DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SPIRITUAL PRIDE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – SPIRITUAL PRIDE

"Thus says the LORD:  'For three transgressions of Damascus and for four, I will not turn away. (Amos 1:3)

There is a common phrase that runs through this first part of the prophecy by Amos.  God is pronouncing judgment on the various nations around Israel – Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab.  To each of them, He said, "For three transgressions and for four, I will not turn away."  This may be a literary device to tie the message together.  But the fact is that they deserved whatever punishment they would receive because of their evil deeds.

As Amos gave these pronouncements of judgment on the surrounding people, I can imagine that the people in Israel and Judah rejoicing, saying, "Go get 'em God.  They deserve whatever You give them." 

But the rejoicing probably stopped when Amos got to them. Although they were God's chosen people, He pronounced the same judgment on them – "For three transgressions and for four, I will not turn away."  The sins of Judah and Israel were of a different nature.  Whereas the other kingdoms were judged for their cruelty to other nations, Israel and Judah were condemned for their spiritual transgressions – despising the law of the LORD by not keeping His commandments, and thereby dishonoring God and defiling His holy name (2:7).  

It is so easy to look at the deeds of sinners and think that we are righteous because we don't do such things, while at the same time we commit spiritual transgression by disobeying God's commandments and bringing dishonor to the Name of our Savior.  

May God forgive us for our spiritual pride.  God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.  But for the grace of God, we would all be under the condemnation of the rest of humanity.  We are sinners saved by grace. 

Love, Dad