“The Sins of Israel”
Since October 7, 2023, that title has been my most popular blog post (written in 2013). It is probably rather disappointing to discover that the blog is an exposition of Amos 2:6-8. The prophet identified the sins of Israel as the oppression of the poor and needy, sexual immorality, and economic injustice.
Amos not only addresses Israel but also Gaza (1:6-7) as well as other nations and cities in chapter 1.
I have little doubt that the sins of Hamas, who ruled Gaza, abound as well. The attack on Israel on October 7 was horrendous and inexcusable.
At the same time, at present, the sins of the Israeli government also abound. Gaza is starving and innocents—children and their mothers—continue to die. This is unnecessary and preventable.
What would Amos say today?
I pray, following Psalm 58, that God will defang their power and remove their capacity to inflict such injustice upon an imprisoned people. I fear Israel, who responded in an understandable way to the October 7 attack, has been digging a ditch into which they themselves will fall.
At the same time, I also pray for a ceasefire, release of all hostages, and the free flow of food and medicine into Gaza.
July 25th, 2025 at 11:00 am
Very well stated. Thank-you for those wise words.
March 4th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Just as a PS John Mark
Misapplying God’s word in such a way demises what God was trying to prove was his which was his ability to show his exactness and for telling the future concerning his Christ which was the good news and all of the accompanying features that accompanied the new age and new world although we have messed it up so bad that is hard to prove with today’s cultural ramifications of God’s word in the old covenant the existence of God which is shameful and that’s what it was written for the righteousness of God is manifested through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all those who believe what was he faithful to go back up to the first first the first to the fourth person chapter 3 the words of God are faithful and true or else how is he going to judge the world the righteousness of God is manifested intrinsic righteousness is manifested and that’s the intrinsic righteousness of God’s character through the personal faith of Jesus Christ to show the world that it was salvation by grace through faith God’s unmerited favor the promise through the faith which was Christ faith that God would fulfill his promise which was written all through the gospel or the Old testament and when you take away from that you take away from God’s power and God’s being. And you get judged for it too you’re going to lose out
March 15th, 2026 at 5:32 pm
I have a question for you John Mark if if Jehovah left the temple desolate in 558 BCE when the Tabernacle was burned and Temple was destroyed.
At which time the Hebrew people were duly cursed for transgression of The commandments at what time was worship and Temple reestablished and the people received the blessings that were spoken of in the ten commandments if they repented and came back to the Lord or were they just cursed and knew they were cursed and rejected the Lord’s offer of reconciliation and rejected it because they wanted to be the most powerful Kingdom of the world God’s King dom even though they knew they were cursed??