardened.
9-11
Thirdly, it is a disaster of wind, stinging, and padding (verse 9). God caused disasters through nature in this way. They ate up all the trees of the garden, the vineyards, the fig trees, and the olive trees. Yet they didn't come back.
Fourth, plagues and plagues of the sword (verse 10). God caused plagues and wars to cause great suffering. Yet they did not return without repentance.
Fifth, the plague of fire (verse 11). Just as God sent fire to judge Sodom and Gomorrah, they disciplined through fires caused by war or other fires. They all fell to ashes like Sodom and Gomorrah, but they did not come back without repenting (verse 11). Psalm 49:20 says, “He who is in honour, but does not understand it is like the beast that perishes.” Proverbs 29:1 says, “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, suddenly falls into ruin and cannot escape.”
Those who have realized God's discipline and have truly returned to God serve God with their hearts, enter the Most Holy, live a life of communion with God, and obey God's Word with a pure heart.
12
This is what I will do to you, saying that God will bring calamity and chastisement on unrepentant Israel to the end.
Prepare to meet your God. Repent, turn back, seek God, and longing to meet God. That way you will meet God. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “If you seek me and seek me with all your heart, you will find me.” We must repent of everything we have done wrong before God and before people, correct it, and obey God's commands.
13
God is the creator and ruler of all things. It darkens the morning and we live in the same good world as the present morning, but if we do not repent, we will suddenly encounter darkness.
He is the God who judges the proud who tread on the high places of the earth. God judges those who are proud and go out without repentance. God rules darkness and light, judges the proud, and gives grace to those who humbly seek Him.