Amos 2:6
This is what the LORD says: "For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.
This is what the LORD says:
This phrase introduces a divine oracle, emphasizing that the message comes directly from God. It underscores the authority and seriousness of the pronouncement. In the prophetic tradition, this formula is used to convey that the prophet is speaking on behalf of God, not from personal opinion.

For three transgressions of Israel, even four,
This expression is a Hebrew idiom indicating a fullness or completeness of sin, suggesting that the sins of Israel have reached a tipping point. The number three signifies completeness, and adding a fourth emphasizes an overflow of iniquity. This pattern is used throughout Amos to indicate that the sins of the nations, including Israel, have accumulated to a point where divine judgment is inevitable.

I will not revoke My judgment,
God's decision is firm and unchangeable. The use of "revoke" implies that there was an opportunity for repentance, but it has been missed. This reflects the justice of God, who is patient but will not allow sin to go unpunished indefinitely. It highlights the certainty of divine retribution once the threshold of sin is crossed.

because they sell the righteous for silver
This accusation points to social injustice and corruption within Israel. The "righteous" refers to those who are innocent or just, yet they are being exploited for monetary gain. This echoes the broader biblical theme of the exploitation of the vulnerable, as seen in other prophetic books like Isaiah and Micah. It also foreshadows the betrayal of Jesus Christ, who was sold for thirty pieces of silver, drawing a parallel between the injustices faced by the righteous in Israel and the ultimate injustice faced by Christ.

and the needy for a pair of sandals.
This phrase highlights the extreme devaluation of human life, where the poor are traded for trivial items. It reflects the economic oppression and lack of compassion prevalent in Israelite society. The mention of "sandals" suggests a minimal value, indicating the depth of moral decay. This connects to the broader biblical call for justice and care for the poor, as seen in the Law of Moses and the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized love and mercy over material wealth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Amos
A prophet from Tekoa, a small town in Judah, who was called by God to deliver messages of judgment to Israel and other nations.

2. Israel
The northern kingdom, which had turned away from God, engaging in idolatry and social injustices.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is just and righteous, and who holds His people accountable for their actions.

4. The Righteous and the Needy
Individuals in society who were being exploited and oppressed by those in power.

5. Judgment
The divine consequence pronounced by God through Amos due to the sins of Israel, particularly their social injustices.
Teaching Points
God's Justice is Unyielding
God does not overlook sin, especially when it involves the exploitation of the vulnerable. His judgment is certain and just.

Social Injustice is a Serious Sin
The selling of the righteous and needy for material gain is a grave offense against God. Believers are called to uphold justice and protect the vulnerable.

Materialism and Exploitation
The pursuit of wealth at the expense of others is condemned. Christians should evaluate their own lives to ensure they are not complicit in systems of exploitation.

Repentance and Restoration
While judgment is pronounced, there is always an opportunity for repentance. Turning back to God and correcting injustices is crucial.

The Role of the Church
The church should be a voice for the oppressed and a model of justice and mercy in society.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the sin of Israel in Amos 2:6 reflect issues of social injustice in today's world?

2. In what ways can Christians today ensure they are not complicit in the exploitation of the needy?

3. How does the message of Amos 2:6 challenge the church to respond to issues of poverty and injustice?

4. What steps can individuals take to align their actions with the biblical call to justice found in Amos 2:6 and related scriptures?

5. How can the principles found in Amos 2:6 be applied to personal and community life to reflect God's heart for justice and righteousness?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Micah 6:8
This verse emphasizes what God requires of His people: to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. It connects to Amos 2:6 by highlighting the failure of Israel to act justly.

James 5:1-6
This passage warns the rich about the consequences of exploiting the poor, similar to the injustices mentioned in Amos 2:6.

Isaiah 1:17
Calls for defending the oppressed and seeking justice, which contrasts with the actions condemned in Amos 2:6.

Proverbs 14:31
States that oppressing the poor is an insult to God, reinforcing the message of Amos 2:6.

Matthew 25:40
Jesus teaches that serving the needy is akin to serving Him, which underscores the importance of justice and compassion.
National UnrighteousnessJohn T. Ecob.Amos 2:6
No Remedy for InjuriesAmos 2:6
The Penalty of OppressionA. J. Gordon, D. D.Amos 2:6
A Nation's CrimesJ.R. Thomson Amos 2:6-8
People
Amorites, Amos, Nazarites, Nazirites
Places
Edom, Egypt, Jerusalem, Kerioth, Moab
Topics
Changed, Crimes, Fate, Money, Needy, Pair, Poor, Price, Punishment, Reverse, Revoke, Righteous, Sandals, Says, Sell, Selling, Sentence, Shoes, Shoes-, Silver, Sins, Sold, Thereof, Thus, Transgressions, Turn, Upright, Wrath, Yea, Yes
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Amos 2:6

     1656   numbers, combinations
     4363   silver
     5179   sandal
     5274   credit
     5289   debt
     5587   trade
     6134   coveting, prohibition
     8158   righteousness, of believers
     8792   oppression, God's attitude

Amos 2:4-6

     8707   apostasy, personal

Amos 2:4-8

     8739   evil, examples of

Amos 2:6-7

     5310   exploitation
     5448   poverty, attitudes to
     5541   society, negative
     5561   suffering, nature of
     7150   righteous, the
     8311   morality, and redemption
     8791   oppression, nature of

Amos 2:6-8

     5444   pledges
     5504   rights
     7233   Israel, northern kingdom
     8701   affluence
     8783   neglect
     8807   profanity

Library
Ripe for Gathering
'Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. 2. And He said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the Lord unto me, The end is come upon My people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more. 3. And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence. 4. Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Third Circuit of Galilee. The Twelve Instructed and Sent Forth.
^A Matt. IX. 35-38; X. 1, 5-42; XI. 1; ^B Mark VI. 6-13; ^C Luke IX. 1-6. ^b 6 And he ^a Jesus ^b went about ^a all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner sickness and all manner of sickness. [In the first circuit of Galilee some of the twelve accompanied Jesus as disciples (see [3]Section XXXIII.); in the second the twelve were with him as apostles; in the third they, too, are sent forth as evangelists to supplement
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Kingdom of God Conceived as the Inheritance of the Poor.
These maxims, good for a country where life is nourished by the air and the light, and this delicate communism of a band of children of God reposing in confidence on the bosom of their Father, might suit a simple sect constantly persuaded that its Utopia was about to be realized. But it is clear that they could not satisfy the whole of society. Jesus understood very soon, in fact, that the official world of his time would by no means adopt his kingdom. He took his resolution with extreme boldness.
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

To his Praise!
"They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness." THIS chapter is written more than seven years later than the foregoing, in further testimony and praise. Returning to Canada at the time of the Great War, we came face to face with a serious financial crisis. Only two ways seemed open to us. One was to lay our affairs frankly before the Board, showing that our salary was quite insufficient, with war conditions and prices, to meet our requirements. The other course was to just go forward,
Rosalind Goforth—How I Know God Answers Prayer

The Tests of Love to God
LET us test ourselves impartially whether we are in the number of those that love God. For the deciding of this, as our love will be best seen by the fruits of it, I shall lay down fourteen signs, or fruits, of love to God, and it concerns us to search carefully whether any of these fruits grow in our garden. 1. The first fruit of love is the musing of the mind upon God. He who is in love, his thoughts are ever upon the object. He who loves God is ravished and transported with the contemplation of
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

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