MOTIVATIONAL ATROCITY-II—Amos 1:3--2:5
OR--Indefensible National Atrocities/Pride
Attention:
A distraught husband is standing in the local florist’s shop pleading with the clerk about his need for geraniums.
“I'm sorry,” said the clerk, “we don't have potted geraniums. Could you use African violets instead?”
The customer replied sadly, “No, I’m absolutely certain it was ‘geraniums’ that my wife told me to water while she was gone.”
The husband’s neglect was an ‘atrocious’ act that motivated him to replace the flowers he had killed. His ultimate motivation was love.
On a heavier note:
ATROCITY—‘an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury.’
Need:
In a very real sense, any nationally motivated actions, levied thru a democratically governed people, are a result of the personal choices of the people of that republic. Those choices are spiritually telling & significant!
Rom. 2:4-5—“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, & longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness & your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath & revelation of the righteous judgment of God,”
If the true Church backs nationally supported ‘atrocities’ to the ‘exclusion’ of God’s desire,...If the true Church ever ceases to recognize God’s morality & godliness, then the church will have ceased to be God’s Church. Then any country in which that so-called ‘church’ is housed—the true Church being absent—places themselves on the same level as any other country.
Ps. 33:12—“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”
Ps. 144:15—“Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!”
Amos declared God’s wrath to be justified/warranted due to nationally sourced atrocities.
Nationally sourced atrocities move God to retribution.
Why/When/How do nationally sourced atrocities move God to anger & retribution?
Some nationally sourced endorsements that move God to anger/retribution.
ENDORSE—“To approve openly, To recommend, or To declare one's public approval or support of.”—Merriam-Webster; New Oxford American Dictionary
Previously we’ve found that National atrocity motivates God’s retribution when that nation endorses...
1. CALCULATED BRUTALITY(:3-5)
Today we’ll discover that,
2—National atrocity also motivates God’s retribution when that nation endorses...
CALCULATED GREED(1:6-8)
Explanation:(1:6-8)Exploitation brought on by Covetousness/Desire
1:6—“Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Gaza, & for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom.”
:7—“But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, Which shall devour its palaces.”
:8—“I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn My hand against Ekron, And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,” Says the Lord GOD.”
:6a-b—““Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Gaza, & for four, I will not turn away its punishment,”
Amos’ declaration now takes us to the judgment against a place called “Gaza.” Gaza’s judgment is taken up in vss. :6-8.
As Damascus represented Aram(:3-5), so “Gaza” represents Philistia, the land of the Philistines(:8d).
Ancient “Gaza”(as is modern “Gaza”) was located along the southwestern Mediterranean coast of Israel. Gaza represented Philistia, the land of the Philistines. Philistia encompassed a much larger area along the coast than is represented by the Gaza Strip today.
The warrior Goliath considered himself to be a Philistine who fought for the Philistines(1Sam. 17:1-10ff.).
“Gaza was a port city.”—NAC
Of the five major Philisine cities, “Gaza” was the southernmost.—TFWEC
There were five prominent city-states in Philistia. All but Gath are called up for punishment here. Gath was located farther inland from the cities named here, which four were located on the coastal plain.—AROR
“Gaza”—hze Az-zaw’—Noun Proper Locative Fem.—Azzah = “the strong”—1) Another name for 'Gaza', a city of the Philistines located in the extreme southwest of Palestine close to the Mediterranean. Strong—Strong; Azzah, a place in Palestine.
:6c-d—“Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom.”
The charge laid upon Philistia by Almighty God was their enslavement of “the whole captivity.” Or because of the word’s(Mlv—“whole”) other meanings, it could indicate a ‘peacetime’ enslavement of Israelite people. Perhaps the Philstines raided & enslaved those who had been the slaves of the Israelites?
*Rather, perhaps given the time in history, Philistia may have made off with those whom the Assyrians had left in the land in the aftermath of their continual conquering & repopulation efforts. Thus fulfilling Philistia’s “taking captive” “the whole” or peaceful “captivity.”
The pagan city of Tyre is accused of the same atrocity, however coupled with an additional atrocity which we will address at a later date—that in regard to the captivity, they “did not remember the covenant of brotherhood”(:9).
Evidently there were ‘agreements’ among certain nations(as they are even today) regarding the very lives of peoples, particularly if they were considered to be ‘property’ as were all slaves. “Sale of such captives for use as slave laborers was to treat precious humans made in the image of God as mere commodities.”—NAC
*YaHWeH is concerned for the welfare of all peoples.
Amos does not tell us the identity of the people of Gaza “took captive.” But it is implied by “the captivity” that it is a reference to Israel’s captivity.
*It seems that the larger purpose for Philistia’s peacetime captivity was simply to sell the captives. They “delivered” or sold them to the Edomites. The Philistines callously took no regard for the souls of men, but rather readily exchanged them for money or favor or both.
**It appears that economic prosperity sought at any cost was Philistia’s undoing. Such insensitivity to the welfare of others of mankind secured Philistia’s eventual demise at the hand of God.
Rev. 18:11-13—“And the merchants of the earth will weep & mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: merchandise of gold & silver, precious stones & pearls, fine linen & purple, silk & scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, & marble; & cinnamon & incense, fragrant oil & frankincense, wine & oil, fine flour & wheat, cattle & sheep, horses & chariots, & bodies & souls of men.”
“Because”(See :3, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6)—le al—Prep.—1) Upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against; Conj.—2) Because that, because, notwithstanding, although. Strong—properly--The same as le[substantive—1) height or—adverb—2) above, upwards, on high] used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications.?le ; properly--The top; specifically--The highest(i.e. God); also(adverb)--Aloft, to Jehovah.
“Took Captive/Carried away captive/Deported”—hlg gaw-law’—Hiphil(causative) Infinitive—1) To uncover, remove—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To uncover, 1a2) To remove, depart, 1a3) To go into exile; 1e) (Hiphil)--To carry away into exile, take into exile. Strong—a primitive root; To denude(especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication--To exile(captives being usually stripped); figuratively--To reveal.
“Whole/Entire”—Mlv shaw-lam’—Adj.—1) Complete, safe, peaceful, perfect, whole, full, at peace—1a) Complete—1a1) Full, perfect, 1a2) Finished, 1b) Safe, unharmed, 1c) Peace(of covenant of peace, mind)—1c1) Perfect, complete(of keeping covenant relation). Strong—Complete(literally or figuratively); especially--Friendly. Used 27X.?From—Mlv shaw-lam'; a primitive root; To be safe(in mind, body or estate); figuratively--To be (causatively--make) completed; by implication--To be friendly; by extension--To reciprocate(in various applications).
“Captivity/Population/Communities”(See :9)—twlg gaw-looth’—Noun Fem.—1) Exile, exiles; 2) (TWOT)--Captivity. Strong—feminine from hlg[verb]; Captivity; concretely--Exiles (collectively). Used 15X.
‘GREED’—Gain sought shamelessly. A callous disregard for anyone or anything that is effected by your want. Not considering yourself to have ‘enough’(covetousness), so that you take no thought as to ‘how’ you get what you consider ‘enough’ to satisfy yourself.
This same driving force is not only present, but appears to be prevalent in our American society’s workings. It is an expression of the sinfulness of human nature.
There is nothing wrong with wanting good or high-quality items—more expensive things—after all, ‘You get what you pay for’ is somewhat true. However there is a great deal wrong with lusting after those ‘wanted things’ so much so, that the means of acquiring them becomes insignificant to you. To want, desire, & treat God’s ‘means’/way & His resources frivolously is warped & perverted.
As my pastor used to say, “You’ve got to fix your ‘want-to!’
When a person, people group, or nation endorses a ‘want-to’ that excludes God’s desire, then that person, people group, or nation opens the door to covetousness which leads to outright greed.
Comparing :6c-d with :9c-d we are informed that Edom was the willing recipient of Philistia’s greed. We are also informed that Edom “pursued his brother with the sword”(:11c).?God’s retribution is therefore also designated for Edom(1:11-12), which we will address at another time.
Don’t be hasty to measure yourself by others around you so that you feel better about yourself. Don’t ‘favorably’ compare yourself by looking down at those who have ‘obvious’ spiritual flaws in your estimation—those things which you can easily denounce as something you would never do or be involved in. Such comparisons always fall short, putting God’s desire in a secondary position to yourself!
:7—“But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, Which shall devour its palaces.”
“But I will send a fire”(See also—1:4, 10, 12, 14—“kindle”; 2:2, 5):
The “fire” “is best understood as a metaphorical representation of God’s judgment(cf.-7:4).”—EBC. As YHWH promises to “send a fire” upon Damascus(1:4-5), so YHWH God vows to actively “send a fire” upon “the wall of Gaza.”
“The wall” of a city was it’s first defense against enemies. Without “the wall of Gaza” there would be no means for the city’s protection. It would be vulnerable to attack, occupation, & manipulation by the enemy. Those of the city would lose their identity.
“The particular property of fire that made it suitable as a method of warfare, was its power to consume” completely or “devour.”—NAC
“Which shall devour its palaces.”
As a result of God’s “fire”, the Gazan “palaces”—the strongholds of Philistine government—will succumb to total destruction.
That ‘destruction’ will occur as a result of God’s anger being stirred.
The Philistines would be undone as a people & inter-national influencer.
“Send”(See 1:4, 10, 12, 14; 2:2, :5)—xlv shaw-lakh’—Piel(intensive/intentional/repeated/extended) Perfect—1) To send, send away, let go, stretch out—1c) (Piel), 1c1) To send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out, 1c2) To let go, set free, 1c3) To shoot forth(of branches), 1c4) To let down, 1c5) To shoot. Strong—a primitive root; To send away, for, or out(in a great variety of applications).
“Fire”(See 1:4, 10, 12, 14; 2:2, :5)—va aysh—Noun Fem.—1) Fire—1a) Fire, flames, 1b) Supernatural fire (accompanying theophany), 1c) Fire (for cooking, roasting, parching), 1d) Altar-fire, 1e) God's anger(figuratively). Strong—a primitive word; Fire(literally or figuratively).
“Wall”—hmwx kho-maw’—Noun Fem.—1)Wall. Strong—feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; A wall of protection.
“Gaza”(See :7)—hze Az-zaw’—Noun Proper Locative Fem.—Azzah = “the strong”—1) Another name for 'Gaza', a city of the Philistines located in the extreme southwest of Palestine close to the Mediterranean. Strong—Strong; Azzah, a place in Palestine.
“Devour”(See 1:4, 10, 12, 14; 2:2, :5)—lka aw-kal'—Qal Perfect—1) To eat, devour, burn up, feed—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To eat(human subject), 1a2) To eat, devour(of beasts & birds), 1a3) To devour, consume(of fire), 1a4) To devour, slay(of sword), 1a5) To devour, consume, destroy(inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought), 1a6) To devour(of oppression). Strong—a primitive root; To eat(literally or figuratively).
“Palaces”(See 1:4, 10, 12, 14; 2:2, :5)—Nwmra armon’—Noun Masc.—1) Citadel, palace, fortress. Strong—from an unused root(meaning--to be elevated); A citadel(from its height).
:8—“I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn My hand against Ekron, And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,” Says the Lord GOD.”
“Cut off”—To remove access thru death &/or other means.
Not only will Philistine government cease to exist at God’s bidding(1:7—due to their Greed), but all the Philistine “inhabitants”—even the “remnant” of survivors of war—will “perish.” From the kings(“the one who holds the scepter”) to the people in each major city, no one will be spared. All this—“Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom”(1:6c-d). The Philistines were recognized as a people who endorsed GREED.
God’s people have a responsibility to faithfully lead their government to understand & apply God’s desire in their culture. This is done thru your faithful application of God’s desire in your own life.
The Philistines were too late. They had gone beyond the point of avoiding such devastation to their land & people.
*Again, it is true that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD...”
“Cut off/Destroy”(See 1:5b; 2:3a)—trk kaw-rath’—Hiphil(causative) Perfect—1) To cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant—1d) (Hiphil)—1d1) To cut off, cut down, destroy, take away, to permit to perish. Strong—a primitive root; To cut (off, down or asunder); by implication--To destroy or consume; specifically--To covenant(i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh & passing between the pieces).
“Inhabitant”—bvy yaw-shab’—Qal Participle Active—1) To dwell, remain, sit, abide—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To sit, sit down, 1a2) To be set, 1a3) To remain, stay, 1a4) To dwell, have one's abode;. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To sit down(specifically--As judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication--To dwell, to remain; causatively--To settle, to marry.
“Ashdod”—dwdva ‘Ash-dod'—Ashdod = “powerful”—Noun Proper Locative—1) A major Philistine city on the Mediterranean Sea west from Jerusalem, modern Esdud. Strong—Ravager; Ashdod, a place in Palestine. Used 17X.
“Holds”—Kmt taw-mak’—Qal Participle Active—1) To grasp, hold, support, attain, lay hold of, hold fast—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To grasp, lay hold of, attain, 1a2) To hold up, support, 1a3) To hold, keep, 1a4) To take hold of each other. Strong—a primitive root; To sustain; by implication--To obtain, keep fast; figuratively--To help, follow close. Used 21X.
“Scepter”—jbv sheh’-bet’—Noun Masc.—1) Rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, scepter, tribe—1a) Rod, staff, 1b) Shaft(of spear, dart), 1c) Club(of shepherd's implement), 1d) Truncheon, scepter(mark of authority), 1e) Clan, tribe. Strong—from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; A scion, i.e. literally--A stick(for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or figuratively--A clan.
“Ashkelon”—Nwlqva ‘Ash-kel-on’—Askelon or Ashkelon = “the fire of infamy: I shall be weighed”—Noun Proper Locative—1) A maritime city of the Philistines, southwest of Jerusalem. Strong—Ashkelon, a place in Palestine. Used 12X.?Probably from—lqv shaw-kal’—Verb—in the sense of weighing-place(i.e. mart); a primitive root; To suspend or poise(especially in trade).
“Turn...Against”—bwv shoowb—Hiphil(causative)—1) To return, turn back—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To turn back, return—1a1a) To turn back, 1a1b) To return, come or go back, 1a1c) To return unto, go back, come back, 1a1d) Of dying, 1a1e) Of human relations(fig), 1a1f) Of spiritual relations(fig)—1a1f1) To turn back(from God), apostatize, 1a1f2) To turn away(of God), 1a1f3) To turn back(to God), repent, 1a1f4) Turn back(from evil), 1a1g) Of inanimate things, 1a1h) In repetition; 1d) (Hiphil)--To cause to return, bring back—1d1) To bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment, 1d2) To bring back, refresh, restore, 1d3) To bring back, report to, answer, 1d4) To bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense), 1d5) To turn back or backward, repel, defeat, repulse, hinder, reject, refuse, 1d6) To turn away (face), turn toward, 1d7) To turn against, 1d8) To bring back to mind, 1d9) To show a turning away 1d10) to reverse, revoke. Strong—a primitive root; To turn back(hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively(not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally--To retreat; often adverbial--Again.
“Hand”—dy yawd—Noun Fem.—1) Hand—1a) Hand(of man), 1b) Strength, power(fig.), 1c) Side(of land), part, portion (metaphorically) (figuratively), 1d) (various special, technical senses)—1d1) Sign, monument, 1d2) Part, fractional part, share, 1d3) Time, repetition, 1d4) Axle-trees, axle, 1d5) Stays, support(for laver), 1d6) Tenons(in tabernacle), 1d7) A phallus, a hand(meaning unsure), 1d8) Wrists. Strong—a primitive word; A hand(the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from Pk kaf, the closed one); used(as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally & figuratively, both proximate & remote.
“Ekron”—Nwrqe `Ek-ron’—Noun Proper Locative—Ekron = “Emigration" or “Torn up by the roots”—1) The most northerly of the 5 principal cities of the Philistines; located in the lowlands of Judah & later given to Dan. Strong—Eradication; Ekron, a place in Palestine. Used 22X.?From—rqe aw-kar';a primitive root; To pluck up(especially by the roots); specifically--To hamstring; figuratively--To exterminate.
“Remnant”—tyrav sheh-ay-reeth’—Noun Fem.—1) Rest, residue, remainder, remnant—1a) Rest, what is left, 1b) Remainder, descendants. Strong—A remainder or residual(surviving, final) portion.?From—rav shaw-ar'; a primitive root; properly--To swell up, i.e. Be(causatively--Make) redundant.
“Philistines”—ytvlp Pel-ish-teey’—Philistine = “immigrants”—Adj.—1) An inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor(Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan. Strong—A Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth.?Partial from—tvlp Pel-eh'-sheth; from vlp paw-lash’[a primitive root; to roll(in dust)]; Rolling, i.e. Migratory; Pelesheth, a region of Syria.
“Perish”—dba aw-bad’—Qal Perfect—1) Perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed; 1a) (Qal)--1a1) Perish, die, be exterminated, 1a2) Perish, vanish (figuratively), 1a3) Be lost, strayed. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To wander away, i.e. Lose oneself; by implication--To perish(causative--Destroy).
“Says”—rma aw-mar’—Qal Perfect—1) To say, speak, utter—1a) (Qal)-To say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend. Strong—a primitive root; To say(used with great latitude).
“Lord”—Nwda aw-down' OR--(shortened)Nda aw-don' OR--ynda—Noun Masc.—1) Firm, strong, lord, master—1a) Lord, Master—1a1) Reference to men—1a1a) Superintendent of household, of affairs, 1a1b) Master, 1a1c) King, 1a2) Reference to God—1a2a) The Lord God, 1a2b) Lord of the whole earth;--1b) Lords, kings—1b1) Reference to men—1b1a) Proprietor of hill of Samaria, 1b1b) Master, 1b1c) Husband, 1b1d) Prophet, 1b1e) Governor, 1b1f) Prince, 1b1g) King; 1b2) Reference to God—1b2a) Lord of lords(probably = "thy husband, Yahweh”);--1c) My lord, my master—1c1) Reference to men—1c1a) Master, 1c1b) Husband, 1c1c) Prophet, 1c1d) Prince, 1c1e) King, 1c1f) Father, 1c1g) Moses, 1c1h) Priest, 1c1i) Theophanic angel, 1c1j) Captain, 1c1k) General recognition of superiority, 1c2) Reference to God—1c2a) My Lord, my Lord & my God, 1c2b) Adonai(parallel with Yahweh). Strong—from an unused root(meaning to rule); Sovereign, i.e. Controller(human or divine).
“God”—hwhy Yeh-ho-vaw’—Noun Proper Deity—Jehovah = “the existing One”—1) The proper name of the one true God—1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of ynda Ad-o-noy’. Strong—from hyh[To exist, be, become, come to pass]; (the)Self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.
Argumentation:
1Sam. 2:27-33—“Then a man of God came to Eli & said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, & to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? Why do you kick at My sacrifice & My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, & honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’ “Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house & the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the LORD says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, & those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm & the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes & grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age.’”
1Pet. 4:17—“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; & if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
Job 31:24-34, 38-40—“If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’; If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much; If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness, So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand; This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above. If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him(Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul); If the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler); If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door--.....If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together; If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives; Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.”
Lev. 27:32—“‘And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.”
Ex. 18:21—[Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law’s advice to ease Moses’ burden as he judged the people]—“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness[eub]; & place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, & rulers of tens.”
“Covetousness”—eub beh’-tsah—1)Profit, unjust gain, gain(profit) acquired by violence. Strong—Plunder; by extension--Gain(usually unjust). Used 23X.?From—eub baw-tsah'—a primitive root; To break off, i.e. (usually)--Plunder; figuratively--To finish, or intransitively--Stop.
Jer. 29:11—“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace & not of evil, to give you a future & a hope.”
If we trust YHWH God, there will be no fertile ground for greed to grow.
1Tim. 3:2-3, 8—“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money[aiscrokerdhv], but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;”.....“Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money[aiscrokerdhv],”
“Greedy for money/Filthy lucre(money dishonorably gained)—Lit.=‘money filthily gained’—1) Eager for shameful/base gain, greedy for money.
1Tim. 6:9-12—“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation & a snare, & into many foolish & harmful lusts which drown men in destruction & perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness[oregomai], & pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things & pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called & have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
“Greediness”—oregomai—1) To stretch one's self out in order to touch or to grasp something, to reach after or desire something; 2) To give one's self up to the love of money. Strong—To stretch oneself, i.e. Reach out after(long for).
Rom. 16:17-18—“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions & offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, & avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, & by smooth words & flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Illustration:
‘Black Market’ goods/There is no concern for the means of procurement—Only that you have gotten what you wanted regardless!/CALCULATED GREED
Consider the sale of ‘baby parts’ from aborted babies/There is some degree of calculated greed associated with that practice/For any country to endorse that practice is unconscionable by Christian standards!/CALCULATED GREED
Application:
?Is your country an endorser of CALCULATED GREED?
Do you support such endorsements?
?What atrocity is your country endorsing?
?Is your country endorsing such atrocities that invite God’s involvement against it?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Even God’s people can be such patriots that they allow themselves to become blinded to...the atrocity of Calculated GREED...to the atrocities associated with unredeemed humanity...to the atrocities associated with a denial of God’s desire.
If our country ever begins to fund military campaigns for the sake of our own economic standing—at the expense & demise of others—, then it has sanctioned Calculated GREED. Any other country which does the same has fallen to the sin of Calculated Greed. And has invited God’s righteous judgment!
When we take advantage of the weaknesses of others to build up our own we are no better than the worst of those living by Calculated GREED.
Husband who killed his wife’s plants—“I’m absolutely certain it was ‘geraniums’ that my wife told me to water while she was gone.”
Action:
National atrocity motivates God’s retribution when that nation endorses...
2. CALCULATED GREED(:6-8)
1. CALCULATED BRUTALITY(:3-5)
Pt#2 only! presented 06/02/2019am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
