OPENING LAMENTATION. AMOS PRONOUNCES A FUNERAL DIRGE OVER ISRAEL (AMOS 5:1). Amos now looks ahead into the future and proclaims a funeral dirge over Israel because her hope has gone (unless she repents). He looks ahead and sees her as having received her deathblow. Amos 5:1 ‘Hear you this word wh... [ Continue Reading ]
A LAMENTATION OVER ISRAEL (AMOS 5:1). While speaking powerfully Amos had no joy in what was to happen to Israel, and having pronounced judgment on them, he now laments what must necessarily be their end if they do not repent. It demonstrates that underneath his iron words he had a tender heart. That... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CALL TO REPENTANCE AND REJECTION OF THE FALSE SANCTUARIES (AMOS 5:4). YHWH therefore calls Israel to repentance before it is too late. If only they will repent and truly seek Him they will live, and avoid His fire of judgment which could otherwise break out on them. But this will not be by turni... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST INDICTMENT ON ISRAEL (AMOS 5:7) Amos followed up his appeal to Israel to repent with a reminder of why they needed to repent. It was because they were those who turned justice into something bitter and abhorrent, and flung righteousness to the earth as though it were so much rubbish Amos... [ Continue Reading ]
A CALL TO CONSIDER YHWH'S GLORY AND POWER (AMOS 5:8). Amos's view was that it was time that they considered with Whom they were dealing. He has already made it clear in Amos 4:13, and the description here follows a similar pattern while dealing with different aspects of creation. Amos 5:8 “(Seek... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SECOND INDICTMENT ON ISRAEL AMOS 5:10). This second indictment is fuller than the first (Amos 5:7), and is written in chiastic form. Thus: a It opens with reference to those who reprove or speak uprightly being ‘abhorred' (Amos 5:10). b It then refers to the unjust treatment of the poor (Amos... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SECOND CALL TO REPENTANCE (AMOS 5:14). So the call went out to those who would hear to seek good and not evil so that they might enjoy fullness of life, and in order that YHWH might truly be ‘with them' (as they claimed that He would be at their feasts). Amos 5:14 ‘Seek good, and not evil, th... [ Continue Reading ]
A CLOSING LAMENTATION (AMOS 5:16). Having previously opened with a lamentation, Amos closes with a lamentation by YHWH, for he is well aware that on the whole his words would not be heeded. (As always happens the few would respond and find fullness of life, and the majority would harden their hearts... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TWO WOES (AMOS 5:18 TO AMOS 6:7). It may be that we are to see the ‘alas, alas' (ho ho) of Amos 5:16 as leading into these two ‘woes' (hoy, hoy, a longer form of ho) in Amos 5:18 and Amos 6:1. But certainly Amos now introduces two woes/alases. The first ‘woe/alas' is in respect of their false h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF YHWH THAT IS COMING COME ON ISRAEL WILL BE A DAY OF DARKNESS, NOT LIGHT (AMOS 5:18). Amos 5:18 ‘Woe to you who desire the day of YHWH! Why would you have the day of YHWH? It is darkness, and not light.' Amos stressed that they should not be ‘looking with longing' (the verb is strong) fo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST WOE, CONCERNING THE DAY OF YHWH (AMOS 5:18). A ‘woe' was the opposite of a ‘blessed be you of YHWH'. It was the announcing of troubles and disaster that would come on His people directly from YHWH (compare Isaiah 5:8; Isaiah 10:1; and see Numbers 21:29; 1 Samuel 4:7) in fulfilment of His... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF DARKNESS IS COMING BECAUSE OF THE FALSITY OF THEIR WORSHIP IN THAT WHILE THEY WORSHIP THEY IGNORE JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS (AMOS 5:21). Amos now emphatically brings out where their error lay. They came to YHWH with feasting and joyful assemblies, offering their different offerings and si... [ Continue Reading ]