2 of 8 I will not relent

​“The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Gaza for three crimes, even four, because they exiled a whole community, handing them over to Edom. Therefore, I will send fire against the walls of Gaza, and it will consume its citadels. I will cut off the ruler from Ashdod, and the one who wields the scepter from Ashkelon. I will also turn My hand against Ekron, and the remainder of the Philistines will perish. The Lord God has spoken.”

‭‭Amos‬ ‭1:6-8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/amo.1.6-8.HCSB

Gaza is the capital of the Philistines, which is west of Judah along a small strip of land against the Mediterranean Sea. These would be descendants of whom, Kings Saul and David fought. As with Damascus God is also sending fire down to consume the walls and places of worship of Gaza. But why? Because they exiled people from their cities to Edom, which we will cover in number four of this series. 

God’s punishment will fall upon the ruler from Ashdod and the one who wields the scepter from Ashkelon. Both of these names are prominent cities in Philistia. One would be Capitol and one would be where the people were sold. Think of it as Washington D. C. and New York City. Both places would have known about the crime and both places were instrumental in executing the exile. Only the highest official would wield the scepter and his rule is ultimate. But God would not leave the rulers responsible unpunished. 

Then God moves on the pronounce judgment against all of the philistines for they would be guilty of the other six crimes. 

As I was reading this the line “The Lord God has spoken” reminded me of a character in the Mandalorian series called Kuiil. In which his most memorable line is “I have spoken.” Just like God when Kuiil spoke it was final with no objects from the Mandalorian as he learned not to object. When God speaks it is final and it will happen. God may put it off for a few generations but eventually, it will happen. I see this happening twice for King Hezekiah. 

In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Put your affairs in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ” 

Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Please Lord, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what pleases You.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 

Isaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the Lord came to him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of My people, ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the Lord’s temple. I will add 15 years to your life. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭20:1-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/2ki.20.2-6.HCSB

He did die 15 years later but not after this mishap. 

Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and asked him, “Where did these men come from and what did they say to you? ” 

Hezekiah replied, “They came from a distant country, from Babylon.” 

Isaiah asked, “What have they seen in your palace? ” 

Hezekiah answered, “They have seen everything in my palace. There isn’t anything in my treasuries that I didn’t show them.” 

‘The time will certainly come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. ‘Some of your descendants who come from you will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ 

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good,” for he thought: Why not, if there will be peace and security during my lifetime?

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭20:14-15, 17-19‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/2ki.20.14-19.HCSB

But this time the word of the Lord did not happen until after He died. This happened to Moses, Adam and Eve, and every prophet. God spoke to them and in time all things will be fulfilled that God has said. 

“God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭23:19‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/num.23.19.HCSB

God says, “I have spoken and it will come to pass!”