Amos 5 - Introduction

Seek The Lord and Live

Amos Five

Amos took up a lamentation against Israel because of her coming destruction. Pay day had come. The nation would now reap the result of their sinful living. The destruction would be so severe that only a remnant would be left. "For thus s saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel." (Amos 5:3) God's fiery judgment was coming with certainty. The only hope for Israel was to seek the Lord and live.

Amos was pleading with the people to repent. There was still hope but soon it would be too late. Seek the Lord, (1) He will give live, He is all powerful, and He knows all your sins. They had sinned long enough. Now the message is, "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:14-15)5)5)

A failure to repent would lead to God coming in judgment against Israel. The judgment would bring wailing in the streets, highways and vineyards. It will be a day of darkness with no escape. "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." (Amos 5:19) Their religion was repulsive to God and it lead to captivity that took them "beyond Damascus."