Feb 6 I don't Know

February 6

I Don’t Know

Ac 8:30 And Philip …. said, Understandest

thou what thou readest? 

It is a good thing to read a passage of Scripture every day, or try to read through the Bible in a year. It is even better if you understand what you just read.  Have you ever read the Bible and then wondered “What was that all about?” You are not alone. Would you like to understand more about what the Bible is saying. You do not need to learn Greek or Hebrew, nor go to a Bible college for 4 years. But you will need to acquire a couple reference books.  The most essential book is a good dictionary. I use Merriam-Webster Collegiate -11^th edition.  The second book you need is a good Bible Dictionary. I prefer Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Mine is about 30 years old so there may be newer and/or better ones but it still serves my purpose very well and I have yet to be disappointed when using it. The Internet is also a good reference tool, if you can separate the truth from the chaff.

Before I turn this devotional/Bible study into a 5^th grade book report we should move on. My reason for mentioning these reference books is because you miss so much great humor and deep meanings when you read something and shrug your shoulders. “Huh, wonder what that was all about.”

Let’s look at one of those passages that are of little meaning until we dig below the surface.

Amos 4:1 ¶ Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria…

First you need to know that Amos was not a prophet, but a farmer. He was a farmer that was concerned about the direction his country was going.  The nation was becoming more and more ungodly. Rich people lived the life of luxury while the poor went without.  The government was corrupt and ran on bribes. God was being squeezed out of the country although some of the celebrities made a show of religion from time to time. But there was no repentance for sin.  God gave Amos a message to proclaim against the nation of Israel.

     In the first two chapters he mentions ungodly nations that were to the north, south, east and west of them and declares God’s judgment on them.  That message was most likely well received. “Finally those bums are gonna get what’s coming to them. Those people deserve to be wiped out!”

     In chapter three the spotlight is shifted to them. The nation of Israel. And in Amos four we read the phrase “Ye Kine of Bashan…”  Kine is an archaic word for cows. It is a plural word like we say deer for a herd of deers. (OK I know it isn’t deers!) Cows were female. Bulls were male. Young bulls were bullocks and young cows were heifers.

      Amos was a farmer and knew agriculture.  North and east of the sea of Galilee was an area of rich volcanic soil, abundant rainfall, and ideal farming conditions. It was known as Bashan and was the breadbasket for much of the area. They grew large, fat, livestock.  

     So when Amos called them kine (cows) he was addressing females. And when he compared them to the kine of Bashan he was essentially saying “Hear this word you big fat cows in Samaria”.  Samaria was a long way from Bashan, and he wanted these luxury living, self-indulgent women to know the message was for them. How do you think some of our modern day jet setting female celebrities would respond if Amos had called them big fat cows?  Amos continues his insults.

Am 4:4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning,

and your tithes after three years:  

They brought sacrifices every morning?  What kind of sacrifice?

Am 4:5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you,

O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Their offerings were contaminated with leaven. They bragged about how much they had given. (Ha, the widows two mites were more!) And nowhere in this chapter do we find they had a sin offering!

When I read the book of Amos I cannot help but think of the age we live in today.  It bothers me that celebrities (rich people who are in the spotlight) too often lead ungodly lives. What is worse is the masses agree and follow them.  Then to top it off, the US Government too often passes laws contrary to Biblical principles and too often demands that the Bible and Christ be excluded from our culture.  

          Dear reader, let us confess our sins to God. Let us seek His face. May we be obedient to His will for our lives and perchance God will be merciful to our nation.  I can see no other remedy.

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from

heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.