Amos 1:6-8

Good morning all!  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!
  How is your world this morning?  After April 1st the jokes will subside.  Okay, let us look at Amos 1 verses 6-8 - the judgment upon Philistia.
     ⁶ Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:
   This begins as did verse 3 - remember 3 transgressions or offenses a cup is full; the fourth it overflows and judgment is coming and cannot be turned away.
   
⁷ But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:
⁸ And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.
    This is addressed to Gaza, and the mention of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines lets us know that the prophecy is directed against Philistia as a whole.
    Their crime was the taking of a whole population captive and delivering it over to Edom. who in turn were sold to the Greeks.
     In Gen. 12:3 God promised Abraham he would curse those who curseth thee.  So, Philistia will be held responsible for its treatment of God's people.  This probably refers to Philistia's invasion of Judah during the reign of Jehoram.  Philistia devoured Judah's population, no, Philistia's population will be devoured by God in punishment for their crime.
    Shorter today, but worth the read I pray. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
    Johnny