God is Just - Jordan Gospel Centre

MAIN TEXT: AMOS 1:3-15

HIGHLIGHT VERSE: AMOS 1:3
“This is what the Lord says: ‘For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not relent. Because she threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth’” (NIV)

TOPIC POINTS:

In Judging Repeat Wrongdoing – Amos 1:3a, 6a, 9a, 11a, 13a
Not Without Reason – Amos 1:3b, 6b, 9b, 11b, 13b
In Maintaining His Righteousness – Amos 1:4a, 7a, 10a, 12a, 14a

INTRODUCTION:

God is just in all that He does. Being just means acting with fairness, equity, and impartiality toward everyone irrespective of social or economic position. We as humans twist justice and show partiality because of our fallenness but God is perfectly just.

From our main text, we see the proclaiming of God’s judgment on five pagan nations who were Israel’s enemies. God had used these nations to punish Israel’s disobedience but they went too far in mistreating God’s people and blaspheming Him. For this reason, God’s anger was kindled against them and their judgment was due.

IN JUDGING REPEAT WRONGDOING

– AMOS 1:3A, 6A, 9A, 11A, 13A

Our text tells us that the sins of the pagan nations were not a one-time thing. God had given them authority over Israel for a time. They repeatedly abused that authority and mistreated Israel in abhorrent ways.

Although God gave them signs of His anger in their pastures drying up and the mountaintops withering, they persisted in their pride and wickedness. Their condemnation was long overdue.

NOT WITHOUT REASON

– AMOS 1:3B, 6B, 9B, 11B, 13B

In our text, we see the very reason for God’s judgment on these nations. God’s justice is not arbitrary, it is based on stated and proven sins.

Let’s take a look at the reasons God gave:

Damascus – Because she threshed Gilead (Israelites living east of the Jordan river) with sledges having iron teeth.
Gaza – Because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom.
Tyre – Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood.
Edom – Because he pursued his brother with a sword, and slaughtered the women of the land, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked.
Ammon – Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders.

Indeed, God’s judgment was well-deserved.

IN MAINTAINING HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

– AMOS 1:4A, 7A, 10A, 12A, 14A, GENESIS 18:20-21, GENESIS 19:24-25

Lastly, our text gives us God’s method of judgment to these nations, “I will send fire.” Fire symbolizes destruction, just as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. It also symbolizes purification and refining, just as gold is purified until all impurities are gone.

God’s justice still stands today. For every evil and wickedness being practiced in our day, God’s judgment is coming to destroy it all until only righteousness is left.

CONCLUSION:

God is just, he sets things right for all – whether rich, poor, weak, or strong. He defends those who can’t defend themselves and repays those who practice wickedness without fear or favor. He is slow to anger but will not let a multitude of sins go unpunished.

If human courts have twisted justice against you, do not lose hope, the judge of all the earth will do right.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Give a summary of our main text
Recite our highlight verse
What does it mean to be just?
How is God’s justice and human justice different?
God’s justice is arbitrary. True or false? Explain.
What was the sin of the pagan nations God punished?
What are the names of the five nations?
What symbol does God use for His judgment?
What does fire symbolize?
Is God’s justice only a thing of the Old Covenant?
What hope does a person have when justice has been twisted?