The people of Israel were most likely very surprised to hear the conclusion of Amos’s first sermon. Knowing that they were the covenant people of God, they did not expect the Lord to punish them for their sins. God rescued their forefathers from Egypt. God destroyed the Canaanites so that they could live in that land. They could trace their heritage all the way back to Abraham—it simply did not make sense to them that God would seek to destroy them as Amos claimed (Amos 2:6–16).

One can just imagine what the people may have said to Amos in response to his speech:

Amos, you are a good man. We can see that you love God and you are concerned about his covenant—we like your preaching style; we like your energy. But your enthusiasm is misplaced. You need to go and do a bit more studying; you need some more time for reflection. Being out in the sun and watching over those sheep, you are not thinking straight. The Lord wants to bless us; just look around and see all the prosperity that we enjoy—clearly God is not upset with us. He is not going to punish us; we are part of his covenant people.

But Amos is no madman. He is not a crazy man shouting in the street. He is not proclaiming fake news. He is not someone you can dismiss because his head is shaved and his eyes are popping out of their sockets. Judgment really is the message that God wants him to give—a message he repeats at the very beginning of chapter 3.

Notice how Amos 3:2 makes a rather surprising statement: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” We would have expected it to read somewhat differently, for example:

• You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will save you.

• You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will overlook your sin and forgive you.

• You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore others will fall under my judgment but you will be safe.

Neither of the rewordings listed above are Amos’s words. Amos did not get the wrong message from God. Israel will really be judged for their sins. Covenant privileges will not save them. Indeed, covenant privileges will only serve to expose them even more.