SCRIPTURE; AMOS 6
A LAMENT AND CALL TO REPENTANCE (VS. 1-27)
SINS OF ISRAEL
- They turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. (v. 7)
- They hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth. (v. 10)
- They trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. (v. 112)
- They oppress the righteous and take bribes. They deprive the poor of justice in the courts. (v. 12)
GOD’S JUDGMENT:
- There will be wailing in all the streets and cries of anguish in every public square. (v. 16a)
- The farmers will be summoned to weep and the mourners to wail. (v. 16b)
- There will be wailing in all the vineyards. (v. 17)
THE DAY OF THE LORD (vs. 18-27)
The day of the Lord will be darkness not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. (v. 19)
God hated and despised the religious feast of Israel. He cannot stand their assemblies. He will not accept their burnt offering, grain offering or fellowship offering. He will not listen to their songs or music of their harp. What God wants is justice and righteousness.
THOUGHTS:
Despite of the sins of Israel, God still gave his gracious invitation “Seek me and live”. The people went to their holy places to offer sacrifice without full devotion to Him. Amos considered “the day of the Lord” as a day of judgment darkness and despair. The people thought that “the day of the Lord” will bring blessings to the nations. When Christ return, He will send judgment in spite of our religious activities or generous offerings. God wants obedience, not sacrifice.
People are living sinful lives but are using religious rituals and traditions to make themselves look good. God despise such kind of worship and will not accept what was offered. He wants sincere heart with good testimonies in life.