“So we have seen and proved that what the prophets said came true. You will do well to pay close attention to everything they have written, for, like lights shining into dark corners, their words help us to understand many things that otherwise would be dark and difficult. But when you consider the wonderful truth of the prophet’s words, then the light will dawn in your souls and Christ the Morning Star will shine in your hearts. For no prophecy recorded in Scripture was ever thought up by the prophet himself. It was the Holy Spirit within these godly men who gave them true messages from God.” (2 Pet. 1:19-21).
When we begin reading this chapter of Amos, we might begin thinking the first seven verses are Amos’s thoughts only, but we would be wrong. It was the Holy Spirit inspiring him to write those words. Amos mentioned several cities the Assyrians had already conquered that one time were greater than Samaria. Calneh was a city under the rule of the first king mentioned in the Bible; “. . .Nimrod – a mighty hunter blessed by God. The heart of his empire included Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh.” (Gen. 10:10). This may be the same city mentioned in Isa 10:9 as Calno, one of the great cities conquered by Assyria.
Why would God want Israel to visit Calneh? “You push away all thought of punishment awaiting you, but by your deeds you bring the Day of Judgment near.” (Verse 3).
In verses 4-8, Amos gave specific reasons why God hates their activity (deeds). “I despise the pride and false glory of Israel and hate their beautiful homes.” In all of this, God does not say He hates the people, but He hates their deeds (life-styles).
Their deeds were why they were under God’s punishment, yet they could not see the disaster coming in the near future. In verses 9-14, God listed the consequences of their sins, not because He is a vengeful God but because He is a Holy and Just God.
That is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to SAVE IT.” (John 3:16-17).