Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, 'As surely as your god lives, O Dan,' or, 'As surely as the way of Beersheba lives'--they will fall, never to rise again." Those who swear by the guilt of SamariaThis phrase refers to the idolatrous practices prevalent in Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The "guilt of Samaria" likely alludes to the worship of false gods, particularly Baal, which was a significant sin in the eyes of the Lord. The Hebrew word for "guilt" here can also mean "sin" or "iniquity," emphasizing the moral and spiritual corruption that had taken hold of the people. Historically, Samaria was a center of political and religious power, and its leaders often led the people astray from the worship of Yahweh. This phrase serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of faithfulness to His commandments. and say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’
Dan was one of the northernmost tribes of Israel, and it became a center for idol worship after Jeroboam set up a golden calf there (1 Kings 12:28-30). The phrase "as surely as your god lives" is an oath formula, indicating a deep-seated belief in the power and presence of these false gods. The use of "your god" highlights the personal and communal nature of this idolatry, as the people of Dan had adopted these idols as their own deities. This reflects a broader theme in the Old Testament of the dangers of syncretism, where the worship of Yahweh is mixed with pagan practices, leading to spiritual decay. or ‘As surely as the way of Beersheba lives,’
Beersheba, located in the southern part of Israel, was another significant religious site. The "way of Beersheba" likely refers to a pilgrimage route or a religious practice associated with this location. In the context of Amos, it suggests that even places traditionally associated with the worship of Yahweh had become corrupted by idolatry and false worship. The Hebrew word for "way" can also mean "custom" or "manner," indicating that the people had developed rituals and practices that were contrary to God's commands. This serves as a warning against the formalism and empty rituals that can replace genuine faith and obedience. they will fall, never to rise again
This is a pronouncement of judgment and finality. The imagery of falling and not rising again underscores the irreversible nature of God's judgment against those who persist in idolatry and rebellion. The Hebrew verb for "fall" is often used in the context of defeat or destruction, conveying the idea that those who turn away from God will face inevitable ruin. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of repentance and returning to the Lord. It also reflects the prophetic theme of the "Day of the Lord," a time of divine reckoning and justice. Persons / Places / Events 1. SamariaThe capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often associated with idolatry and false worship practices. 2. DanA city in the northern part of Israel, known for being a center of idol worship, particularly the golden calf set up by Jeroboam. 3. BeershebaA city in the southern part of Israel, which had become a site of pilgrimage and false worship. 4. JeroboamThe first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who established alternative worship centers in Dan and Bethel to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem. 5. AmosA prophet from Judah sent by God to prophesy against the Northern Kingdom of Israel, calling them to repentance. Teaching Points Idolatry's ConsequencesIdolatry leads to spiritual and physical downfall. Just as Israel fell due to their idolatry, modern believers must guard against placing anything above God. False SecurityTrusting in anything other than God, whether it be idols, wealth, or human institutions, leads to destruction. True security is found only in God. Repentance and ReturnThe call to repentance is urgent. Like Israel, we must turn from our idols and return to God to avoid judgment. Cultural IdolsReflect on modern "idols" in our culture—what do we prioritize over God? Identifying these can help us realign our lives with God's will. Faithfulness in WorshipWorship should be directed solely to God, in spirit and truth, avoiding any form of syncretism or compromise. Bible Study Questions 1. What are some modern-day "idols" that can distract us from true worship of God, and how can we identify them in our lives? 2. How does the historical context of Jeroboam's actions in 1 Kings 12 help us understand the severity of the idolatry mentioned in Amos 8:14? 3. In what ways can we ensure that our worship remains pure and focused solely on God, avoiding the pitfalls of syncretism? 4. How does the message of Amos 8:14 challenge us to examine our own lives for areas where we might be placing our trust in something other than God? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced the consequences of misplaced trust. How did that experience help you grow in your faith and reliance on God? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 12:28-30This passage describes Jeroboam's establishment of golden calves in Dan and Bethel, which directly relates to the idolatry mentioned in Amos 8:14. Hosea 4:15Hosea also condemns the idolatry in Bethel and Gilgal, similar to Amos's condemnation of the worship practices in Dan and Beersheba. Exodus 20:3-5The first and second commandments, which prohibit idolatry, are foundational to understanding the sin Amos is addressing. 2 Kings 17:7-18This passage provides a historical account of Israel's idolatry and the resulting judgment, which aligns with Amos's prophecy of their fall. People Amos, Dan, Ephah, JacobPlaces Bethel, Egypt, Nile RiverTopics Ash'imah, Beersheba, Beer-sheba, Dan, Fall, Fallen, Guilt, Lifted, Manner, O, Oaths, Rise, Samaria, Sama'ria, Shame, Sin, Surely, Swear, SwearingDictionary of Bible Themes Amos 8:14 5890 insecurity Amos 8:4-14 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 ScriptureThoughts Upon Worldly Riches. Sect. I.
HE that seriously considers the Constitution of the Christian Religion, observing the Excellency of its Doctrines, the Clearness of its Precepts, the Severity of its Threatnings, together with the Faithfulness of its Promises, and the Certainty of its Principles to trust to; such a one may justly be astonished, and admire what should be the reason that they who profess this not only the most excellent, but only true Religion in the World, should notwithstanding be generally as wicked, debauched and …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life Jesus Raises the Widow's Son.
(at Nain in Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 11-17. ^c 11 And it came to pass soon afterwards [many ancient authorities read on the next day], that he went into a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude. [We find that Jesus had been thronged with multitudes pretty continuously since the choosing of his twelve apostles. Nain lies on the northern slope of the mountain, which the Crusaders called Little Hermon, between twenty and twenty-five miles south of Capernaum, and about …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Second Coming of Christ.
^A Matt. XXIV. 29-51; ^B Mark XIII. 24-37; ^C Luke XXI. 25-36. ^b 24 But in those days, ^a immediately after the { ^b that} ^a tribulation of those days. [Since the coming of Christ did not follow close upon the destruction of Jerusalem, the word "immediately" used by Matthew is somewhat puzzling. There are, however, three ways in which it may be explained: 1. That Jesus reckons the time after his own divine, and not after our human, fashion. Viewing the word in this light, the passage at II. Pet. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Scriptural Predictions of an Apostasy.
Who has not wondered, as they read of the Savior's and the apostles' warnings of "false teachers," grievous wolves, delusive powers, and deceptive lights, what it all could mean? These things certainly are not without meaning. Jesus says, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day A Serious Persuasive to Such a Method of Spending Our Days as is Represented in the Former Chapter.
1, 2. Christians fix their views too low, and indulge too indolent a disposition, which makes it more necessary to urge such a life as that under consideration.--3. It is therefore enforced, from its being apparently reasonable, considering ourselves as the creatures of God, and as redeemed by the blond of Christ.--4. From its evident tendency to conduce to our comfort in life.--5. From the influence it will have to promote our usefulness to others.--6. From its efficacy to make afflictions lighter.--7. …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul The Evening Light
This chapter is an article written by the author many years after she had received light on the unity of the church. It will acquaint the reader with what is meant by the expression "evening light." "At evening time it shall be light." "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light" (Zechariah 14:6,7). The expression …
Mary Cole—Trials and Triumphs of Faith Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision D. Parable of the Lost Son. ^C Luke XV. 11-32. ^c 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons [These two sons represent the professedly religious (the elder) and the openly irreligious (the younger). They have special reference to the two parties found in the first two verses of this chapter --the Pharisees, the publicans and sinners]: 12 and the younger of them [the more childish and easily deceived] said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Figurative Language of Scripture.
1. When the psalmist says: "The Lord God is a sun and shield" (Psa. 84:11), he means that God is to all his creatures the source of life and blessedness, and their almighty protector; but this meaning he conveys under the figure of a sun and a shield. When, again, the apostle James says that Moses is read in the synagogues every Sabbath-day (Acts 15:21), he signifies the writings of Moses under the figure of his name. In these examples the figure lies in particular words. But it may be embodied …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Concerning Christian Liberty
CHRISTIAN faith has appeared to many an easy thing; nay, not a few even reckon it among the social virtues, as it were; and this they do, because they have not made proof of it experimentally, and have never tasted of what efficacy it is. For it is not possible for any man to write well about it, or to understand well what is rightly written, who has not at some time tasted of its spirit, under the pressure of tribulation. While he who has tasted of it, even to a very small extent, can never write, …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation Concerning Christian Liberty
Christian faith has appeared to many an easy thing; nay, not a few even reckon it among the social virtues, as it were; and this they do because they have not made proof of it experimentally, and have never tasted of what efficacy it is. For it is not possible for any man to write well about it, or to understand well what is rightly written, who has not at some time tasted of its spirit, under the pressure of tribulation; while he who has tasted of it, even to a very small extent, can never write, …
Martin Luther—Concerning Christian Liberty The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.' Exod 20: 15. AS the holiness of God sets him against uncleanness, in the command Thou shalt not commit adultery;' so the justice of God sets him against rapine and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this commandment, is meddling with another man's property. The civil lawyers define furtum, stealth or theft to be the laying hands unjustly on that which is another's;' the invading another's right. I. The causes of theft. [1] The internal causes …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments This Doctrine Confirmed by Proofs from Scripture.
1. Some imagine that God elects or reprobates according to a foreknowledge of merit. Others make it a charge against God that he elects some and passes by others. Both refuted, 1. By invincible arguments; 2. By the testimony of Augustine. 2. Who are elected, when, in whom, to what, for what reason. 3. The reason is the good pleasure of God, which so reigns in election that no works, either past or future, are taken into consideration. This proved by notable declarations of one Savior and passages …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Of the Incapacity of an Unregenerate Person for Relishing the Enjoyments of the Heavenly World.
John iii. 3. John iii. 3. --Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. IN order to demonstrate the necessity of regeneration, of which I would fain convince not only your understandings, but your consciences, I am now proving to you, that without it, it is impossible to enter into the kingdom of God; and how weighty a consideration that is I am afterwards to represent. That it is thus impossible, the words in the text do indeed sufficiently prove: but for the further illustration …
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration Links Amos 8:14 NIVAmos 8:14 NLTAmos 8:14 ESVAmos 8:14 NASBAmos 8:14 KJV
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