DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD'S LONGSUFFERING

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GOD'S LONGSUFFERING

"Thus says the LORD: 'For three transgressions of Damascus and for four, I will not turn away its punishment….' " (Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14; 2:1, 4, 5)

These words are repeated 8 times in the first two chapters of Amos referring to the various nations that God pronounced judgment upon – Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and Israel. When I find a word or phrase repeated several times in a Scripture or a passage, I sit up and take notice. And I ask the question, "Why?" I know that in Hebrew literature, repetition is a way to indicate emphasis, such as underlining or bold type in our modern literature.

So why is this important? I don't know for sure, but let's meditate on this.

I think this is an indication of God's longsuffering. He will warn us again and again. Three and four times. But there comes a time when God's patience has reached a limit, as during the time before Noah's flood. Peter alludes to this when he wrote: "When once the divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared…." (I Peter 3:20). The Genesis account of the days of Noah indicate that the people's wickedness was so great that God was sorry that He had created man on the earth, and His heart was grieved (Genesis 6:5-6). Noah is called a "preacher of righteousness" (II Peter 2:5). I can imagine that during the 120 years that it took to build the ark, that he was preaching the message: "Repent because destruction is coming." But they just laughed and thought Noah was a kook. God is longsuffering, but His Spirit will not strive with men forever (Genesis 6:3). In His patience, He continually warns men of the consequences of their rebellion through His prophets. But payday is coming. Amos wrote that "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). He warns us and gives us time to change our ways, but when we don't then He brings judgment.

Perhaps another reason this phrase is repeated again and again is to help us understand that God will judge everyone. No one is exempt. The heathen nations – Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab – will be judged along with God's people – Judah and Israel. Everyone will stand before Him in His day of judgment. But His declaration of coming judgment includes the appeal to repent. In Amos Chapter 5, God makes the appeal: "Seek Me and live" (vss. 4, 6). "Seek good and not evil, that you may live; So the LORD God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph" (vss. 14-15).

Is there a lesson here for us? I think we should pay attention to God's warnings that He gives us. We can continue in our rebellion and pay the piper, or we can seek Him and experience His presence, His forgiveness, His grace, and His peace. He waits for us to seek Him.

Love,  Dad