Amos 2b: Only God can save the rebellious saved – not their own power and speed. 

…6: Thus said Yehoweh over three Israel (God-Strife) rebellion-sins, and over four, I will cause them to not turn back from the sale of a righteous poor (one’s) silver over shoelaces,

7: panting over the dust of the first (head / first on the list) land of the low (ones) and causing to spread out over the ways (ways and means) of the poor (ones).

A man and his father traverse over the young woman in order to start to make an opening wedge on My Holy Name.

8: And in loaned clothes they cause bending beside every altar and drink fined (imposed levy) wine in their God’s house.

9: And (it was) I who had caused the Amorite (driven-out Cananites) to be brought to nought before their faces! He who was lofty as cedars, lofty and powerful as oaks.

And I caused his fruit above and his roots below to be brought to nought.

10: And (it was) I who had caused you to ascend from the land of Egypt, and caused you to walk for forty years to seize the land of the Amorite.

11: And from your young men,  I caused to raise up to prophets (inspired sigers or speakers – John the Baptist), to Nazarites (consecrated ones – Yshua). Indeed, sons of Israel, is this not The Word Yehoweh?

12: And you cause the Nazarites to drink wine (Ps 69:21, Mt 27:34, Mk 15:23, Jn 19:29,30) ! And you commanded the prophets to say no to prophesying (Mt 13:57, Lk 4: 24,29 in Nazareth),  

13: Behold, I, (am) squashed by-you-by-yourselves, like  the overloaded cart into which squash sheaves. 

14: And the quick to the bunker perished!

And the strong does not strengthen (their grip) on power.

And the valiant does not deliver his own soul.

15:  And the bow grabber does not take a stand,

And quick footed does not deliver,

And the horse rider does not deliver his soul.

16: And the strong hearted mighty ones nakedly flee in That Day (of) The Word Yehoweh.

Phew!

Prayer:

Lord forgive me for squashing You by thinking that being Christian gives me protection. Your first chosen people Israel who rebelled and oppressed their own poor and were misogynist could not save their souls by their strength or speed.  I acknowledge my presumptiousness. I will not squash achievements  on You claiming them to be mine. Forgive me for nailing You on the cross and then trying to minimize Your pain with cheap wine. Forgive me for rejecting You, The Word of God, when You prophetically challenged my narrative. I will remember and glorify You, My Lord and My God. Amen.