從第三章到書尾，阿摩斯都在宣判北國的刑責和命運。雖然他的信息直接向以色列人發出，但也間接指向猶大，因他們都隸屬於上帝從埃及地領上來的「大家庭」（3：1），也都被上帝所「認識」（3：2上）。他們與上帝有著親密的立約關係，這是一種特權（出19：5-6；申4：20；7：6~8；詩147：19~20）。這不是說上帝偏心（羅2：4~5、11），因為以色列會蒙揀選是出於上帝對亞伯拉罕的信實，也要藉他後裔中的彌賽亞去祝福地上的「全家」（創12：3；加3：8、16 ）。伴隨著其特權，他們也要盡很大的義務（3：2下）。他們應為上帝及其律法作萬國的表率，而不是不順服上帝、破壞聖約、玷辱上帝的聖名。他們的失敗，代表不負責任，是要受很嚴厲的刑罰。

        阿摩斯常從大自然和動物身上取材，來說明事物的因果關係。譬如：獅子會吼叫，是因牠抓到食物；鳥被抓到，證明附近有陷阱。所以當人遇到災難，必定是因著他們的罪而招來上帝的審判。上帝不是設下隱密的陷阱，反倒常差派先知去警戒百姓要及時悔改（3：7）。上帝已發出獅吼，阿摩斯唯一的反應，就是去宣達上帝的預言和命令（3：8）。

        上帝的子民何其可悲，因為外邦國家要被招聚在撒瑪利亞（北國首都），去看以色列的富人如何欺壓窮人。假如那些沒有上帝律法的國家，像埃及和非利士都要定以色列人橫征暴斂之罪，何況那位公義的法官主耶和華，更不能容許如此不義的罪行（3：9），以色列的罪就在於他們屬靈和道德的眼瞎了（3：10）。果然，在主前七百二十二年，亞述大軍來包圍他們，毀了他們的宮殿和神龕，應驗了審判的預言。雖然如此，上帝對這個世界的計劃不因以色列的不忠而中斷。只是上帝所能做的，像牧人從獅子口中救回羊的部份肢體，祂只能從災難中救回部份的餘民而已（3：12）。

        第四章指控撒瑪利亞的婦女（巴珊母牛），也在極盡剝削之能事，因她們鼓勵丈夫保持奢華的生活，間接參與了欺壓窮寒的罪行，上帝再也無法忍受了，祂的聖潔和公義要以刑罰罪惡表彰出來。不久，這些有錢人連同其子女都要被剝奪成無有，在亞述作了奴隸（4：2~3）。他們的財富和奢華還有什麼益處呢？

        接下來阿摩斯以嘲諷的語氣對他們說：「任你們……去」在伯特利和吉甲的異教神龕那裡增添罪過。伯特利是拜埃及牛犢的中心，在耶羅波安一世時創立的（3：14；4：4；參王上12：26~33）。為此，耶羅波安總是被評為：那個「使以色列人陷在罪裡」的人（王上14：16；15：30、34；16：19、26；王下3：3；10：29；13：2）。吉甲也像伯特利一樣，是另一個拜偶像的中心，只是他們混著拜耶和華上帝（參何4：15）。它們的祭，本應只在耶路撒冷獻給上帝，卻獻給了偶像以及墮落的祭司家族（王上12：31~33）！但上帝仍憐憫他們，要把他們帶回來。上帝用饑荒、旱災、霉爛、蝗災、瘟疫、軍事攻擊或毀城等方法警戒他們，但他們還是拒絕轉向上帝。其實，這之中的任何一件，都足以使他們屈膝在上帝面前，但他們心地剛硬，持續犯罪不願悔改。

        在許多出於愛的試驗之後，那全能全知的萬軍之上帝（4：13），決意親自臨到他們，要施刑罰，再度嘗試使他們悔改，阿摩斯說：「以色列啊！……你當預備迎見你的上帝。」（4：12）儘管過去他們一再拒絕上帝的使者，如今他們是無法拒絕上帝自己了。

        全能的上帝，求您幫助我們能全心照管您的工作。感謝您細心關照我們生活及事奉的所有細節。奉主耶穌基督的名，阿們！

English

        From chapter three to the end of the book, Amos expands upon his charges against the Northern Kingdom of Israel and continues his pronouncement of doom. Though his message is directed to Israel, it is an indirect message to Judah as well, for they too were among the "whole family" which God redeemed out of Egypt (3:1), and they too are included in the Lord's claim to have "known" them of all the families on earth (3:2a). This refers to the close covenant relationship that they had together. They were privileged and favoured (Ex. 19:5-6; Deut. 4:20; 7:6-8; Ps. 147:19-20). This does not mean that God showed partiality (Rom. 2:4-5, 11). Israel's selection was because of God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, and it would also fulfill His purpose in sending the Messiah whereby all families on earth might be blessed (Gen. 12:3; Gal. 3:8, 16). Along with their privileged position came a greater responsibility (3:2b). They were supposed to reflect the Lord and His laws to the nations, but instead they marred His reputation and profaned His holy name because of their disobedience to Him in breaking the covenant. Their failure called for severe punishment, for they did not fulfill their duties and obligations.

        As a shepherd and a farmer, Amos was familiar with nature, and so he takes much of his imagery from nature and the animal kingdom. Through a series of questions, Amos illustrates that wherever there is an effect, there must be a cause. If a lion roars, it is because he has caught something. If a bird is caught, it is evidence of the presence of a trap. Amos wants them to understand that when the calamity comes upon them, it will be evidence of the Lord's judgment which was caused by their sin. Unlike a hidden trap, God reveals His message to His prophets so that the people might be warned and come to repentance (3:7). God has spoken (the "roar") to Amos; therefore, his only reaction is to prophesy the Word of the Lord (3:8).

        It is a sad commentary that the people of God should be judged by the heathen who are called upon to view the oppression and unrest ("violence and robbery" by the rich to the poor) in Samaria, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom. If the Egyptians and the Philistines, who have not had the law of God, can condemn Israel for her heartless crimes, then how much more should the righteous Judge, the Lord God, call them to account for their guilt (3:9). Israel's sin had blinded them from having spiritual and moral discernment (3:10). Amos then declared the message of judgment. The adversary, who would surround them and sap all their strength, destroying their palaces and idolatrous shrines, would be the king of Assyria. This was accomplished in the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. The Lord's plans for the world, however, were not to be thwarted by Israel's unfaithfulness to Him. Just as a shepherd would rescue only a small portion of his sheep from the lion, so too the Lord would save only a small remnant of Israel from destruction (3:12).

        Chapter four reveals the depravity of even the women of Samaria (well-fed strong cows) who have encouraged their husbands to keep up their life of luxury; they too share in the guilt of oppressing the poor and needy. The Lord would not tolerate this any longer! God's holiness and justice would be vindicated by His punishment of sin. Before long, these wealthy oppressors and their children would be dragged off in single file, and in humiliation as captives to Assyria (4:2-3). What good will their wealth and luxuries be to them then?

        With irony and sarcasm, Amos invites them to go and perform all their outward acts of religiosity at the pagan shrines in Bethel and Gilgal, which would only add to their guilt. Their motivations were self-pleasing and self-serving. Bethel was the centre of idolatrous calf worship (from Egypt) established by Jeroboam I, the first king of the Northern Kingdom (3:14; 4:4; cf. 1 Kings 12:26-33). Jeroboam was always remembered as the one "who sinned and who made Israel sin" (1 Kings 14:16; 15:30, 34; 16:19, 26; 2 Kings 3:3; 10:29; 13:2). Like Bethel, Gilgal was another idolatrous centre where they would mix worship of God with Baal worship (snycretism; cf. Hos. 4:15). Their offerings, which were supposed to be given to God only in Jerusalem, were given to an idol and to a corrupted priesthood (1 Kings 12:31-33)! The Lord was still gracious in His many attempts to bring them back to Himself. Every time He chastised them, whether it was by hunger, drought, mildew, locust, pestilences, plagues, military defeats, or destruction, they still refused to turn to Him. Any one of these things should have been enough to bring them to their knees before God, but because of the hardness of their hearts, due to persistent sinning, they still did not repent.

        After so many loving attempts, the all-powerful and all-knowing Lord God of Hosts (4:13) resolved to come personally and see to their punishment. Therefore, in yet another attempt to elicit their repentance, Amos declares: "Prepare to meet your God, O Israel! (4:12). In the past, they had resisted God's messengers, but now there would be no possible way for them to resist Him personally.

        Almighty God, grant that we may take great care in all we do for You. Thank You for being interested in the details of our lives and our service.