Bible Commentaries
Amos 5

Verses 1-5

Amo 5:1-5

REVELATION CALLS FOR REPENTANCE—

GOD’S WORD AGAINST ISRAEL

TEXT: Amos 5:1-5

Amos wants to impress even more dramatically before Israel her headlong rush into ruin, destruction and captivity. He does so by setting before Israel Jehovah God as the Fountain head of life and the destiny of the centers of idolatry.

Amos 5:1-2 . . . A LAMENTATION OVER YOU . . . THE VIRGIN OF ISRAEL IS FALLEN . . . Amos the prophet, on behalf of God, begins chanting Israel’s funeral dirge. And this at the very apex of her prosperity! One can surely visualize with what unpopularity Amos’ preaching would be greeted in Israel! He is mocked, ridiculed and slandered as a preacher of “doom” and a pessimist, The phrase “virgin of Israel,” is a “poetical personification of the population of a city or of a kingdom, as a daughter,” with a further idea of being unconquerable expressed by the term “virgin.” God had intended Israel’s destiny to be one of separateness from the heathen world and as a result He would keep her inviolate from foreign invaders. Israel was to be pure, chaste, protected, untouched—but now she has played the harlot and she will be attacked, ravaged and brought to a violent end! For other figurative uses of “virgin” in this same sense see Isaiah 47:1-2, etc. When God gives her up to be spoiled by foreign invaders there will be none to help her!

Zerr: Amos 5:1. The severe denunciations which the Lord expresses against the people from time to time should not be interpreted as an indication of bit-terness. He is grieved at the wrongs of the nation (hat has always been favored with divine assistance, and these strong declarations are prompted by the spirit of sorrow, hence are said to be in the form of a lamentation. Amos 5:2. The word virgin Is often applied to God’s people because the first definition of the original is, "to separate." Israel had been separated from the other nations of the world to be the Lord’s own special people (Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2), hence the term virgin is an appropriate one. Shall no more rise denotes that Israel had sunk so low as a nation that it would not be able to rise above the fate of the siege and captivity threatened.

Amos 5:3-5 . . . THE CITY THAT WENT FORTH A THOUSAND SHALL HAVE A HUNDRED LEFT . . . SEEK YE ME, AND YE SHALL LIVE . . . BUT SEEK NOT BETH-EL, NOR . . . GILGAL . . . BEER-SHEBA . . . Amos is not attempting to be mathematically precise when he predicts that only ten per cent of each city will be saved from total destruction, he is merely speaking figuratively (cf. Isaiah 6:13) to say that only a very small remnant of the whole nation will be saved from utterly perishing. This was fulfilled exactly (cf. 2 Kings 17). Such total ruin would, of course, be the fartherest thing from the minds of most of the people of Israel in these days of peace, luxury, prosperity and influence. Much like the people of the Roman empire just before its fall was the attitude of the people of Israel. We are fearful that there are many Americans who cannot see the danger signs in our generation—crime, government corruption, lewdness, selfishness, anarchy, and perversion of standards in almost every avenue of life from sex to art and music to law and order!

Zerr: Amos 5:3, The nation was destined to be greatly reduced by the exile as Indicated by the contrasting terms thousand and hundred. It is a prediction of the remnant that was salvaged from the captivity, and the fulfillment is in Ezra 2:1 ff. Amos 5:4. Seek ye me and ye shall live presents the same apparent contradiction that has been mentioned several times. The explanation lies in the distinction between the nation as a whole, and certain individuals in it. See the long note on the subject, offered with comments on 2 Kings 22:17. Amos 5:5. The significance of Bethel is in the fact that It was one of the places where the first king of the 10- tribe kingdom of Israel erected an idol calf, and the nation had practiced idolatry ever since. Gilgal is the place where the first king of Judah committed his first great sin after entering upon the throne (1 Samuel 10:8; 1 Samuel 13:5-14). Beer-sheba was once a stronghold of idolatry and hence not a proper place to receive a favorable impression on the subject of service to God.

Yet God pleads with Israel once more. Seek Me, and live! Jehovah is the Spring of Life (cf. Jeremiah 2:13; Psalms 36:10); He is longsuffering and does not take pleasure in the death of any of His creatures (cf. Ezekiel 18:31-32; 2 Peter 3:9). But Jehovah can only be sought and found through His revelation! They will not find Him at Bethel or Gilgal or Beersheba. These are centers of idolatry, false teaching, false worship; they will find there only ruin, destruction and captivity for that is what God has planned for these places! Beersheba, although in Judah the southern kingdom, is mentioned evidently because, being sacred to Jewish history (Genesis 21:33; Genesis 26:24; Genesis 46:1) it had been made into a place of idolatrous worship, to which people of the northern kingdom went on pilgrimages frequently.

Irresponsible conduct, whether within or without the religious structures of the day, cannot continue unabated without experiencing inevitable retribution. This is a moral law of the universe just as inevitable as any physical “law of nature!” If man will not hear the word of God warning of judgment in His revelation, it is only left for man to experience that judgment in history. Amos proclaimed that Israel was dead! The people did not know it, nor did they want to know it (Amos 7:10 ff)! Although Israel continued to flourish for almost forty years after Amos’ prophecy before national extinction came, yet, for all practical purposes, she was dead when Amos was preaching; thus he speaks of her future as if it were already present. Is it only extreme pessimism to say, “America is dead?” Could there be any parallel between Israel’s condition and America’s? If so, there must be a parallel looked for in their destinies! Perhaps it is not yet too late for America, even as it was not too late for Israel. Perhaps if America will seek Jehovah in His revelation—His word—she will find Him and live. Only let her not seek life in the many idols her people have made for there she will find only false teaching, false worship and death!

Questions

1. What is a “lamentation” and why did Amos begin one over Israel?

2. Why did he refer to Israel as a “fallen virgin?”

3. Why make a contrast between seeking Jehovah and Bethel, Gilgal or Beersheba?

4. Could there be a parallel between Israel’s condition and America’s?

Verses 1-9

Amo 5:1-9

Amos calls upon Israel to “seek” the Lord (Amos 5:1-9)

“Hear ye this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel. The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is cast down upon her land; there is none to raise her up. For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went forth a hundred shall have ten left, to the house of Israel” (Amos 5:1-3).

God has revealed His divine secrets to Amos regarding the end of Israel (cf. Amos 3:7). The Northern nation has been likened unto a virgin who has been defiled by sexual immorality. She has committed spiritual adultery in that she has turned to idolatry and forgotten God (cf. Hosea 11:2; Amos 2:6-8; Amos 5:26). The Lord has pronounced the fall of Israel as a nation. Though Israel may call upon other nations to help none will avail (cf. Hosea 7:11). Jehovah will cut down each city of Israel by 90 percent.

“For thus saith Jehovah unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live; but seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought. Seek Jehovah, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be none to quench it in Bethel” (Amos 5:4-6).

Though no other peoples or idols will be able to “raise her up” God can. The Lord has one request for His people to meet in order to avert disaster. That one request is that they “seek” God “and ye shall live” rather than turning to the idols of Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba. A reoccurring theme that runs throughout the word of God is that the Lord desires people to serve Him because this is their true inner desire (1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Matthew 22:37-38 etc.). The idea of “seeking” after God is comparable to “calling” upon the name of Jehovah; i.e., invoking or appealing to God for help in this life (cf. Joel 2:32). Those who seek God’s forgiveness, mercy, and physical and spiritual sustenance shall not be disappointed. Those who do not “seek” Jehovah God will certainly face a fiery judgment.

“Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth, seek him that makes the Pleiades and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night; that calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth (Jehovah is his name); that brings sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress” (Amos 5:7-9).

Amos, once again, exposes the sins of Israel (cf. Amos 2:6-8). Justice (doing right in business dealings, civil courts, and spiritual service) had become bitter as wormwood in that it did not measure up to God’s will. Not only justice but righteousness was not to be found among the masses of Israelites. Their minds were set on their gain at the expense of the just, righteous, and poor. Israel ought to be motivated to “seek him” due to His omnipotent power (see also Amos 4:12-13). God’s omnipotence is seen in that He made the “Pleiades and Orion.” The Pleiades is “an open star cluster in the constellation Taurus, consisting of several hundred stars, of which six are visible to the naked eye” (AHD 952). Orion is “a constellation in the celestial equator near Gemini and Taurus containing the stars Betelgeuse and Rigel” (AHD 877). God’s omnipotence is seen in that he “turns the shadow of death into the morning.” The dark shadows of judgment may be turned into rays of hope if men would turn and seek Him. God brings the rains upon the earth with His great power. God can bring down the strong man and strong city.

Verses 6-13

Amo 5:6-13

REVELATION CALLS FOR REPENTANCE—

GOD’S OMNIPOTENCE AND OMNISCIENCE

TEXT: Amos 5:6-13

God, through the prophet Amos, reveals the corruption of the Israelites thus displaying His omniscience and contrasts that with His omnipotence in creation and government. This adds force to the warning and the predictions of judgment.

Amos 5:6 SEEK JEHOVAH, AND YE SHALL LIVE; LEST HE BREAK OUT LIKE FIRE . . . The prophet repeats his call to the people that Jehovah (which includes His Word for this is where He has revealed His person and His will) is their source of life. To turn to Him is the only alternative to inevitable destruction. If they do not seek Him (where He is supposed to be sought) He will “break out” like a fire, He will become a roaring inferno which will consume the whole nation of Israel (house of Joseph) and none of their false gods and false religious practices at Bethel will be able to stop the judgment; they are powerless, they are dumb (cf. Isaiah 41:21-29; Isaiah 44:6-20). He is omnipotent; He has the authority and power to grant life or He has the authority and power to take it away. Israel must choose the alternative course from the one she is now following if she would have life.

Zerr: Amos 5:6. Seek the Lord and ye shall live is commented on in Amos 5:4.

Amos 5:7-9 YE . . . TURN JUSTICE TO WORMWOOD . . . SEEK HIM THAT MAKETH THE PLEIADES . . . AND . . . SHADOW OF DEATH INTO . . . MORNING . . . AND MAKETH THE DAY DARK WITH NIGHT . . . THAT CALLETH FOR THE WATERS OF THE SEA . . . THAT BRINGETH SUDDEN DESTRUCTION . . . Wormwood is a species of plant related to our western sagebrush. It was the oriental source of a much used oil obtained from the dried leaves and tops of the plant. Absinthe, a liqueur, the continuous use of which leads to mental deterioration and even death, derives its flavor from this oil (cf. Lamentations 3:15; Lamentations 3:19). The plant is a symbol of bitterness. The rich and powerful of Israel had perverted justice (that which is supposed to be sweet, pure, refreshing and vital) into bitterness and rottenness. They were wiping their feet on every semblance of right—they had trampled it down to the ground. It is difficult to imagine a society so corrupt. Yet history records other eras just as corrupt (e.g. last days of Roman empire; Dark Ages). In certain areas of our big cities justice is just as severely perverted. But again, the Lord appeals to the people on the basis of His omnipotence. Contrasted with their present condition of being in the darkness of sin, He who made the starry heavens is able to turn their deepest misery into the glorious light of morning. He is also able to take what may appear to their sin-seared consciences as prosperity and turn it into a dark night of adversity, This calls to our mind the sublime statement of God’s sovereignty in Isaiah 45:5-7; “I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you, though you do not know me, that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe, I am the Lord, who do all these things.” This passage is in a context where God, through Isaiah, is foretelling (by approximately 200 years before his birth) of the service Cyrus, future king of Persia, is going to render to God and His people! Blessing and curse both come from the Lord to serve His sovereign purposes—it is up to man to choose which he will have! Yes, He even commands the seas and the rivers and brings about the catastrophic floods with sudden destruction upon wickedness. Man will never build a fortress, a bomb shelter, or an underground command complex strong enough to withstand the hand of the Omnipotent God!

Zerr: Amos 5:7. Wormwood was a very bitter substance and is used much as a figurative likeness of any unpleasant experience. The leaders in Israel were selfish and regulated the lives of others in view of their own personal interests. Instead of dealing justly with those who looked to them for advice and decisions in times of difficulty, they deprived them of their rights and thus turned their case into bitterness. Amos 5:8. Seven stars is the same as Pleiades In Job 9:9 the cluster of stars that is popularly called “the seven sisters," and Orion is defined by Strong, "Any notable constellation." Instead of being interested in the gods of the heathen, Israel is exhorted to seek the Maker of these heavenly bodies. He is the one who can rule day and night and turn one into the other at will; who can control the mighty waters of the sea and use them in whatsoever manner He pleases. Amos 5:9. Strengtheneth the spoiled means to support the man who has been overcome by a stronger force, and enable him to turn against his oppressor successfully.

Amos 5:10-12 THEY HATE HIM THAT REPROVETH IN THE GATE . . . YE HAVE BUILT HOUSES OF HEWN STONE, BUT YE SHALL NOT DWELL IN THEM . . . FOR I KNOW HOW MANIFOLD ARE YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS . . . Now the omniscience of the Lord is revealed. He is not blind and deaf! He knows both the multitude and the magnitude of their sins. They despise anyone who takes a stand for righteousness and justice. The only persons they like are those who trample and oppress the poor and demand bribes for judgments. This reminds us of the words of Jesus, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world . . . therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). “Birds of a feather, flock together!” From their “blood money” they have built magnificent plantations—great houses and rich vineyards. How many tears and moans of the starving went into the ill-gotten gain of the rich and influential one can only guess! They have built them, but they shall not dwell in them—they shall not enjoy the harvest of their vineyards. The Lord will fulfill His threat (Deuteronomy 28:30; Micah 6:15; Zephaniah 1:13), for He knows the arrogance and evil of the rich and He hears the groans and supplications of the oppressed.

Zerr: Amos 5:10. This verse describes a kind of character that has existed ever since there has been man on the earth. It is not always manifested in the same way, but the principle is the same. The reason a man is hated who rebukes sin is that the person rebuked realizes he is guilty and does not want to be reminded of It. The rebuke does not always have to be done directly or in words. It may be done by the righteous life of one in contrast with the wicked life of the other, the good life being a silent rebuke to the other. It is thus we read about the first family where Cain and Abel had their experience. There is nothing said about Abel’s rebuking Cain verbally, but his righteous life was a stinging rebuke of Cain’s evil one. So John says that Cain slew Abel "because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous (1 John 3:12).” The people of Israel did not like to be told of their sins, so they insisted that the teachers give them messages that suited them (Jeremiah 5; Isaiah 30:10). Since the people wanted the teachers to give this false instruction, they catered to them and hence brought upon them the wrath of God. Another had thing that resulted from the practice of false teaching was the chance it gave them of making improper rules of conduct, and that also opened the way for them to impose upon the poor. Amos 5:11. We should remember that the rebuking running through most of these verses is addressed chiefly to the leaders of the nation who took advantage of their standing to oppress the poor. They forced them to furnish unjust portions of their crops so that they could live in luxury. They had also indulged themselves with costly houses and had planted vineyards to suit their own extravagant desires. But God now warns them that it will all be taken from them and their luxurious provisions will he in vain. Amos 5:12. Everything that is done is open before the eyes of the Lord. The leaders took advantage of their position to oppress the poor so that they could enlarge their own possessions. Not only so, but if some one of the poor had the misfortune of being treated with fraud in a deal, it would not avail him anything to appeal to these leaders who were the rulers, for they could be bribed by the fraudulent dealers to render a verdict against the victim.

There are two false concepts the people had of Jehovah God. First, they believed He could be worshiped apart from His own revelation of Himself. Second, they believed that their conduct toward their fellow man had no bearing on their relationship to God. These are exactly the two main concepts John the apostle deals with in his First epistle, (cf. 1 John 2:3-4; 1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:11-24; 1 John 4:1-12; 1 John 4:20-21, etc.). We must seek God, that is we must learn about Him, obey Him and worship Him, only as we are guided by His revelation of Himself in His delivered Word. At the same time we must love men as He loves them. To turn aside the needy manifests a hatred of God regardless of how many worship rituals we may observe!

Amos 5:13 THEREFORE HE THAT IS PRUDENT SHALL KEEP SILENCE IN SUCH A TIME . . . It is difficult for us to understand this as a divine injunction. In the light of Amos’ actions in not remaining silent and the many exhortations in both Old and New Testaments toward speaking the Word of God against social injustices, we prefer to understand this as another of Amos’ rebukes couched in irony and sarcasm. Some men may never know the reality of the suffering of the oppressed and poor because of their failure to take time to consider it as a real problem. Others do not know of it because they have forced themselves to ignore it, not wanting to be troubled with “the other fellow’s problem.” Humanity can be sure of this: God knows it, and in the long stretch of history will act to bring it to an end. A society built on injustice and fed on the sufferings of the oppressed can never stand.

Zerr: Amos 5:13. A prudent man is one who does not "speak out of turn," and in the present case it means not to speak any word of protest against what the Lord is threatening to do. The times are so evil that all wise men should endorse the Lord’s judgments. A prudent man is wise in that he knows when to keep his mouth shut.

The social and political situation had so deteriorated in the day of Amos that the “smart” man would either join the “establishment” or keep quiet. The same situation prevails in every generation. It even drifts into the religious society. The advice comes constantly, “Don’t get excited, don’t get carried away, don’t become a fanatic or preacher of doom. Keep your nose out of it. Play it cool—be wise—keep your mouth shut. It’s just best not to get mixed up in any way with things going on in these evil times!” But there is one who will not keep silent. God will not keep silent, for He has spoken once for all in the New Testament on such injustice and He has warned His people to speak out against it also. He will continue to speak if voices will rise up in this generation who are wise enough that they will not keep silent like Amos (cf. also Ezekiel 33:1-16). Human personality cannot be abused for personal gain without Divine retribution. Let us pray that our generation learns this lesson from God’s Book before it has to experience God’s judgment!

Questions

1. What two alternatives are offered to the people of Israel by Amos?

2. What was the omnipotent God able to do with their wretched condition, if they repented? If they did not repent, what then?

3. How does God use “weal and woe”? Quote scripture proof!

4. Why does the world hate those who stand for righteousness?

5. What two false concepts did Israel have concerning Jehovah God?

6. What did Amos mean by “. . . the prudent will keep silent”?

Verses 10-13

Amo 5:10-13

Amos’ days were “evil times” (Amos 5:10-13)

“They hate him that reproves in the gate, and they abhor him that speaks uprightly. Foreasmuch therefore as ye trample upon the poor, and take exactions from him of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink the wine thereof” (Amos 5:10-11).

Apparently Israel had some just judges that reproved sinful activity and spoke uprightly. Said judges were hated by the people because they put a barrier of resistance to their illegal operations. Many of the Israelites were out to make a dollar at the expense of others. The wicked among Israel stole from the poor and built beautiful houses for themselves. The Lord said that those who do such things will have no time in those luxurious homes to enjoy them because He will remove them.

“For I know how manifold are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins – ye that afflict the just, that take a bribe, and that turn aside the needy in the gate from their right” (Amos 5:12).

The omniscience of God is depicted in that he sees and knows all the secret sins of the people’s hearts and outward doings. Three sins of Israel are specifically mentioned to identify them as “mighty” sinners. Israel “afflicted the just” in that they apparently persecuted them (cf. 2 Timothy 3:12). Israel’s character was one of irritation when someone tried to halt their sinful activities. Israel took “bribes” to do unrighteous and unjust acts. Israel’s character is revealed to be more interested in money than doing what was right. Israel’s character was one of selfishness as well. When there was a needy one who begged for help they thumbed their nose up at him.

“Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time” (Amos 5:13).

Times such as these ought to cause the “prudent” to remain silent. The “prudent” man was defined by Hosea as one who is wise and understands that the “ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein” (Hosea 14:9). The prudent of Amos’ day may see brethren doing all manner of evil yet as he assess the prevailing character among the people he ought to determine that it will only cause harm to speak up. The people were far past reproof. Those who did try to help them were only persecuted. Amos identifies his days as, “an evil time.”

Verses 14-20

Amo 5:14-20

The Day of Jehovah (Amos 5:14-20)

“Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be with you, as ye say. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph” (Amos 5:14-15).

The wording seems to favor the thought that rather than seeking good they were seeking evil. Amos gives Israel words of hope. They may live if only they would seek after “the God of hosts.” God would be with them “as ye say.” Israel was saying that God was with them even though they had cast off justice and righteousness. Mental delusion through ignorance of God’s will for man govern their hearts. This type of Delusion is described by Jeremiah regarding the Southern kingdom of Judah. They considered themselves to be without sin (Jeremiah 2:35; Jeremiah 16:10) and that their worship was acceptable to God (Jeremiah 6:20; Jeremiah 11:15; Jeremiah 14:11-12; Jeremiah 26:2). Judah had considered themselves wise (Jeremiah 8:8). When captivity came upon them they said, “Why are all these things happening to us?” (cf. Jeremiah 13:22; Jeremiah 16:10). A disposition and or character of “hate” toward “evil” deeds and “love” toward justice and righteousness would certainly reveal a heart that had turned to God.

“Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the Lord: Wailing shall be in all the broad ways; and they shall say in all the streets, Alas! Alas! And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful in lamentation to wailing. And in all vineyards shall be wailing; for I will pass through the midst of thee, saith Jehovah” (Amos 5:16-17).

God’s judgment against Israel’s wicked behavior will be a day of great mourning and wailing. Sad hearts will prevail as the people look out over a desolated land and dead loved ones. The joy of luxury and plenty will be taken away.

“Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah? It is darkness, and not light” (Amos 5:18).

Those who truly believe that God is with them even though they do deeds of wickedness are actually those who “desire the day of Jehovah.” There is no fear of God’s judgments because they do not think they are doing anything wrong. So far removed were they from God’s word that they actually believed that all was well. Many live likeminded today. As long as one believes his acts are right he has no fear of God. Unfortunately, one’s ideas or beliefs of right and wrong will not be the standard they are judged by. Israel’s arrogance is depicted in that they measured their standing with God not by His word but by their own ideas of what was right for the times they lived in. Amos tells such people that they better look at their lives again. God’s judgment day is a dark and horrid time. Judgment, in addition to God’s omnipotence and omniscience, should have motivated them to repent of their sins (cf. Amos 4:12-13; Amos 5:8-9).

“As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:19-20).

The horrors of God’s judgments against the ungodly will be dark days of no escape. The wicked shall flee in darkness from the lion only to be met and devoured by a bear. Other wicked men shall flee to their luxurious homes for safety only to be met and killed by serpents. The unrepenting people shall not escape the judgment of God. The darkest of all gloomy days awaits them.

Verses 21-27

Amo 5:21-27

God has rejected Israel’s Worship (Amos 5:21-27)

“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:21-24).

Here was a people whose character was very disturbing; i.e., a people agitated by those who tried to uphold God’s laws, more concerned with gain than doing what was right, and selfish in relationship to helping others who were in need (cf. Amos 5:12). Though these traits describe their outlook on life they continued to believe and say that God was with them (cf. Amos 5:14).

It is clear that Israel continued to worship God making sacrifices and singing songs of praise to Him. God’s omniscient eyes; however, saw and had knowledge of all their wicked ways. We learn a lesson here. God does not receive the worship of those whose hearts are bent on unlawful practices (cf. Amos 4:4-5). One cannot possibly think that God will accept their worship when their hearts are far from Him and His word (cf. Matthew 15:8-9). The prophet Isaiah laid down the same principle at Isaiah 1:11 ff.

Rather than making meaningless sacrifices and going through the mechanical motions of worship the Lord proclaims, “But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” Let us all cast off works of darkness and worship God by His prescribed manner because our hearts so desire justice and righteousness!

“Did ye bring unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? Yea, ye have borne the tabernacle of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith Jehovah, whose name is the God of hosts” (Ano 5:25-27).

Apparently during the forty years that Israel wandered in the wilderness for an evil report of the land of Canaan they worshipped God by mingling idolatry with His prescribed worship.

Amos refers to the idol that was introduced into the Jehovah worship as “the star of your god.” Israel had made a shrine and worshipped the idol as though it were God. Israel had continued this melting pot religion even until this later date. Due to such depraved and self-delusional worship the Lord would send them into captivity to the land of the Assyrians.

Verse 24

Amo 5:24

REVOLUTION OR REGENERATION

Amos 5:24

INTRODUCTION

I. MAN’S REDEMPTION, TRANSFORMATION, REGENERATION IS TO BE ACTED OUT OR EXPRESSED IN SOCIAL RELATIONS

A. God created man; He created this world order

1. He has not abdicated His sovereignty over this order

2. He maintains His sovereignty and moral government by holding the world responsible to His revealed Will

B. All men and nations are responsible to God for moral uprightness and just social behavior

1. The O.T. prophets spoke principles and guidelines for social relations which are as relevant today as they were 2500 years ago . . .

2. These same principles are amplified and confirmed by Jesus Christ and His apostles

II. GOD’S WORD JUDGES EVERY HUMAN CULTURE AND INSTITUTION

A. The U.S.S.R AND CHINA are as much “under God” as the U.S.A., because God is infinite, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. HE TRANSCENDS ALL POWERS AS WELL AS ALL THE LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN ABILITIES, INSTITUTIONS AND NATIONS. HE IS THE SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE

1. Cf. Amos 1-2; Isaiah 13-23; Jer., Ezek., etc. Daniel

2. "It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me . . .” Jeremiah 27:5

III. PRIVILEGE BRINGS RESPONSIBILITY

A. If God expected so much of Israel and Judah in Amos’ day in social justice because they were witnesses of the One True God,

B. How much more does he require of U.S.A. since we have so long had the glorious gospel and providential grace of God in material means?!

IV. GOD’S WAY OF BRINGING ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE

A. He did not call upon Israel to send a Senate Investigation Committee to discover the causes and recommend cures for the nations problem—HE REVEALED IT . . . SIN WAS THE CAUSE . . . REPENTANCE THE CURE

B. He did not send a Ph.D., an URBANOLOGIST, SOCIOLOGIST, OR SHEEPHERDER AND FRUITPICKER TO SIMPLY DECLARE WITH CONVICTION AND CLARITY THE REVEALED WORD OF GOD!

C. God did not call upon Israel’s government to provide a massive welfare war on poverty, to pass a sword-control bill. He called upon them to obey the Divine Law

1. Amos did not preach civil disobedience to the poor, he preached obedience to God to all

2. Israel did not need a great politician, organizer, economist, legislator . . . SHE NEEDED A GREAT PREACHER, A HEARLD OF THE TRUTH, A CONSCIENCE-STABBING CRYER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, A WARRIOR OF THE FAITH!

SO THIS MAN AMOS, NOT A PROFESSIONAL CLERGYMAN, NOT A SIGN-CARRYING RIOTER, NOT AN ORGANIZER OF MARCHES . . . BUT A MAN ALL ALONE, WHO BELIEVED GOD AND HAD THE COURAGE TO PREACH GOD’S MESSAGE, HAS A RELEVANT MESSAGE FOR OUR SOCIETY TODAY!

DISCUSSION

I. THE SOCIAL SICKNESS OF ISRAEL’S DECADENT SOCIETY CLOSELY PARALLELS THAT OF OUR OWN

A. "They have forgotten how to do right, says the Lord, They maintain their palaces by the fruit of violence and robbery.” Phillips, Amos 3:10

1. Violence and crime in our world is at an appalling level!

2. 15 yr. olds commit more serious crimes than any other age group; 1/6 boy is referred to the juvenile court; in 1965 more than 2 million Americans were sentenced to prison; 40% of all male children will be arrested sometime in their lives for something more serious than traffic violations; 3 million crimes reported in 1965 while in some places only 1/10th of certain crimes are reported

3. In all large cities no one is safe on the streets after dark; THERE ARE MANY WHO ARE ADVOCATING THE BURNING DOWN OF CITIES, RIOTING, CIVIL REVOLUTION! Gangs of wild, thrill-seeking, cruel, cold-blooded boys and girls roam the streets, even of Joplin!

4. Organized Crime like the Mafia, etc., control great institutions and organizations and often city governments and political parties!

B. Indulgent luxury and sensual excess; “. . . at ease in Zion lying upon beds of ivory, eat lambs from the flock . . . sing idle songs . . . drink wine in bowls . . . anoint themselves with finest oils . . .” Amos 6:1-6 a.

1. Indulgence and excess is rampant all over the world among the rich and poor, in every realm possible

2. Indulgence in building expensive homes and clothes

3. Excess in eating, obesity, have to take pills, etc.

4. Excessive indulgence in frivolity, recreation, etc.

5. Excess in alcohol are ruining us. Yale School of Alcohol Studies, drinking cause of 20% of all divorces, 25% of all insanity, 37% of all poverty, 47% of all child misery, 50% of all crimes, 50% of all traffic deaths; industry looses 60 million man hours and 1 billion a year in wages due to alcohol absenteeism; Hoover says 5 billion a year is spent to combat crime due to liquor drinking. This is 1 billion more than total revenue received by federal government for liquor sold!!!

6. We have so indulged in sex it is openly perverted . . . homosexual wedding performed in Rotterdam by catholic priest . . . plays on Broadway now have naked women and men on stage and roaming through audience . . . a movie about the love of two lesbians for one another is being shown in New York.

In one play, Time describes, “In full light, and facing the audience, the unclothed heroine knelt on a table throughout the play as a symbol of passive white idealism. A fully dressed Negro, symbolizing angry black nationalism, devours her.” THE DECADENT CANAANITE, GREEK AND ROMAN THEATRES HAD NOTHING ON THOSE OF U.S.A.!

7. We indulgently pay money to see such things . . . corrupt-minded movie stars make millions of dollars off indulgent society . . . sports heroes are paid fabulous salaries . . . so-called entertainers are millionaires over night simply for sitting and spouting obscenities on the T.V.

C. Oppression of the poor: “. . . cows of Bashan, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy . . . trample the poor . . . afflict the righteous, turn aside the needy . . .” (cf. Amos 4:1; Amos 5:11-12; Amos 8:4-6)

1. Like it or not there are people all over the world who make their living by oppressing the poor . . . yes, even here in Joplin

2. Loan sharks; those who exploit people by bring young girls into prostitution to escape poverty; criminals who exploit the poor by selling them numbers or other forms of gambling; people who pay less than fair wages simply because of a persons color or nationality

3. Like it or not some people in America have been denied the opportunities others have simply because they were black-skinned, were Mexican nationality, were poorly dressed, etc. I have lived in the South, and the West and the North and it is all the same! Greed, prejudice, SIN causes men to oppress one another!

4. GOD WILL NOT HOLD THE OPPRESSORS OF THE POOR GUILTLESS . . . NEITHER WILL HE HOLD GUILTLESS THOSE WHO KNOW IT AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT! ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO OUGHT TO BE REGENERATING SOCIETY BY PREACHING REPENTANCE TO THE OPPRESSORS, AND HOPE TO THE OPPRESSED!

D. Perverting Justice and Righteousness: “O you who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth . . . you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe . . . they hate him who reproves in the gate . . . abhor him who speaks the truth” (Amos 5:7; Amos 5:10; Amos 5:12)

1. Convicted criminals go unpunished because of political pressures on courts and judges or because of outright bribes

2. Looters encouraged to rob, destroy because politicians want votes

3. Rich and influential able to get by with flouting tax laws, and other laws the poor and middle class would not

4. International criminals violate our sovereignty and we do nothing

5. Our boys dying in V.N. while our so-called allies ship our enemies food and arms

6. Those who stand for truth, justice, law and order, smeared as fanatics, extremists

E. Apathy—Indifference “. . . but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph . . .” Amos 6:6 b

1. None seem to have the courage to speak out against evil and in favor of righteousness

2. Too many have it too good . . . and those who do not have it so good want to change the situation only in terms of materialistic values!

Rolland Steever says in Christian Standard, July 6, 1968, Christ in the Ghettos . . . “We cannot turn our faces away and fearfully hope that this situation will go away. It will not!”

3. People have made sin respectable by euphemizing it . . . the godless liquor traffic is now called “tavern, grill, nightclub, cocktail lounge.” Drunkeness is called “illness of alcoholism.” Youthful crime is called “juvenile delinquency”. Pornography is called “realism,” Divorce and sexual promiscuity are recommended as producing maturity for later marital relations, immodest dress is called “fashionable.” Dope addition is called “escapeism.”

4. 10 or 12 people stand by and watch a pregnant school teacher attacked and raped in Kansas City. Others watch while a gang kick an old man to death in New York park.

LEGISLATORS AND JUSTICES SEEM UNCONCERNED OR PARALYZED BY FEAR TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE MORAL ANARCHY EXCEPT VOTE MORE MONEY HANDOUTS AS RANSOMS

POLITICIANS HAVE PROPOSED EVERY PANACEA POSSIBLE AND ALL THEIR SCHEMES ONLY ADD MORE PROBLEMS TO THE PROBLEM SCIENCE’S SOLUTIONS ARE SUPERFICIAL AND SHALLOW

EDUCATION IS EXTRANEOUS AND IRRELEVANT TO THE PREDICAMENT

WHAT ARE WE TO DO? WHERE ARE WE TO TURN? WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

II. THE CAUSE OF ISRAEL’S DECADENCE PARALLELS OUR OWN

A. Psychiatrist Carl Jung, in a letter to E. Stanley Jones, wrote, “Those psychiatrists who are not superficial have come to the conclusion that the vast neurotic misery of the world could be termed a neurosis of emptiness. Men cut themselves off from the root of their being, from God, and then life turns empty, meaningless, without purpose. So when God goes, goal goes. When goal goes, meaning goes. When meaning goes, value goes, and life turns dead on our hands.”

B. Sidney Cave, in his book, “The Christian Way,” says “Right and wrong are, for many, words which have ceased to have any intellible content, and the sense of liberation from the restrictions of traditional morality has brought not the joy of freedom but the malaise which comes from lives lived without aim or meaning. We are all aware of the psychic injury suffered by a child if he finds that the one he has trusted as his father is not his father. That is the plight of many in the modern world. They have lost their heavenly Father and feel not liberated, but merely insecure . . . Many have lost the sense of a father’s care but not the sense of need.”

C. Time, April 26, 1968, in an article on American authors, says they are “viewing the world as a lunatic comedy . . . they work from an assumption that society is at best malevolent and stupid, at worst wholly lunatic. The gods are dead and their graves untended, morality is a matter of picking one’s way between competing absurdities, and the only sane reaction to society—to its alleged truths and virtues, its would-be terrors and taboos—is a cackle or a scream of possibly cathartic laughter”

WHAT IS THE CAUSE? “MEN HAVE CUT THEMSELVES OFF FROM THE ROOT OF THEIR BEING, GOD . . . THEY HAVE LOST THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER . . . THE GODS ARE DEAD . . .”

D. ISRAEL’S ROAD TO RUIN WAS PAVED WITH UNBELIEF, IDOLATRY, RITUALISM

1. “. . . because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes . . .” Amos 2:4

2. THEY EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR LIES—Amos 2:4 “. . . but their lies have led them astray, after which their fathers walked.”

OUR NATION IS FILLED WITH POLITICAL LEADERS, INDUSTRIAL LEADERS, YES, EVEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF GOD . . . THEY HAVE SCORNED ITS ETHICAL PRECEPTS AS BEING IRRELEVANT . . . THEY HAVE EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR THE SATANIC INSPIRED LIES OF HUMANISM, AND EVOLUTIONISM.

3. The Israelites in Amos’ day were worshipping idols, golden-calves, star-gods and other images at Bethel and Dan (cf. Amos 3:14; Amos 5:25-27)

AND OUR NATION HAS ITS IDOLS AND IMAGES TO WHICH THEY PAY OBESIENCE . . . MOVIE STARS, ENTERTAINERS, SPORTS, TELEVISION, AUTOMOBILES, HOUSES, POLITICIANS, PHILOSOPHERS, THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR!

WE HAVE OUR SHRINES, THE MOVIE HOUSE, THE NIGHTCLUBS, THE STADIUMS, POLITICAL RALLIES, WHERE THERE ARE SET RITUALS WE ALL GO THROUGH, LAKESIDES, ETC.

4. Ritualism “. . . bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days . . . proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel.” Amos 4:4-5

10 years ago in Christian Standard, Jan J. Erteszak said, in an article “From Asylum to Powerhouse” 12–5-59 . . . “Our churches are increasing in membership and material well-being at an unprecedented rate. Religion has become popular. But, almost in inverse proportion to its popularity, it is losing its central place of commitment in the lives of the people.” YES, WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA WHO GO TO CHURCH AND GO THROUGH THE RITUALS . . . THEY LOVE TO DO THIS . . . IT SALVES THE CONSCIENCE . . . BUT GOD AND HIS WORD DOES NOT PERMEATE THEIR EVERYDAY LIVING!

THIS IS THE CAUSE . . . IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CAUSE OF EVERY SOCIETY WHICH HAS PERISHED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH . . . REJECTION OF THE SOVEREIGNITY OF GOD’S REVEALED WORD!!!

EGYPT DID NOT DIE FROM LACK OF WEALTH OR POWER!

OLD BABYLON DID NOT DIE FROM LACK OF EDUCATION OR CULTURE!

ASSYRIA DID NOT DIE FOR LACK OF MILITARY MIGHT!

THE NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE WAS THE RICHEST ON EARTH!

PERSIA WAS POWERFUL AND RICH!

GREECE WAS POWERFUL AND RICH!

ROME WAS POWERFUL AND RICH!

AND ON AND ON ONE MIGHT GO . . . NONE OF THEM WERE OVERTHROWN AS A RESULT OF ATTEMPTS BY ENSLAVED PEOPLE THYING TO HAVE A DEMOCRACY . . . SO DEMOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS OF NO ASSURANCE OF PERPETUATION OF SOCIETY!

ALL SOCIETIES, GOVERNMENTS, PEOPLES, INDIVIDUALS STAND OR FALL ACCORDING TO THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE UNIVERSAL AND ETERNAL PRINCIPLES OF DIVINE MORAL GOVERNMENT!

MORAL ANARCHY BREEDS POLITICAL ANARCHY . . . WHICH WILL IN TURN PRODUCE POLITICAL DICTATORSHIP AND MORAL DICTATORSHIP.

IT IS PRAGMATICALLY PROVEN CORRECT . . . A PERSON OR A NATION CAN ONLY BE FREE SPIRITUALLY, MORALLY, AND POLITICALLY IF IT KNOWS AND DOES THE TRUTH OF GOD!

III. THE CURE FOR ISRAEL’S DECADENCE IS THE SAME CURE NEEDED TODAY . . . REGENERATION

A. Cecil Todd said in his last Revival Fires magazine, “Our nation has strayed from God! Our problem is not the color of people’s skin: our problem is the color of people’s hearts, The heart of our problem is the problem of our hearts! Our problem is not the poverty-stricken ghettos—the slum areas; our problem, rather, is the poverty-stricken souls—the slums of people’s hearts . . . What we need in this country more than a war on poverty is a war on sin.”

B. Amos said it this way: “Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord the God of hosts will be with you . . . Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate . . . let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.” Amos 5:14-15; Amos 5:23-24

C. The prophets taught and Jesus confirmed that all social morality finds its roots, its spiritual source and compelling power over the consciences of men in the character of God Himself. To seek God is to seek good; to love God is to love good, and, conversely, to hate evil because God hates evil.

1. The solution is even as it was in the days of Jeremiah . . . restoration of the old paths wherein is the good way (Jeremiah 6:16-21) . . . the solution is REGENERATION, not REVOLUTION.

2. Social injustice cannot be corrected by simply renovation and reorganization of the social structure. NO MATTER WHICH POLITICAL PARTY REORGANIZES!

3. Social injustice can only be overcome when men are recreated in the image of God. SOCIETY WILL NEVER BE CHANGED EXCEPT AS INDIVIDUAL MEN ARE CHANGED! AND MEN WILL NEVER BE CHANGED UNTIL THEY ARE UNITED WITH GOD THROUGH HIS REVELATION WHICH IN THESE DAYS IS MADE IN HIS INCARNATE SON

D. The FAITHFULNESS OF GOD is the great motivating power appealed to by the prophets. GOD HAS KEPT HIS PROMISES IN THE PAST . . . HE WILL KEEP THEM IN THE PRESENT AND FUTURE!!

1. History is appealed to.

2. So, what God did through Jesus Christ in time and in history is confirmation of the FAITHFULNESS OF GOD (2 Corinthians 1:20) . . .

THIS BECOMES THE BASIS OF MORALITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, EVERYTHING . . . BECAUSE IT IS THROUGH THESE EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD AND BECOME PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE . . . REGENERATED (2 Peter 1:3-4)

CONCLUSION

WHAT THEN CAN THE CHURCH DO IN OUR AGE OF SOCIAL UPHEAVEL . . . HOW IS THE CHURCH TO BE INVOLVED . . . HOW MAY IT BE MADE RELEVANT FOR THIS GENERATION?

I. THE CHURCH MUST START BY OUT-COMMITTING THOSE WHO, BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION, ARE DETERMINED TO DESTROY OUR SOCIETY

A. A committed church is a fellowship of believers which accepts the following premises and acts upon them:

1. The basic teachings of Christ are universal in time, space, and every situation of life . . . as significant in London, Berlin, Moscow, Paris, Peking as U.S.A.

2. They are just as pertinent to our interdependent and complex society of today as they were in the first century

3. They are applicable to the totality of our problems—business, home, public life, international relations

4. Those who practice the Christian precepts in their daily lives are blessed themselves while, at the same time, they bring blessings to their society.

B. The church must come to grips with the following tasks:

1. Of involving men in her message for today and in her activity . . . SHOWING MEN THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS RELEVANT FOR THEIR PROBLEMS . . . EVANGELIZE THOSE WHO ARE SEARCHING TODAY

2. Become skillful in building a lasting conviction in its members. WE MUST CONVINCE MEN THAT CHRIST’S RULE OF LOVE REALLY WORKS . . . THAT IT WILL ENRICH THEM IN THE GREATEST POSSIBLE WAY . . . SPIRITUALLY

3. It must learn to generate commitment in its entire membership . . . IN A COMMITTED CHURCH THERE ARE NO SPECTATORS: EVERYONE IS A PARTICIPANT . . . EVERYONE HAS A TASK

THE CHURCH CAN ONLY IMPART WHAT IT POSSESSES, AND THE EXTENT OF ITS INFLUENCE WILL DEPEND ON THE SINGLE-MINDEDNESS, THE SPIRITUAL MUSCLE, THE DEPTH OF CONVICTION, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO WITNESS OF THOSE WHO ARE FULLY COMMITTED.

IT IS USUALLY AT THE CROSSROADS OF DESTINY THAT REAL PROGRESS IS AFFECTED, WE ARE AT SUCH A CROSSROAD, IF WE UNDERTAKE TO BRING THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO GRIPS WITH THE 20TH CENTURY, WE CAN, AND WE WILL CHANGE THE COURSE OF THE HISTORY OF DISSOLUTION WHICH IS NOW IN THE MAKING

II. IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU AND WITH ME AS INDIVIDUALS

TO BE A CHRISTIAN IS NOT SO MUCH DOING THIS OR THAT, BUT ALLOWING GOD TO CREATE IN YOU HIS OWN IMAGE—JESUS CHRIST!

NATIONS MAY CRUMBLE, BUT GOD’S PROMISES ARE CERTAIN TO ENDURE!!