HIDDEN LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #35
OLD TESTAMENT Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
<< GOD REVEALS HIS SECRETS TO HIS PROPHETS >>
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(1.) More to a Word:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
An oft repeated verse of Amos is the Lord's instruction that he needs his
prophets to reveal his word and will. "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but
he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)
Since the Biblical Hebrew has such a small vocabulary, it is fascinating to
know that words with related
meanings are placed in precise order for a rainbow of meanings. Secrets,
counsel, advice, insight are all related in meaning!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(2.) Warning to Israel's Neighbors:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"The Book of Amos has three distinct parts. The first prophecy is a warning to
Israel's neighbors -- Syria and others --- condemning their violence and
aggression, especially against Israel. The exile and destruction foretold for
the nations of the Near East were prophesied for Israel too, for similar sins
against its own people." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(3.) Selfishness of the Wealthy:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"The second section condemns the selfishness of the wealthy who regarded their
affluence as a sign of God's favor. Amos cried out against the careful
observance of the Temple ritual when it ignored morality as an integral part of
religion. Ritual alone does not please God, who demands that it go hand in hand
with mercy and
compassion." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(4.) Fortelling Diasasters:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"The third section foretells disaster --- earthquake, pestilence, famine, and
the ultimate calamity of exile, with Israel scattered among the nations unless
they would return to God. The book closes with the promise of reconciliation
--- that God will rebuild the fallen Tabernacle of David, and that his people
will inherit all the
land (Amos 9:12--15) (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(5.) New Wine, Old Wine, Names of the Lord:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
There is a verse in the Book of Joel that bridges his day when the Lord was
known to the end of days when he would not be known. The Lord has many names,
one of them being "Wine" and another one, "New Wine." "Awake, ye
drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine,
for it is cut off from your mouth." (Joel 1:5) In the Meridian of times,
the Apostle Luke seems to amplify this metaphor of the Lord being "New Wine."
"No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The
old is better." (Luke 5:39)
|
