三番四次 For Three Sins, Even for Four
阿摩司書 Amos CH 1-2
Cathy Chen, 9/8/2025
阿摩斯原本只是南國猶大村莊的一位牧羊人，也栽種桑樹為生。沒想到神卻在烏西雅王在位時，差派他向北國以色列發出嚴厲的預言警告。
當時北國由耶羅波安當政，繁榮富庶，生活安定。但是人們絲毫不明白自己在神眼中虛偽可惡的模樣。特殊的是，神不但透過阿摩斯向他的選民猶大和以色列，也向其周邊列國發出嚴厲的警告，因為它們均犯下神眼中「三番四次」的罪行。
本章每起一個段落，就是對一個國家的警告。每一段以「三番四次 For three sins of ____, even for four 犯罪」為開頭。注意，無論是三番或是四次，這個修辭語並非單單指三或四次，而是一種慣性，也就是重覆性的行為，強調神對於他們多次地，一再性犯罪已經到了無法再容忍的地步。一開始先由以色列的外圍算起逐一舉出各國所犯下的淘天大罪，最後則是針對神的選民猶大與以色列的審判，因為耶和華是全地的主，不是一般人以為的地區神明。無論是信神或不信神的地區國家，都必在神的光照下因自己的罪接受審判。以下是各國代表性的罪：
亞蘭（首都大馬士革）：用鐵器打基列（1:3-5）。彷彿用殘酷的鐵齒輾壓人命，這不僅是單純軍事戰爭，而是毫無憐憫的屠殺。
非利士（迦薩為大城）：擄掠整個社區並販賣給以東（1:6-8）。
推羅：本與以色列有兄弟盟約，但卻參與販賣俘虜給以東，背棄盟約（1:9-10）。
以東：本為以撒同根所生，卻拿刀追趕兄弟，長久懷恨無憐憫（1:11-12）。
亞捫：剖開基列孕婦（1:13-15），極不仁道的暴行，斷絕人的後代。
摩押：焚燒以東王骸骨（2:1-3），在古代被視為極度凌辱冒犯死者。
猶大：棄絕耶和華的律法，隨從虛假的偶像。（2:4-5）。
以色列：在金錢和情慾的敗壞，壓迫窮人，誘使他人遠離神（2:6-16）。
思考
「三番二次」的背後，是人們一次又一次的心存僥倖，也是神一次又一次的寛容。如果用心體會，不把神的話語當成刺耳的聲音，反而當成挽回的勸告，就能地將摀住的手從耳朵拿開，將撇開的頭轉回來，因為就算神的話不中聽，卻是救我們脫離停留在罪中受苦的指南針。
祈禱
主耶穌，有時候我的錯誤已經積累成慣性，如同電腦當機般的迴圈。當祢用一些人和事來顯明我的驕傲和無知時，甚至當我明知祢不喜悅卻仍心存僥倖的「三番二次」時，求祢的聖靈不放棄我，求祢再次用真理挽回我那個剛硬的心腸。我嘗過主恩的滋味，經歷祢的憐憫慈愛，謝謝祢總是用無比的耐心對待我。感謝主耶穌基督的寶血挽回了我，謝謝祢除去我的石心，賜給我新心（以西結36:26），並將律法刻在我的心版上（耶利米31:33）。
祢在乎普天之下的萬國萬民得著公義和憐憫，不是只有基督徒，因為祢就是公義和憐憫的神。今天的經文提醒我，不可對它國的受苦幸災樂禍，甚至落井下石。我將世界的苦難帶到祢面前：
為寒冷的北方，烏克蘭和蘇俄間持續三年半的戰爭，也為持續即將兩年的以色列和迦薩地區的衝突禱告。這些戰亂已經造成數以萬計的死亡，與無數家庭的流離失所。許多百姓長期活在飢餓和恐懼之中，無法平靜度日。他們的身心飽受摧殘，仍看不見希望。求祢的公義和憐憫彰顯，拯救無助的人們，止住殘忍的暴行。求祢將愛和醫治降臨在這片被戰火蹂躪的地土上。奉主耶穌基督得勝的名，阿們！
Devotion on Amos CH1-2
By Cathy Chen, 9/8/2025
For Three Sins, Even for Four
Amos was originally just a shepherd and a caretaker of sycamore trees in the village of Tekoa in the southern kingdom of Judah. No one would have imagined that God, during the reign of King Uzziah, would call him to deliver a stern prophetic warning to the northern kingdom of Israel.
At that time, Israel, under the rule of Jeroboam II, was prosperous and wealthy, enjoying stable lives. Yet, the people were completely unaware of how hypocritical and detestable they appeared in God’s eyes. Remarkably, God’s judgment through Amos was not only directed at His chosen people, Judah and Israel, but also at the surrounding nations, because all had committed “sins for three, even for four” in God’s sight.
Each paragraph of these chapters addresses a specific nation. Each begins with the phrase: “For three sins of ____, even for four, I will not revoke the punishment.” Note that “three” or “four” is not meant to be taken literally; it is a rhetorical device emphasizing habitual, repeated sin. It underscores that God’s patience has reached its limit, and judgment is inevitable. The narrative begins with the nations surrounding Israel, listing the grave offenses they have committed against God’s people, and concludes with the judgment upon God’s own people, Judah and Israel, because the Lord is the God of the whole earth, not just a local deity. All nations, whether they acknowledge God or not, are accountable for their sins.
Here are the representative sins of the nations mentioned:
Aram (capital Damascus): Struck Gilead with iron implements (1:3–5). This brutal act crushed lives mercilessly—not merely warfare, but ruthless slaughter.
Philistia (Gaza): Carried off entire communities, selling them to Edom (1:6–8).
Tyre: Betrayed its brotherly covenant with Israel by participating in selling captives to Edom (1:9–10).
Edom: Descendants of Isaac pursued their brothers with the sword, harboring long-standing hatred with no mercy (1:11–12).
Ammon: Ripped open pregnant women in Gilead (1:13–15), committing an atrociously inhumane act.
Moab: Burned the bones of the king of Edom, a grievous insult to the dead in ancient culture (2:1–3).
Judah: Forsook the law of the Lord, following false idols (2:4–5).
Israel: Corrupt in wealth and lust, oppressed the poor, and led others away from God (2:6–16).
Reflection
The phrase “for three, even for four” reveals human tendency to rely on luck or self-deception, repeating sinful patterns, and at the same time, God’s repeated patience. If we truly listen, these words are not harsh rebuke but corrective guidance, helping us remove our hands from covering our ears and turn our hearts back to God. Even if the words are hard to hear, they serve as a compass to lead us out of suffering in sin.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, sometimes my mistakes accumulate into habitual sin, like a computer stuck in a loop. When You use people and circumstances to reveal my pride and ignorance, and even when I knowingly act against Your will in repeated “three-for-four” sins, may Your Spirit not abandon me. Please restore my hardened heart with Your truth. I have tasted Your grace and experienced Your mercy. Thank You for Your patience, for redeeming me through the blood of Jesus Christ, for removing my stony heart and giving me a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), and for writing Your law upon my heart (Jeremiah 31:33).
You care about justice and mercy for all nations under heaven, not just for Christians, because You are God of justice and mercy. Today’s scripture reminds me not to rejoice over the suffering of other nations or take advantage of their misfortune.
I lift up the suffering of the world to You:
I pray for the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, now lasting three and a half years, and for the conflict between Israel and Gaza, approaching its second year. These wars have caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced countless families. Many civilians live in constant hunger and fear, with no peace in daily life. Their bodies and minds are broken, and hope seems distant. Lord, may Your justice and mercy prevail, saving the helpless, stopping acts of cruelty, and pouring Your love and healing over these lands ravaged by war. In the victorious name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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