# Amos 03 📖: The Lion Has Roared [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Amos Overview]] | [[Amos 02]] | [[Amos 04]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### Every Effect has its Cause [[#Verse 01.]] Listen, you Israelites, to this message that the Lord is proclaiming against you! This message is for the entire clan I brought up from the land of Egypt: [[#Verse 02.]] “I have chosen you alone from all the clans of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins.” [[#Verse 03.]] Do two walk together without having met? [[#Verse 04.]] Does a lion roar in the woods if he has not cornered his prey? Does a young lion bellow from his den if he has not caught something? [[#Verse 05.]] Does a bird swoop down into a trap on the ground if there is no bait? Does a trap spring up from the ground unless it has surely caught something? [[#Verse 06.]] If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear? If disaster overtakes a city, is the Lord not responsible? [[#Verse 07.]] Certainly the Sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. [[#Verse 08.]] A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The Sovereign Lord has spoken. Who can refuse to prophesy? ### Samaria Will Fall [[#Verse 09.]] Make this announcement in the fortresses of Ashdod and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt. Say this: “Gather on the hills around Samaria! Observe the many acts of violence taking place within the city, the oppressive deeds occurring in it.” [[#Verse 10.]] “They do not know how to do what is right,” the Lord says. “They store up the spoils of destructive violence in their fortresses. [[#Verse 10.]] “They do not know how to do what is right,” the Lord says. “They store up the spoils of destructive violence in their fortresses. [[#Verse 11.]] Therefore,” says the Sovereign Lord, “an enemy will encircle the land. He will take away your power; your fortresses will be looted.” [[#Verse 12.]] This is what the Lord says: “Just as a shepherd salvages from the lion’s mouth a couple of leg bones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be salvaged. They will be left with just a corner of a bed, and a part of a couch. [[#Verse 13.]] Listen and warn the family of Jacob!” The Sovereign Lord, the God who commands armies, is speaking! [[#Verse 14.]] “Certainly when I punish Israel for their covenant transgressions, I will destroy Bethel’s altars. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. [[#Verse 15.]] I will destroy both the winter and summer houses. The houses filled with ivory will be ruined, the great houses will be swept away.” The Lord is speaking! ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. The word "chosen" in 3:2 is literally "known," describing God's covenant relationship with Israel. 2. 3:3-6 is a series of cause-and-effect questions leading to the point that God has spoken. 3. A trumpet (*shofar*) in a city (3:6) warned of danger. 4. Ashdod (Philistia) and Egypt are summoned as witnesses against Samaria (3:9). 5. Under Exodus 22:13, a shepherd could bring back remains of an animal killed by a wild beast as evidence that he was not at fault (3:12). 6. The horns of the altar (3:14) were places of refuge (1 Kings 1:50), so cutting them off removes any refuge. 7. Wealthy Israelites had both winter houses and summer houses (3:15). 8. Excavations at Samaria uncovered many carved ivory pieces, fitting Amos's "houses of ivory" (3:15). 9. Bethel was the royal sanctuary where Jeroboam I set up a golden calf (1 Kings 12:29). 10. Amos uses lion imagery in 1:2, 3:4, 3:8, and 3:12. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Good Shepherd who rescues His sheep completely. Amos pictures a shepherd who can only rescue two legs or an ear from the lion (3:12), but Jesus lays down His life so that none of His sheep are lost (John 10:11, 28). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. God says, "You only have I chosen," therefore He will punish Israel (3:2). Why does greater privilege bring greater responsibility? 2. "Do two walk together unless they have agreed?" (3:3). What does it mean for you to walk in agreement with God? 3. God reveals His plans to His servants the prophets (3:7). How should we respond when God's Word warns us? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 2: God chose Israel alone among the families of the earth, so He will hold them accountable. - 📖 verse 7: The Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. - 📖 verse 8: The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord has spoken; who can but prophesy? ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[John 10#Verse 11.|John 10:11]] - The Good Shepherd lays down His life. - 🔗 [[Luke 12#Verse 48.|Luke 12:48]] - To whom much is given, much is required. - 🔗 [[Genesis 18#Verse 17.|Genesis 18:17]] - Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? - 🔗 [[Exodus 22#Verse 13.|Exodus 22:13]] - Evidence of an animal torn by a wild beast. - 🔗 [[Romans 02#Verse 09.|Romans 2:9]] - Trouble for the Jew first and also the Greek. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Amos 03 - SOAP|Unity of Purpose]] ## 📂 Internal Notes