Having completed his diatribe of prophetic oracles against the neighboring nations, Amos’ final oracle comes to rest squarely upon his primary audience, the nation of Israel. Although horrible things had been done by the heathen nations, we find Israel more culpable because, having been given the law and having been the witness of much privilege, they should have known better. In the giving of the Law to Israel, God was granting them divine favor and protection as an expression of love. As God operated in history to save a remnant within Israel, the broader people of Israel also witnessed God’s acts of love and saving grace. Those Israelites who were outside of the covenant of grace have therefore become even more accountable for their sin, as they not only rejected law (Amos 2:4), but grace. In verses 9-11 of Amos chapter 2, God recounts His goodness toward His people. God reminds Israel of His electing love, their sonship and His adoptive care for, and protection of, His people. The text invokes emotions of love as the truly born-again Christian realizes that he too has the privilege of unique covenantal intimacy – hearing of the demonstration of His love provokes our love (1 John 4:19).
What is it that keeps the Christian from fully appreciating and enjoying his privilege in Christ? Well for one thing, the church has so many counterfeit ‘lights’ that the glorious lights of God’s love and grace can become lost in the skyscape.
