Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Romans 1:26-27

It seems that the true barometer of any society are the actions of the women within that society

Men are expected to be brutish and to treat one another badly but not the women

They are the more compassionate sex - so when that compassion is lost the society is in danger

That is the situation that Amos is now confronting

Oh Ladies

Amos 4:1; 1 Timothy 3:11; Psalm 22:12

He doesn’t win himself any friends calling the women cows

This is not an effective strategy for ministry growth

The region of Bashan was known for it’s robust cattle industry and rich pasturelands

Cattle are stubborn animals

I remember seeing corpses of cows at the bottom of a ravine on my uncle’s farm because they would follow the same path in both summer and winter

He lists two indictments against the women

They are equal opportunity offenders

They are mistreating the poor

They are ruling their homes - arrogantly dominating their families

It is interesting to note that the cattle of Bashan are also referenced in Psalm 22 - one of the Psalms that most clearly depicts the crucifixion of Christ

There are only two times in Scripture that the description of being a cow or bull of Bashan is used

In our Scripture tonight and regarding the mob at the cross

I Promise

Amos 4:2-3; Hebrews 6:13-14; Matthew 25:32-46; Psalm 89:35-37; Genesis 24:22; Isaiah 3:18-26; Proverbs 11:22; Amos 3:10; Genesis 3:16; Genesis 4:7

The Lord God swears by Himself that this will happen

There is nothing greater by which God could swear than Himself

The fact that God would swear by Himself speaks to the grave nature and seriousness He takes the treatment of others

God, in effect, puts His own character on the line with this oath

Once God swears by Himself - it is final, what He says is going to happen will happen

And what He says will happen is horrific - suitable for this time of year

They will be taken out of the city - some by meat hooks and some by fish hooks

One way or another they would be forcibly removed from the city

Meat hooks are used to move dead bodies

In the Navy whenever we practiced for a man overboard situation we always had a sharp grappling hook on the deck for the most extreme circumstance that we were pulling up dead flesh

These fine, polished women’s corpses would be lifted like dead cattle and carried out of the city

The other alternative was with fish hooks - possibly a reference to harpoon type lances or cattle prods - but also an illustration of how the Assyrians would lead their captives away

In ancient Israel nose rings were worn by women as decorative ornaments

Made of ivory, gold or jewels they were valuable pieces of jewelry

The half shekel ring was for her nose to mark her as betrothed to Isaac

It seems these women failed to learn the lesson from Solomon’s proverb

These nose rings that they took such pleasure and drew status from would become their shackles as they were led away from Samaria

The Assyrians were known for linking their prisoners of war with chains from hooks placed in the nose or lips of their captives

The fact that they could simply go straight ahead speaks to the total destruction of the walls of Samaria

The society in Samaria had completely lost their way

And it was exemplified in the way the women of the society acted

They were mistreating and abusing the poor for personal, financial gain

They were forcing their husbands to wait on them and to bring them drink that they may get drunk and revel in their debauchery on their ivory couches

It is much the same in our society today

I’ve mentioned that 33% of young women (18-24) watch porn regularly

An August 9, 2017 article in Science Daily highlights the systemic increase of alcohol use, high risk drinking and alcohol use disorder among all demographic groups but primarily among women

While the number of sexual partners may not be on the rise, the casual attitude towards sex before marriage is - 55% of young Americans now say that sex before marriage is ok

And the abortion rate is unbelievable - 59% of those who have an abortion are already mothers, in 2014 19% of all pregnancies ended in abortion

Women have taken over the dominant roles in society as well - and even in some cases in the home

Now for any women listening, or for you husbands before you go home and tell your wives that I said their supposed to be submissive and wait on you hand and foot - that is not what I’m saying

Ephesians 5 tells us differently

What I am saying is that our culture has drifted significantly from any sort of Biblical standards and it is most easily recognized in the reversal of roles between men and women, the mistreatment of the most vulnerable in our society and the lack of any moral standards among society whether it be male or female.

Scripture bears it out that when women lose their moral standards society is on it’s last leg.

So what is to be done - what policy will fix this?

None of them.

We could outlaw abortions, porn and alcohol, slap a chastity belt on every unmarried woman and that wont fix the core issue at stake here

It is the heart - and it is the result of the Fall

While there is some debate as to what desire means in this passage - it seems best to take it in reference to Genesis 4:7

In this verse sin’s desire is to be the master of Cain but God is telling him he must master sin

In the same way the desire of the woman’s heart is to be the master of the home and over her husband but the God appointed roles have put him in the head position

The only way that this condition gets remedied is through the cross - through the Gospel - through Christ.

Conclusion

Now I’m sure some of you are wondering - that’s great but what does this sermon about women have to do with me?

Remember those bulls of Bashan - the one’s around the cross.

That was us - it was our voices crying out “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” on the square in Jerusalem.

We are no better than the cows of Bashan - we have mistreated the poor and mistreated those that have been put into positions of authority over us.

We were running headlong to the day that the Lord promised would come (and is still coming) where we would be led away by a hook through our nose into everlasting damnation

All of the things we place our security in - our finances, our jobs, our family, our religion - everything will be breached and destroyed there will be nothing that protects us or prevents our being taken away

Except - the blood of Jesus.