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 have ten left, and that which went forth a hundred shall have ten left, to the house of Israel. For thus saith Jehovah unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live; but seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into capacity, and Beth-el shall come to nought. Seek Jehovah, and ye shall live; lest he break out like a fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el. Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth, seek him that maketh the Pleiades and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night; that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth (Jehovah is his name); that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress. They hate him that reproveth in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Forasmuch 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. 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. Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time. 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. 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 skillful in lamentations to wailing. and in all vineyards shall be wailing; for I will pass through the midst of thee, saith Jehovah. Amos 5:1–17

This part of the “sermon” of the prophet Amos does not run very smoothly. Woes are pronounced and invitations to seek Jehovah are extended. However, this is not a weakness but something to be expected of a prophet whose heart is burdened with the sad condition of the people whom he loves. Reasoning must make way for the unburdening of a pastoral heart.

Amos calls the people to listen to a lamentation, a funeral dirge, over themselves. They are very much alive and believe that all is well with them. Now this prophet begins to sing this funeral dirge! To listen to the songs sung at one’s own funeral; to look into one’s own coffin—how gruesome! Yet, that is exactly what Amos means. He sees the virgin of Israel (the people of Israel) as already dead. None shall raise her up. Formerly the armies of Israel went forth as tribes, but in Amos’ day they go out by cities. The city which sends forth a thousand men into battle will see only one hundred return. Similarly, where a hundred are sent out, only ten will return. This means complete defeat. God himself has prophesied this.

Because their defeat will be total if they continue in the way they are going, Amos calls them to seek Jehovah. Then they will live. This is the only way out. Certain destruction awaits their present mode of life while the fulness of life is promised them if they seek Jehovah. Surely, that choice should not be difficult! But then they must not go to Gilgal or Bethel or Beer-sheba. Jehovah will not be round there. No, these places themselves will go into captivity. These were places of historic importance, but that does not save. Seek him! One can go to a place of worship and still not seek God. Living union must be established.

If they will not seek Jehovah, he will break out like a fire on the house of Israel. Jehovah will save them if they seek him but this same God will consume them if they don’t seek him. Surely, there is sufficient reason for his anger to be poured out on them. Justice has been turned to wormwood. Bitterness has taken the place of that which was to be sweet. Righteousness is forgotten and is trampled under foot.

         

           

Who is the God whom they are to seek? He is Jehovah, their covenant God. He is also the Almighty Creator. He has made the constellations in the heavens. He governs all things. He turns the day into night. He causes vapors to ascend to form clouds which bring rain on the earth. Here we hear a doxology. Amos sings the praises of the Almighty. No one will be able to stand before this God. Strength cannot save the strong. neither is a fortress adequate protection. This is the God whom they must seek. He is able to defend them and give life.

How far the decay of morality had progressed in Israel is stated very clearly. Those who still raise their voices against evil are hated by the people. They detest those who speak uprightly. They wish to pursue. their evil ways unhindered. The poor, whose rights were guaranteed by the law, are trampled under foot. Israel was not permitted to exact interest on loans to their brethren. Formally the people still obey this law. However, those who had received loans were now forced to bring grain besides the repayment of the loan. In this way the lenders still received interest. Oh, this people has become wealthy. Once only kings’ palaces were built of hewn stone, but now the wealthy merchants in Israel can afford them. However, though they build such houses, they will not enjoy them. Though they plant vineyards, they will not enjoy the fruit. God will intervene. He knows their sin. Sins which have been committed in secret arc well known to him. Punishment will surely come if they continue this practice. The days are so evil that a prudent and wise man will keep silence. Only money talks in Israel in Amos’ day. The words of the wise are drowned out. No, it is never good when the wise keep silence. They should protest against the evil of their day regardless of the hope of success. But Amos is here merely characterizing the day in which he lives. The wise have given up all hope. Now only the word of the foolish is heard. Indeed this is an evil time.

Although the prudent man may keep silence, Jehovah does not. He pleads, by the mouth of the prophet. to seek him, to seek the good. The people are always speaking of the blessings of God upon them. They say: God is with us—witness the blessings he has given. That is not true! Only if they will seek the good will Jehovah be with them. Then they will live. This seeking of the good is not something vague but is very definite and very positive. They must love the good—then they will seek it. They must hate the evil—then will they flee it. That goodness is to consist of justice performed in the gate. As long as there is no justice between a man and his brother all their religious exercises are of no avail. Evil has already claimed many, but by turning to Jehovah a remnant of Israel may still be spared. The matter is urgent. If they do not turn, all Israel will be destroyed.

Once more the prophet pictures the result if they will not give heed to the word he has spoken. Their God is still speaking to them. Hc urges repentance. He warns. There will be wailing in all the principal streets. A great cry is sure’ to go up from the whole land. It will be a cry of despair. Utter misery is pictured. People will be able to say nothing but “Alas, alas!” Farmers will be called in from the fields to mourn. Hired mourners will go about the streets. There wiJI be wailing in the vineyards. The only squad heard in the land will be the sound of mourning. All this misery will be produced because God is going to go through the land. He will visit with his judgments. Then it will be too late. This is the same God who urges the people to turn to him. If they turn to him in time they will find that he alone gives true life. If they will not turn they will find that he brings complete destruction. The choice is very simple. It is still the same today.

Questions for discussion:

1. What do you think of Amos’ psychology in urging repentance?

2. What does the mention of Beersheba teach us about Israel’s argument that they should not go to Jerusalem to worship because it was in Judah?

3. Will not the description of the Almighty Creator frighten people? What other doctrine must always be made clear in this same connection? See Lord’s Day 9.

4. How were the rights of the poor safeguarded by the Mosaic law? Could there ever be poverty in Israel if they obeyed the law? Why will we always have the poor with us?

5. Why must we always protest against evil even when we can see that it will do no good?

6. Isn’t it quite sure whether Jehovah will save those who turn to him (vs. 15)?