"Damacus,... Gaza,... Tyre,... Edom,... Ammonites,... Moab,... Judah,... and Israel... Thus says the Lord: 'For three transgressions of [to all those people of their nation], and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because..."
Their transgressions are listed. They are WANTED. But Israel had the longest list than other nations in the book of Amos! Why did God rebuke Israel the most in this book? Naturally, God will discipline the one He loves the most. The disciplinary action letter shows that the people of Israel is special in His eyes.
Only Israel had this specific transgression listed:
"And I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel? But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, 'You shall not prophesy.'... For the Lord God does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?"
Wow! God will do nothing without first telling the prophets His whole story?! It's amazing how God won't unleash anything until He shared something with His people, the prophets! Why is it bad to make Nazirites to drink wine? It is Nazirites' vows that keep them separated from other people. They vowed not to drink wine, to refrain from cutting the hair, and to avoid any corpses and graves (even family). God showed His love by disciplining Israel the most, but He protects those two: prophets and Nazirites. Why did He protects them?
After reading this, I also began to understand and love those two as well! The Nazirites showed their disciplinary action by keeping their vows. They didn't change their mind and sway, but they remained firm in their vows. Although the prophets may drink their wine without displeasing God, but when a Nazirite drank a wine it will displease God because they broke their vow. Nazirites are those who are physically disciplined "Walk the Talk". While the prophets are those who are spiritually "a great listener".
We need to have some Nazirite and prophetical characteristics in us. Those people with Nazirite characteristics may seem rigid to some of us. Why didn't they loosen themselves up? Why did they refused to drink one ounce of alcohol? Why do they have to be dressy at all times? But you forgot all about their good side - their disciplinary action vowed to God. They may be boring, but they may be consistent and determined to finish their race. Those people with prophetical characteristics may seem crazy to some of us. Why didn't they plan anything specifically? Why didn't they meet the deadlines accurately? Why did they throw those unexpected things upon us? But you forgot all about their good side - their flexibility in obedience as they listen to Him.
But it's worthless for us to be like Nazirites or to be like prophets if we haven't love.
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