06/14/2017 TEETH
Amos 4:6 “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me,” says the LORD
[Revised Standard translation]
Psalms 3:7 Arise O LORD! Deliver me, O my GOD! Strike all my enemies on the jaw: break the teeth of the wicked.
[New International translation]
BIBLICAL COMMENTS
The Book of Amos was written by the prophet Amos. Amos was not the son of a prophet nor did he come from a line of prophets. Initially, he was not a prophet at all—he was just an ordinary man holding down two jobs---a herdsman and fruit picker. He was by society’s standards just a lowly herdsman (e.g. a shepherd) and a fruit picker. But GOD chose him---Amos. GOD chose just an ordinary man to deliver HIS message.
The book of Amos was written during one of the lowest points in the people’s relationship with and devotion to GOD. Some of the major themes in the Book of Amos include: social justice and GOD’s discipline and divine justice.
The Book of Amos is noted for the use of imagery and language. Amos 4:6 states:
I gave you cleanness of teeth” -- referring to the lack of food and, hence, “clean teeth” the people had when there was famine in the land. This scripture was to remind the people of their suffering if they failed to turn from their wicked ways.
Psalms 3:7 is another scripture evoking the use of imagery and language. Here the writer of the psalm compares “all [his] enemies” to the situation of being surrounded by wild breasts (e.g. lions or other animals with sharp teeth). Every shepherd and herdsman knew that when a wild breast bares its teeth, indicating that they were ready to spring and devour, that this was an ultimate time of danger. One of the ways a shepherd might disarm a wild beast is to strike the animal in the jaw and break its teeth, thus rendering the animal harmless. This is what the psalmist prays that GOD will do to all his enemies, namely deprive them of the power (their teeth) to do him any harm.
Even in Biblical times, people understood the importance of teeth.