Amos 1:6-10: a reflection

6The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they carried away captive the whole community, to deliver them up to Edom; 7but I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it will devour its palaces. 8I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; and I will turn my hand against Ekron; and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,” says the Lord GOD. 9The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they delivered up the whole community to Edom, and didn’t remember the brotherly covenant; 10but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, and it will devour its palaces.”

Amos pronounces God's judgment on the nations surrounding Israel, and among them Gaza and Tyre. Their sins are named: they carried away whole communities into slavery, selling them off; and Tyre in particular did this while forgetting the covenant of brotherhood, the bond of kinship and treaty that should have restrained such cruelty. God takes note of these wrongs, the trafficking of people and the betrayal of the bonds that should have held, and pronounces judgment on them.

Notice what God judges here: cruelty to people, and the betrayal of the bonds of brotherhood. Gaza and Tyre trafficked in human beings, treating people as merchandise; and Tyre broke faith with a covenant of brotherhood, forgetting the bond that should have restrained it. God does not overlook such things; he takes note of how nations and people treat one another, and he judges cruelty and the betrayal of the bonds that should hold us to faithfulness. These are not small matters to him.

That God cares about how we treat others, and about keeping faith with the bonds that hold us, is worth taking to heart. We can imagine that God concerns himself only with religious matters, and not with how we treat people or whether we keep faith with our commitments and relationships. But Amos shows that God takes note of cruelty, of the mistreatment of people, and of the betrayal of the bonds of brotherhood and covenant. Consider, then, how you treat others, and whether you keep faith with the bonds that hold you, of family, friendship, and commitment. God notices these things; do not betray the bonds of brotherhood, or treat people with cruelty, imagining God does not see. Keep faith with those to whom you are bound, and treat others with the justice and compassion God requires, for how we treat people, and whether we keep faith, matters to him.

Lord, through Amos you pronounced judgment on Gaza and Tyre for trafficking whole communities into slavery, and on Tyre for forgetting the covenant of brotherhood; you take note of cruelty to people and the betrayal of the bonds that should hold us. Help me take to heart that you care about how I treat others, and about keeping faith with the bonds that hold me. I can imagine that you concern yourself only with religious matters, and not with how I treat people or whether I keep faith with my commitments and relationships. But Amos shows that you take note of cruelty, of the mistreatment of people, and of the betrayal of the bonds of brotherhood and covenant. Help me consider how I treat others, and whether I keep faith with the bonds that hold me, of family, friendship, and commitment. Keep me from betraying the bonds of brotherhood, or treating people with cruelty, imagining you do not see. Help me keep faith with those to whom I am bound, and treat others with the justice and compassion you require, for how I treat people, and whether I keep faith, matters to you, Lord.