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Amos 5

Amos 5 is a chapter in which the prophet Amos delivers a lament over Israel's sinful state and imminent destruction. Despite Israel's religious rituals, their societal corruption and injustice provoke God's judgment. Amos calls for genuine repentance, urging Israel to seek the Lord and live. He condemns their empty rituals, emphasizing justice and righteousness over sacrifice.

Amos 5:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel:
2 The virgin of Israel has fallen; she will rise no more. She lies forsaken on her land; there is no one to raise her up.
3 For thus says the Lord God: “The city that goes out by a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which goes out by a hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel.”

Amos begins with a lament, expressing sorrow for Israel’s downfall. He refers to Israel as a "virgin," symbolizing purity and potential, now lost. The desolation is so severe that the population will be decimated, leaving only a remnant. This serves as a powerful warning of the consequences of Israel’s rebellion against God.

Amos 5:4-6 (NKJV)
4 For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live;
5 But do not seek Bethel, nor enter Gilgal, nor pass over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing.
6 Seek the Lord and live, lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, with no one to quench it in Bethel.”

Amos calls Israel to seek the Lord rather than idolatrous places like Bethel and Gilgal, known for corrupt worship practices. God warns of impending destruction if they do not repent. Only by turning directly to God can they escape the fire of judgment that threatens to consume them. This invitation underscores God’s desire for Israel’s return.

Amos 5:7 (NKJV)
7 You who turn justice to wormwood, and lay righteousness to rest in the earth!”

Amos condemns Israel’s leaders for perverting justice and trampling righteousness. The reference to “wormwood,” a bitter herb, illustrates how their corruption has made justice unpalatable. By disregarding righteousness, they undermine the foundation of their society, further inviting divine judgment.

Amos 5:8-9 (NKJV)
8 He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning and makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth; the Lord is His name.
9 He rains ruin upon the strong, so that fury comes upon the fortress.

Amos highlights God’s power as Creator and Judge, reminding Israel of His authority over creation and life. By controlling the stars, day and night, and the waters, God demonstrates His sovereignty. He is capable of humbling even the mightiest fortresses, emphasizing that no human power can resist His judgment.

Amos 5:10-12 (NKJV)
10 They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.
11 Therefore, because you tread down the poor and take grain taxes from him, though you have built houses of hewn stone, yet you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink wine from them.
12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: afflicting the just and taking bribes; diverting the poor from justice at the gate.

Amos describes Israel’s social injustices, where the righteous are despised, and the poor are oppressed. Despite their wealth, built through exploitation, their riches will not bring them peace. God sees their corruption, and He promises that they will not enjoy the fruits of their unjust labor, warning that divine justice is imminent.

Amos 5:13 (NKJV)
13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.

Amos observes that the wise remain silent amid such corruption because speaking out is dangerous in this unjust environment. The silence of the prudent underscores the depth of societal decay, as justice is suppressed, and truth is silenced, reflecting the pervasiveness of evil in Israel.

Amos 5:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken.
15 Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Amos urges Israel to pursue goodness and justice, emphasizing repentance as a way to gain life and God’s favor. Seeking good, not merely avoiding evil, shows a sincere commitment to righteousness. If they reestablish justice, God may still show mercy to the remnant, highlighting His willingness to forgive if Israel truly changes.

Amos 5:16-17 (NKJV)
16 Therefore the Lord God of hosts, the Lord, says this: “There shall be wailing in all streets, and they shall say in all the highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’ They shall call the farmer to mourning, and skillful lamenters to wailing.
17 In all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through you,” says the Lord.

The prophecy of widespread mourning reflects the depth of judgment coming upon Israel. No one will escape; from the streets to the fields, sorrow will permeate the land. God’s “passing through” signifies His direct involvement in bringing judgment, echoing the gravity of their sins and the certainty of divine retribution.

Amos 5:18-20 (NKJV)
18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light.
19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

Amos warns those who long for the “day of the Lord,” thinking it will bring victory, that it will instead bring judgment and terror. The day will be filled with inescapable danger, likened to fleeing from one predator only to face another. This vivid imagery serves as a warning that God’s judgment is inescapable and terrifying.

Amos 5:21-24 (NKJV)
21 “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies.
22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.
23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
24 But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

God rejects Israel’s rituals, emphasizing that empty religious practices mean nothing without justice and righteousness. He despises their feasts and sacrifices because they lack genuine devotion. Instead, He desires a society where justice flows freely, showing that moral integrity is more important than religious ceremonies.

Amos 5:25-27 (NKJV)
25 “Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
26 You also carried Sikkuth your king and Chiun, your idols, the star of your gods, which you made for yourselves.
27 Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

Amos concludes by recalling Israel’s idolatry during the wilderness period, showing a longstanding pattern of disobedience. Israel’s reliance on idols rather than the true God will lead them into exile. The mention of “beyond Damascus” foreshadows the Assyrian captivity, underscoring God’s resolve to punish their unfaithfulness.

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