Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and to them that are secure in the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come! Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines: are they better than these kingdoms? or is their border greater than your border?–ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David; that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with chief oils; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Amos 6:1–6

The messages of woe are rather common in the book of Amos. This prophet is speaking to a people which does not realize its own danger. Despite the frequency of the woes, there is nothing monotonous in the message of this farmer-prophet of Tekoa.

In this section Amos pronounces his woes on those who are at ease in both Jerusalem and Samaria. They enjoy the present and are very optimistic in regard to the future. They feel perfectly secure. How will anyone be able to take the fortress of Zion? Jemsaletn is surrounded by mountains. Samaria has been made a fortified city. No harm will ever touch the inhabitants of these strongholds.

Those who have this view of the matter are the notable and chief men. They are the rulers and judges. All the leaders feel secure. And, certainly, these are the people who understand the times better than others. They are at ease. They enjoy themselves.

Go to the surrounding nations. Go to the ancient city of Calneh. Go to the great Hamath. Go to the city of the giants in Philistia. Are these nations stronger than ours? Is their area as great as ours? The implied answer is: Not Israel is larger and more powerful than any of the places named. Of course, the prophet is rather selective in his choice of places for comparison. The glory of these places has departed. Israel seems to be strong when compared with them. If Israel were compared to some of the other surrounding nations she would not appear in such favorable light. When a reason has to be given for optimism comparisons can be found which will make everything look good. Amos is again using irony.

The evil day is placed far into the future. If evil will befall the land it is so far off that no one will need to worry. It may come, of course. Yet, one need not now be alarmed because it cannot come as long as present conditions obtain!

But, says Amos, you are already paving the way for evil to overtake you. The seat of violence is found in Israel. The very people who are crying Peace, Peace, are the ones who are determining the destruction of the land.

         

           

These are the people who are enjoying themselves to the extreme. Their luxury has lulled them into a feeling of false security. They lie on beds inlaid with ivory. What wealth! What luxury! Formerly the people sat at tables to eat (I Samuel 20:24, I Kings 13:20) but now they recline. They “sprawl” on their couches—another indication of leisure and complete confidence in their safety. They eat the very best. The shepherd’s heart of the prophet must have bled when he spoke these words. They eat the lambs and the calves. The food formerly reserved for kings is now the food of all the notables.

While they are feasting they must also have the atmosphere which surrounds such occasions. They sing idle songs. Not the praises of their God, but, as we would say today, jazz! David had made instruments of music. These people are not one whit behind the sweet singer of Israel. They, too, invent musical instruments. Amos points to these “instruments” with scorn. They are the kind of instruments one needs to accompany idle songs. With the music comes the wine. The prophet has, however, more to say about the vessels from which they drink the wine than about the wine itself. They drank from bowls, large containers. These were bowls used in worship. In their hilarity they do virtually the same as a later king of Babylon, Belshazzar. One more characteristic of their feasting must be named to make the picture complete. They anoint themselves with the chief oils. The hall of feasting is perfumed with the smell of the best oil Tills oil was also, no doubt, used in their worship. These people certainly are pictured as being at ease. They deny themselves no enjoyment. Revelry and hilarity are found among those who are to lead, to give direction.

The prophet is dismayed at this picture of frivolity. These leaders are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. The land of Israel is decaying. Joseph is afflicted. Israel’s decay is certain to bring ruin. That fact ought to receive the attention of these principal men. Instead of feasting, they should be attired in sackcloth. They should do their utmost to uproot the evil and to turn Israel back to its God. But they are not grieved. To point out the evil which exists in the land is very unpopular. Let it go! Let us have a good time while we can! But this will be their undoing.

No wonder the prophet introduces this section by saying: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…and in Samaria.” How can anyone be at ease when destruction threatens? How can one who knows the conditions feast at such a time? No one in his right mind can do that. But that is exactly the point: sin robs one of his understanding. Satan anesthetizes his victims.

This word has been preserved for the benefit of God’s people of every age. The church, as long as she is on earth, is to be a militant church. Woe, therefore, to those who are at ease! Zion and ease are opposites! The church and ease are opposites! As soon as Zion is at ease, the destruction is at the door.

Despite this warning against false optimism, Israel persisted in that error. Despite all the warnings of Scripture anent this evil, the church has fallen into this error again and again. Ease is much more appealing than militancy. Feasting is much mOre attractive than sackcloth. Reasons for optimism can always be found, especially if one is selective in the comparisons he makes. This false optimism, this ease, is perhaps one of the greatest dangers which confronts the church in any age.

Questions for discussion:

1. Why is the feeling of security one of the greatest evils which can befall the people of God?

2. Why is it that great prosperity and luxurious living often precede the downfall of a nation?

3. Can music be immoral? Is jazz immoral?

4. Was it evil to use items intended to be used in FALSE worship for their own pleasures?

5. What attitude toward the people did this false optimism of their leaders display? Do you think there is such false optimism in the church today?

6. What is meant by the term “militant church”? In how far must the church be militant?