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"Shall the land not tremble for this"

Text: Amos 8:8

THE DIVINE RESPONSE

The rich and powerful did not expect a divine response. It was even likely that they did not truly believe in the Lord God or they would not have continued with their horrendous sinful activities!

“The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
‘Surely, I will never forget any of their works.
Shall the land not tremble for this,
And everyone mourn who dwells in it?
All of it shall swell like the River,
Heave and subside
Like the River of Egypt.'”
Amos 8:7-8

1. “The LORD has sworn”

a) This is to indicate a solemn statement.

b) This is a reference of the Lord taking an oath.

c) He would by this be committed to fulfilling what He has sworn.

2. On what basis would God swear

a) There is none greater than God Himself.

b) Thus, God must swear by Himself (Amos 6:8; Hebrews 6:13).

3. Sworn by the pride of Jacob

a) A peculiar phrase.

b) God cannot, of course, swear by that which He hated (i.e. the pride of Jacob which He hated [Amos 6:8c]).

c) Understanding the phrase

i) Of his own, Jacob had nothing to be proud of.

ii) If Jacob had become a respected Patriarch, it would be because of God’s grace and mercy.

iii) Jacob, who was called “Israel” later when he had anything to be proud of, it was God who must be given full honour and credit.

d) God swore by Himself… the God who made Israel a strong nation in the reign of Jeroboam II.

4. “Surely, I will never forget any of their works”

This was the content of the oath God swore. He would never forget the sinful activities of the rich and powerful.

5. The wrath of God was compared to the River Nile

a) As surely as the River Nile overflowed its banks yearly, so the wrath of God would be visited on the sinful rich and powerful.

b) This sobering thought should cause all to mourn and to tremble before the wrath of God!