Thu, 17 November, 2005: Today’s Bible readings.
1 “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria,
the notable men of the first of the nations,
to whom the house of Israel comes!
2 Pass over to Calneh, and see,
and from there go to Hamath the great;
then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
Are you better than these kingdoms?
Or is their territory greater than your territory,
3 O you who put far away the day of disaster
and bring near the seat of violence?4 “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory
and stretch themselves out on their couches,
and eat lambs from the flock
and calves from the midst of the stall,
5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp
and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,
6 who drink wine in bowls
and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile,
and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”
In our text for today, Amos is calling woes upon notable persons, to whom the house of Israel comes. These leaders are at ease in Zion (Judah) and in Mount Samaria (Israel). They are comfortable and consider themselves secure. Their trust is in their own nation. They believe they as a nation are able to handle the future. Just look around, they say. We are prospering economically. We have a strong military, and no one can conquer us. We are secure and prosperous, and have no concerns. We can spend a large portion of our income on our own entertainment, and we are so busy amusing ourselves that we have little time or resources left to consider the needs of others.
God, through Amos says, Woe to the people who think and act this way.
Why does Amos tell Israel to take “field trips” to Calnah, Hamath, and Gath, the various areas already conquered by Assyria?
These were prominent, fortified cities. However strong they were in the past, they are now in a very degraded situation. The mighty have fallen to the Assyrians. They are presented as an example to Israel of how God has acted in judgment of major fortified cities. Jerusalem and Samaria can and will fall, just as easily, under God’s hand of judgment. Samaria to the Assyrians, and Jerusalem to the Babylonians.
Amos lists sins of self-indulgence and luxurious extravagances in verses 4 – 6:
- Sloth: Ivory beds and couches (v4).
- Food: Lambs and calves (v4).
- Recreation: Invent Musical instruments (v5).
- Drink: Wine from large bowls (v6).
- Best ointments (v6).
These actions themselves are not necessarily sinful. But consider the context. Amos has come with a message calling Israel back to God, but they have not listened. God has sent afflictions to cause them to repent, but they have not returned. Again and again, God has called them to repent, but they have refused. And rather than repent and fast in sackcloth and ashes, they are indulging themselves.
In the face of the suffering of the poor, the rich indulged themselves rather than mourn and grieve.
The result of ignoring the call to repent and ignoring the needs of poor is that the leaders shall become captives first, and the indulgent will be removed (v7). The leaders were responsible for the people, and instead of caring for them, they indulged themselves at the people’s expense.
What do we learn from this?
Matthew Henry makes the application to us: “It is a great offense to God when His church is in affliction and we are not grieved for it, nor lay it to heart.”
What should grieve us? Who is being afflicted around us?
The unborn. People in the inner city. Our children in the schools. The persecuted church in other parts of the world.
Amos is calling us repent of our sin, and to have concern for those in need around us. And if we do not heed this call, we are in danger of judgment from God.
Jesus tells us that when we serve the needy around us, we are serving Him.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
