I Will Punish Your Transgressions

God's Prophets Demand Justice
Amos Rails against Injustice

Judgment on Israel and Judah

Amos 3:9-15 The Message

^9-11 Announce to the forts of Assyria,
    announce to the forts of Egypt—
Tell them, “Gather on the Samaritan mountains, take a good, hard look:
    what a snake pit of brutality and terror!
They can’t—or won’t—do one thing right.” God said so.
    “They stockpile violence and blight.
Therefore”—this is God’s Word—“an enemy will surround the country.
    He’ll strip you of your power and plunder your forts.”

¹² God’s Message:

“In the same way that a shepherd
    trying to save a lamb from a lion
Manages to recover
    just a pair of legs or the scrap of an ear,
So will little be saved of the Israelite s
    who live in Samaria—
A couple of old chairs at most,
    the broken leg of a table.

^13-15 “Listen and bring witness against Jacob’s family”—
    this is God’s Word, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
“Note well! The day I make Israel pay for its sins,
    pay for the sin-altars of worship at Bethel,
The horned altars will all be dehorned
    and scattered around.
I’ll tear down the winter palace,
    smash the summer palace—all your fancy buildings.
The luxury homes will be demolished,
    all those pretentious houses.”
        God’s Decree.

For Reflection 

The sin was not that the Israelites lived in Samaria.  The sin was that they allowed themselves to be deduced by Samaritan culture.  Living in God's household results in obedience and the blessings of a righteous life.

Pray

that you will not be seduced by the culture in which you live.Give thanks for your residing place in the household of God.  Serve God in humility and love.