Amos
8
We’re studying chapter 6 of the book of Amos, the prophet of justice. He begins by delivering a great broadside to the self satisfied and self-pleasing people in both kingdoms, Israel and Judah.
Verse 1 says, “Woe to you who are complacent in Zion – that was Judah’s capital city – and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria – that was Israel’s capital. “You notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!” Pride had really got a hold on these people and their overweening arrogance angered God who resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
The Message Paraphrase Bible starts the chapter this way: “Woe to you who think you live on easy street in Zion, who think Mount Samaria is the good life. You assume you’re at the top of the heap, voted number one best place to live. Well, wake up and look around.”
Amos insists that there’s really nothing to choose between pagan cities such as Calneh and Hamath, both in northern Syria, or the Philistine city of Gath compared with Israel, now she’s forsaken her special relationship with Yahweh due to her practice of disobedience. You’ll remember that in chapter 1 verses 3 to 8, Syria and Philistia had already been condemned and now God’s judgement, like the sword of Damocles, was hanging over Israel. Surely catastrophe was just around the corner!
Amos spells out the problem of their careless, godless lifestyle in verse 3, “ You put off the evil day and bring near a reign of terror. You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.”
Again the Message Paraphrase Bible is most vivid in painting the scene: -
“Woe to those who live only for today, indifferent to the fate of others! Woe to the playboys, the playgirls, who think life is a party held just for them! Woe to those addicted to feeling good – life without pain! Those obsessed with looking good – life without wrinkles! They could not care less about their country going to ruin.”
Complacency and disregard for the needs of others are not insignificant sins. There’s a crucial scripture in Zephaniah chapter 1 verse 12 that makes the same point: “At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.’”
What shocks Amos about the complacent Israelites is that they “do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.” There is an ungodly self-concern, which progressively blinds them to the state of their decadent nation or ‘the ruin of Joseph.’
You recall that Joseph was the teenage lad who wailed his heart out in a deep pit, while his brothers sat down to eat.
God’s verdict on such heartless unconcern for other people is announced in verse 7, “Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.” Suddenly the pleasure-seeking aristocrats of Israel will discover the party’s over.
The Sovereign Lord is outraged at the pride of these people. Their lazy luxury has created in them total indifference to the ruin of the nation. They’ve made a shambles of justice, exploited all and sundry and couldn’t care less. They even brag of their trivial pursuits.
In reality, when the crisis came they had for so long walked out of step with God that there was no liberty nor inclination to mention His name. Why did it happen? Who’s to blame? We’re so used to hearing guilty people protesting their innocence and claiming “We’ve done nothing wrong.”
Surely judgement was invited by the arrogant pride of the Israelites and the lawless conduct of their leaders. Such actions were a provocation to God. The Assyrians were territorially ambitious and God would use them as His rod of punishment to censure His people.
Chapter 6 concludes with a couple of absurdities expressed so graphically in the Living Bible verses 11 to 13, “For the Lord commanded this: That homes both great and small should be smashed to pieces. Can horses run on rocks? Can oxen plough the sea? Stupid even to ask, but no more stupid than what you do when you make a mockery of justice and corrupt and sour all that should be good and right. And just as stupid is your rejoicing in how great you are, when you are less than nothing! And priding yourselves on your own tiny power!”
There are some lessons we need to learn from this sacred history, lest unwarranted self-confidence becomes our downfall.
Are we in danger of confusing assurance with complacency? Are we so settled in our comfort zones, ‘sitting at ease in Zion’, that we’ve ceased to seek the lost?
Amos indicates how ridiculous it is to think a country can continue as a “holy nation” and yet major in exploitation, carnality and godlessness. May the teaching of Amos, the prophet, challenge us to examine our own walk with God. Is it truly godly?