20261103 | 새벽묵상 | 모든 이를 향한 하나님의 공의 God’s Justice for All | 암/Amos 1:1~8

1:1 유다 왕 웃시야의 시대 곧 이스라엘 왕 요아스의 아들 여로보암의 시대 지진 전 이년에 드고아 목자 중 아모스가 이스라엘에 대하여 이상으로 받은 말씀이라

1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.

1:2 그가 이르되 여호와께서 시온에서부터 부르짖으시며 예루살렘에서부터 소리를 내시리니 목자의 초장이 마르고 갈멜 산 꼭대기가 마르리로다

2 He said:

“The Lord roars from Zion

    and thunders from Jerusalem;

the pastures of the shepherds dry up,

    and the top of Carmel withers.”

1:3 여호와께서 이와 같이 말씀하시되 다메섹의 서너 가지 죄로 말미암아 내가 그 벌을 돌이키지 아니하리니 이는 그들이 철 타작기로 타작하듯 길르앗을 압박하였음이라

1:4 내가 하사엘의 집에 불을 보내리니 벤하닷의 궁궐들을 사르리라

1:5 내가 다메섹의 빗장을 꺾으며 아웬 골짜기에서 그 주민들을 끊으며 벧에덴에서 규 잡은 자를 끊으리니 아람 백성이 사로잡혀 기르에 이르리라 여호와께서 말씀하셨느니라

Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors

3 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Damascus,

    even for four, I will not relent.

Because she threshed Gilead

    with sledges having iron teeth,

4 I will send fire on the house of Hazael

    that will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.

5 I will break down the gate of Damascus;

    I will destroy the king who is in the Valley of Aven

and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.

    The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,”

says the Lord.

1:6 여호와께서 이와 같이 말씀하시되 가사의 서너 가지 죄로 말미암아 내가 그 벌을 돌이키지 아니하리니 이는 그들이 모든 사로잡은 자를 끌어 에돔에 넘겼음이라

1:7 내가 가사 성에 불을 보내리니 그 궁귈들을 사르리라

1:8 내가 또 아스돗에서 그 주민들과 아스글론에서 규를 잡은 자를 끊고 또 손을 돌이켜 에그론을 치리니 블레셋의 남아 있는 자가 멸망하리라 주 여호와께서 말씀하셨느니라

6 This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Gaza,

    even for four, I will not relent.

Because she took captive whole communities

    and sold them to Edom,

7 I will send fire on the walls of Gaza

    that will consume her fortresses.

8 I will destroy the king[d] of Ashdod

    and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon.

I will turn my hand against Ekron,

    till the last of the Philistines are dead,”

says the Sovereign Lord.

                아모스가 활동하던 당시의 유다와 이스라엘은 앗시리아 제국이 잠시 정비를 하는동안 엄청난 호황기를 누리고 있었습니다. 열왕기하 14:23-15:7이 이 당시를 묘사하고 있는데요, 당시 왕이었던 여로보암 2세가 이스라엘 영토를 회복하였던 것을 기록하고 있습니다. 아마도 이 시대 사람들은 자신들이 하나님의 복을 받아 이런 태평성대를 누리고 있다고 생각했을 것입니다. 그런데 바로 그 때에 하나님께서는 한낱 목자에 불과했던 아모스를 택하셔서 이스라엘의 주변 나라들과 이스라엘에게 심판을 선언하십니다. 하나님께서는 이들이 그 번영의 그늘 아래에서 가난한 사람들과 약자들을 착쥐하고 불의하게 대하였던 것을 지적하시지요. 하나님은 그들에게서 형식적인 종교생활이 아니라 하나님의 공의가 드러나길 원하셨던 것입니다. 이 하나님의 공의는 유다와 이스라엘 뿐만 아니라 그들의 주변국에게도 똑같이 적용됩니다. 오늘은 “모든 이를 향한 하나님의 공의”라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

Introduction

During the time of the prophet Amos, both Judah and Israel were experiencing an immense economic boom while the Assyrian Empire was temporarily reorganizing itself. Second Kings 14:23–15:7 describes this period, recording how King Jeroboam II restored the territory of Israel. The people of that era likely believed that they were enjoying this golden age of peace and prosperity because they were specially blessed by God.

Yet precisely at that moment, God chose Amos—a mere shepherd—to declare judgment upon Israel and its surrounding nations. God pointed out that beneath the shadow of their prosperity, they were exploiting the poor, oppressing the vulnerable, and acting unrighteously. God was not looking for formal, mechanical religious rituals; He desired His justice to be revealed in their lives.

Furthermore, this divine justice applied not only to Judah and Israel, but equally to all neighboring nations as well. Today, I would like to share a message titled: “God’s Justice for All.”

                먼저 본문은 크게 두 문단으로 나뉩니다. 첫번째 문단인 1-2절의 서론을 보겠습니다. 먼저 아모스가 활동했던 시대적 배경입니다. 유다는 웃시야 왕 때이고 이스라엘은 요로보암 2세가 왕이었을 때입니다. 이 시기는 이스라엘이 멸망하기 약 30년 전 입니다. 태평성대는 잠시일뿐, 심판이 눈 앞에 있는 시기인 것입니다. 그때에 유다에 속한 드고아 지방에 목자 중에 한 명이었던 아모스에게 하나님의 말씀이 임합니다. 아모스는 7:14-15를 보면 양떼를 따르며 뽕나무를 재배하던 사람이었습니다. 정통을 따른 제사장이거나 순혈 선지자가 아니라 사회적으로 별 볼일 없는 사람이었던 것입니다. 그러면 이 책을 읽었을 당시 독자들은 아모스가 전하는 메시지가 진짜 하나님으로부터인가 의구심이 들지 않겠습니까? 그래서 아모스의 출신을 설명하기 전에 “여로보암의 시대 지진 전 이년에” 라는 말이 있습니다. 이 지진은 실제로 일어난 대지진입니다. 얼마나 큰 지진이었는가 하면 300년 뒤의 선지자인 스가랴서 14:5에서도 기억할 정도의 지진이었습니다. 아모스서에 나오는 북 이스라엘에 대한 심판의 방법이 주로 지진과 앗수르의 침공임을 고려할 때에 실제로 일어난 이 지진은 아모스가 하나님의 진짜 선지자임을 증명하는 것입니다. 그 진짜 선지자 아모스가 하나님으로부터 비전으로 받은 말씀, 그것이 바로 2절입니다. 먼저는 말씀하시는 장소입니다. 북이스라엘에 대한 심판의 말씀인데 남유다 땅인 시온과 예루살렘에서 말씀하십니다. 이들이 벧엘과 단에서 우상들에게 예배하는 것을 저격한 말씀인 것입니다. 그 다음은 그 말씀에 반응하는 장소들입니다. 목자의 초장, 즉 목자였던 아모스에게 말씀이 임하고 그 말씀에 갈멜산 꼭대기가 마른다고 합니다. 갈멜산하면 여러분 뭐가 떠오르십니까? 엘리야와 바알 선지자들이 떠오르지요. 진짜 하나님이 누구인지 보여주셨던 사건이지 않습니까? 이들에게 진짜 하나님이 누구인지 다시금 기억하게 하시는 것입니다. 즉 지금 말씀하시는 주체가 진짜 하나님라는 것이지요. 선지자, 메신저도 진짜이고 그 메시지를 전하는 주체, 하나님도 진짜입니다. 그런데 심판을 말씀하십니다. 실로 두려워 할 일인 것이지요.

1. The True Prophet and the Voice of the True God (vv. 1–2)

Today’s passage can be divided into two main sections. First, let us look at the introduction in verses 1 and 2.

Here we see the historical setting of Amos’s ministry: Uzziah was king of Judah, and Jeroboam II was king of Israel. This was roughly thirty years before the fall of Northern Israel. Their era of peace and prosperity was only temporary; judgment was right at their doorstep.

It was during this time that the word of the LORD came to Amos, a shepherd from the town of Tekoa in Judah. As Amos 7:14–15 notes, he was simply someone who tended sheep and took care of sycamore-fig trees. He was neither a priest from a prestigious lineage nor a professional prophet, but a socially ordinary man. Reading this book, the original audience might naturally have questioned whether Amos’s message truly came from God.

Therefore, before introducing Amos’s background, verse 1 includes the phrase: “two years before the earthquake.” This refers to a massive, historical earthquake—so devastating that even 300 years later, the prophet Zechariah remembered it (Zechariah 14:5). Considering that the judgment upon Northern Israel in the Book of Amos is primarily executed through earthquakes and the Assyrian invasion, this actual earthquake served as tangible proof that Amos was indeed a true prophet sent by God.

Verse 2 contains the message that this true prophet received in a vision from God. First, notice the location from which God speaks: although this message of judgment is directed at Northern Israel, God speaks from Zion and Jerusalem in Southern Judah! This was a direct rebuke of Northern Israel’s idolatrous worship at Bethel and Dan.

Next, look at the places that respond to His word: the pastures of the shepherds wither, and the top of Mount Carmel dries up. When you think of Mount Carmel, what comes to mind? We naturally think of Elijah and the prophets of Baal—that decisive event where God proved who the one true God really was. God was reminding them once again who the true God is. The One speaking now is the true, sovereign God. The messenger, Amos, is real, and the One delivering the message, God Himself, is real. Yet the message He speaks is one of judgment. This is a truly fearful thing.

                두번째 문단은 아람과 블레셋에 대한 심판의 메시지입니다. 여기서부터 이스라엘을 둘러싸고 있는 7개의 민족들에 대한 심판이 이어집니다. 주변국들을 향한 심판의 패턴은 계속 반복되면서 긴장감을 고조시키고 남유다를 거쳐 그 최종 목적지인 북이스라엘에까지 이어집니다. 그러면 먼저 이스라엘 북동쪽에 위치했던 아람에 대한 심판의 메시지를 보겠습니다. 3절입니다.  “다메섹의서너가지 죄로 말미암아 내가 그 벌을 돌이키지 아니하리니” 다메섹은 아람의 수도입니다. 즉 아람이 지은 범죄를 심판하시겠다고 선언하신 것이지요. 여기서 서너가지 죄악이란, 말 그대로 네가지의 죄악 때문에 벌하신다는 것이 아닙니다. 이는 비유적 표현으로 복수를 표현하는 셋, 그리고 거기에 하나 더한 수인 넷으로 그들의 범죄를 총체적으로 표현하는 말씀이지요. 그 중 그들을 대표하는 죄를 하나 꼽으시는대요 그것이 바로 “그들이 철 타작기로 타작하듯 길르앗을 압박하였음이라” 라는 것입니다. 길르앗은 이스라엘의 갓 족속의 영토였던 요단강 동쪽 지역인데요. 아람이 이스라엘 북동쪽에 있었던 것을 생각하면 이들에게는 길르앗을 탐하였던 것은 당연하였을지도 모릅니다. 그러나 하나님께서는 그들이 길르앗의 사람들을 마치 곡식을 까부르듯 인간 이하로 취급하며 압제하였던 것을 그들의 대표적인 죄악으로 꼽으십니다. 이방민족임에도 불구하고 하나님의 공의는 마찬가지로 적용되는 것입니다. 4절에 하나님께서 하사엘의 집에 불을 보내신다고 하시는데 이 예언은 30년뒤에 앗수르의 침공으로 그대로 성취됩니다. 5절에서 “아람백성이 사로잡혀 기르에 이르리라”는 말씀도 열왕기하 16:9을 보면 말씀대로 그대로 성취되는 것을 볼 수 있습니다. 6절 이하의 블레셋도 마찬가지이지요. 블레셋의 5대 도시인 가사, 가드, 아스글론, 아스돗, 에그론 중에 가드를 제외한 나머지 도시의 이름들이 모두 심판의 대상이 됩니다. 그들에게 판결을 내리시는 방법은 앞에서 보았던 패턴을 그대로 따르지요. “가사의 서너가지 죄로 말미암아 내가 그 벌을 돌이키지 아니하리니” 당시의 블레셋을 대표하는 도시를 지목하시고 그들이 심판받아 마땅할 만큼 많은 죄악을 지었음을 말씀하십니다. 그리고 그들의 대표적인 죄악을 말씀하시는데 “이는 그들이 모든 사로잡은 자를 끌어 에돔에 넘겼음이라” 라고 말씀하시지요. 사로잡은 사람 모두를 인신매매로 에돔에 넘겼다는 것입니다. 다른 죄악들이 많았을 텐데 하나님께서 지적하시는 부분을 가만히 보면 이들이 범한 죄악도 보편적인 윤리가 지켜지지 않는 것과 폭력에 대한 것들입니다. 이들은 이방민족임에도 불구하고 하나님의 공의가 이들에게도 마찬가지로 적용되고 있다는 것입니다. 우리는 이를 통해 하나님의 공의가 비단 하나님의 백성들뿐만이 아니라 세상의 모든 이를 향해있는 것임을 알 수 있습니다. 아모스는 말하고 있는 것입니다. 하나님이 창조주이시다. 모든 민족과 나라는 하나님의 공의로운 다스리심 아래에 있다.

2. Messages of Judgment on Surrounding Nations (vv. 3–8)

The second section presents the messages of judgment against Aram and Philistia. From verse 3 onward, a series of judgments is pronounced upon the seven nations surrounding Israel. This repeating pattern of judgment builds escalating tension, sweeping through neighboring nations, passing through Southern Judah, and ultimately reaching its final destination: Northern Israel.

Let us first examine the message of judgment against Aram, located northeast of Israel. Verse 3 says:

“For three transgressions of Damascus, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath...”

Damascus was the capital of Aram. God is declaring His judgment upon the sins committed by Aram. The phrase “for three transgressions... even for four” does not mean literally three or four specific sins. Rather, it is a poetic metaphor—using the number three for multiplicity and adding one more to make four—to express the totality and fullness of their wickedness.

Among their many sins, God highlights their representative crime: “because they threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth.” Gilead was Israelite territory east of the Jordan River, belonging to the tribe of Gad. Given Aram’s position to the northeast, desiring Gilead might have seemed politically natural to them. Yet God singled out their atrocious act of treating the people of Gilead like grain—oppressing them in a brutal, dehumanizing manner. Even though Aram was a pagan nation, God’s justice applied to them just the same.

In verse 4, God declares that He will send fire upon the house of Hazael, a prophecy fulfilled thirty years later through the Assyrian invasion. Likewise, verse 5 states that “the people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,” which was fulfilled precisely as recorded in 2 Kings 16:9.

The same pattern applies to Philistia in verse 6 and following. Out of Philistia’s five major cities—Gaza, Gath, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron—all are named under judgment except Gath. The pronouncement follows the exact same structure: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath...” God singles out the representative city of Philistia, declaring that they have committed sins deserving of judgment.

He then specifies their core offense: “because she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom.” They engaged in brutal human trafficking, handing over entire populations to Edom. While they surely committed other sins, the crime God points out highlights their failure to maintain basic human morality and their reliance on ruthless violence. Even as a pagan nation, God’s divine justice applied to them equally.

Through this, we learn that God’s justice is not confined only to His covenant people, but is directed toward everyone in the world. Amos is proclaiming: God is the Creator. Every nation and every people exists under the righteous governance of God.

                말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘의 본문은 하나님의 공의가 모든 민족에게 동일하게 임하는 것을 보여줍니다. 이는 사실 실로 두려운 일입니다. 하나님을 모르는 이스라엘의 주변국들에게 하나님께서 당신의 공의를 찾으신다면 하나님의 백성인 이스라엘에게는 어떤 공의를 찾으실까요? 태평성대에 빠져 겉으로는 종교적인 생활을 하지만 실제로는 가난하고 약한자들을 착취하고 핍박하던 이스라엘. 그들을 향한 진짜 선지자의 진짜 하나님의 말씀을 우리도 서늘한 마음으로 들어야하지 않나 싶습니다. 우리의 마음과 행동을 다시 한 번 하나님 앞에 점검하시며 기도로 나아가시겠습니다.  

Conclusion

Today’s text demonstrates that God’s divine justice falls equally upon all nations. This is, in truth, a sober and fearful reality.

If God demands righteousness and justice even from the pagan nations surrounding Israel who do not know Him, what kind of justice will He demand from Israel, His own covenant people? Israel had fallen into a stupor of prosperity, maintaining an outward appearance of religious life while in reality exploiting and oppressing the poor and the weak. We, too, ought to listen with a sober and humble heart to the message spoken by the true God through His true prophet.

Let us examine our own hearts and actions once again before God, and let us go before Him in prayer.