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Amos 2:6-8

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

6. Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; 7. That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the [same] maid, to profane my holy name: 8. And they lay [themselves] down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned [in] the house of their god.

Amos 2:6-8 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Amos 2:6

Theological / Devotional

Thus saith the Lord. As a climax to this series of messages the prophet now denounces Israel for injustice, cruelty, incest, luxury, and idolatry. The divine pronouncements upon the heathen nations round about, and upon Judah and Jerusalem, now descend with full force upon wicked Israel.

God has already indicted Judah (v. 4), anticipating an attempt on Israel’s part to justify her evil ways by pointing to Judah’s shortcomings. It is worthy of note that God censures Israel not so much for despising “the law of the Lord” (v. 4), of which they were by now largely ignorant, as for committing social injustices they knew to be wrong.

Pair of shoes. Sandals were generally cheap. This indicates that for the smallest considerations the people would deny justice to the poor (see Eze. 13:19). It is apparent that covetousness was Israel’s besetting sin.

By SdaBc