Why things happen (Am 3:3-3:5)

“Do two people walk together,

Unless they have made

An appointment?

Does a lion roar

In the forest,

When it has no prey?

Does a young lion cry out

From its den,

If it has taken nothing?

Does a bird fall

Into a snare

On the earth,

When there is no trap

For it?

Does a snare spring up

From the ground,

When it has taken nothing?”

Amos asked a series of questions. Certain things happen because it is the normal thing for them to do. People who walk together have usually set up a time to do so. A lion roars in the forest when it has taken some prey. A young lion in a den has found something when it cries out. A bird does not fall into a snare if there was no trap set up. A snare does not spring up without being set. Thus, there is a natural reaction that takes place in all these cases.

The restoration of Israel (Ezek 29:21-29:21)

“On that day,

I will cause

A horn

To spout up

For the house

Of Israel.

I will open

Your lips

Among them.

Then they will know

That I am Yahweh.”

On the day that Yahweh would choose, the horn of David would spring up again in the house of Israel. He was going to open up their lips so that they would know that he was Yahweh, their God. Thus Israel would be restored to its Davidic kingdom glory.

Rejoice in Yahweh (Isa 61:10-61:11)

“I will greatly rejoice

In Yahweh.

My whole being shall exult

In my God.

He has clothed me

With the garments of salvation.

He has covered me

With the robe of righteousness.

I am

Like a bridegroom who decks himself

With a garland.

I am

Like a bride who adorns herself

With her jewels.

As the earth brings forth its shoots,

As a garden causes

What is sown in it

To spring up,

So Yahweh God

Will cause righteousness

To spring up before all the nations.

He will cause praise

To spring up before all the nations.”

This author now turns around and rejoices in Yahweh. His whole being and existence exults in God. He has been clothed with the garments of salvation. He wears a robe of righteousness. He is like a groom who wears a flower garland or a bride with all her jewels. He is like the shoots that grow from the ground or like a garden breaking out with flower sprouts. Thus Yahweh, our God, will cause righteousness and praise to spring up among all the various countries.

The blessing of Israel (Isa 44:3-44:4)

“I will pour water

On the thirsty land.

I will pour streams

On the dry ground.

I will pour my Spirit

Upon your descendants.

My blessing will be

On your offspring.

They shall spring up

Like a green tamarisk,

Like willows by flowing streams.”

Yahweh continues in the first person singular to bless Israel. He was going to pour water on the thirsty land with streams of water on the dry ground so that it would be fruitful. He was going to pour out his Spirit on the descendents of Israel. His blessing would be on all the offspring of Israel. They would spring up like green tamarisk bushes or like willows along a flowing stream. There was nothing but good things ahead for the Israelites because of Yahweh’s blessing.