Chapter 5 (Continued)

God’s Wrath upon Israel (Continued)

3. THE FIERCE ANGER OF THE LORD (Amos 5:18-27 [18] Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. [19] 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. [20] Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? [21] I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. [22] Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. [23] Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. [24] But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. [25] Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? [26] But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. [27] Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.
   See All...) (Continued)
2. The Lord’s Hatred for Israel’s Worship (Amos 5:21-24 [21] I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. [22] Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. [23] Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. [24] But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
   See All...)
1. The Lord hates Israel’s feast days (Amos 5:21I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
   See All...).
2. The Lord will not smell in their solemn assemblies (Amos 5:21I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
   See All...).
3. The Lord will not accept their burnt offerings, meat offerings, or peace offerings (Amos 5:22Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
   See All...).
4. The Lord will not hear their songs (Amos 5:23Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
   See All...).
5. The Lord wants restoration of judgment and righteousness (Amos 5:24But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
   See All...).
3. The Idolatry of the People (Amos 5:25-27 [25] Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? [26] But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. [27] Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.
   See All...)
1. They chose their gods (Amos 5:25-26 [25] Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? [26] But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
   See All...).
1. They left off offering unto God (Amos 5:25Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
   See All...).
2. They made images unto Moloch (also spelled Molech) and Chiun (or Remphan) (Amos 5:26But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
   See All...; Acts 7:43Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
   See All...).
2. The Lord will send them into captivity (Amos 5:27Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.
   See All...).

Chapter 6

Apathy Concerning the Judgment of God

1. THE RECIPIENTS OF JUDGMENT (Amos 6:1-6 [1] Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! [2] Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? [3] Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; [4] 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; [5] That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; [6] That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
   See All...)
1. Those Trusting in the Might of Their Military (Amos 6:1-2 [1] Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! [2] Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?
   See All...)
1. Their identity exposed (Amos 6:1Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
   See All...)
1. They are in Zion.
1. Zion is also called the city of David (2 Samuel 5:7Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
   See All...; 1 Kings 8:1Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.
   See All...).
2. Zion is connected to Judah (Psalm 48:11Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
   See All...; Psalm 69:35For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
   See All...; Psalm 78:68But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
   See All...; Psalm 137:1By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
   See All...).
3. Zion was the place God chose to dwell (Psalm 132:13For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
   See All...) which also connects Zion to Jerusalem (Psalm 135:21Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
   See All...).
2. They are named chief of the nations.
3. The house of Israel came unto them.
2. The source of their hope (Amos 6:1Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
   See All...)
1. They are at ease in Zion.
2. They are trusting in the mountain of Samaria.
1. Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel.
2. Judah expected that they would have plenty of time to prepare when someone attacked the northern kingdom.
3. This philosophy still holds true today.  People think they will have plenty of time to get right with God.  They may be waiting on various things, but in their minds and hearts they are convinced they will have plenty of warning before they need to get right with God.
3. The example given (Amos 6:2Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?
   See All...)
1. An example of defeated lands
1. Calneh
1. In the land of Shinar (Genesis 10:10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
   See All...)
2. It was apparently destroyed by the Lord (Isaiah 10:9-11 [9] Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? [10] As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; [11] Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
   See All...).
2. Hamath the great (2 Kings 18:34Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?
   See All...; Isaiah 10:9-11 [9] Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? [10] As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; [11] Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?
   See All...)
3. Gath of the Philistines
2. An example of learning from history
1. God called upon His people to look at the history of other peoples who probably considered themselves unbeatable.
2. History is still a great teacher today.  We can look at nations who have turned their backs on God or on the nation of Israel and see where we might be headed.
2. Those Trusting in Positive Thinking (Amos 6:3Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
   See All...)
1. The illusion
1. They put far away the evil day.
2. The people denied any possibilities of their own downfall.
3. They were positive that the military could take care of any threats and they rested in the knowledge that they were the people of God.
2. The reality
1. They were causing the seat of violence to come near.
2. The very fact that they denied the possibility of judgment would in itself be a cause for the coming judgment.
3. Those Living the Luxurious Life (Amos 6:4-6 [4] 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; [5] That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; [6] That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
   See All...)
1. Their rest (Amos 6:4That 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;
   See All...)
1. They lie upon beds of ivory.
2. They stretch themselves upon their couches.
2. Their food (Amos 6:4That 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;
   See All...)
1. They were eating the lambs out of the flock.
2. They were eating the calves out of the midst of the stall.
3. Their pleasures (Amos 6:5-6 [5] That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; [6] That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
   See All...)
1. They chant to the sound of viol (Amos 6:5That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;
   See All...).
2. They invent to themselves instruments of musick (Amos 6:5That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;
   See All...).
3. They drink wine in bowls (Amos 6:6That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
   See All...).
4. They anoint themselves with the chief ointments (Amos 6:6That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
   See All...).
4. They are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph (Amos 6:6That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
   See All...).
2. THE EXTENT OF THE JUDGMENT (Amos 6:7-14 [7] Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. [8] The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein. [9] And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. [10] And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD. [11] For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts. [12] Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock: [13] Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? [14] But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.
   See All...)
1. The Coming Captivity (Amos 6:7-8 [7] Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. [8] The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
   See All...)
1. Because of the information provided in the previous verses – “therefore now” (Amos 6:7Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.
   See All...)
2. As a means of God’s judgment (Amos 6:8The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
   See All...)
1. The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself (Isaiah 45:23I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
   See All...).
2. The Lord abhors the excellency of Jacob.
3. The Lord hates his palaces.
3. This judgment is based on God’s indignation – “therefore will I deliver up.”
2. The Coming Plague (Amos 6:9-11 [9] And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. [10] And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD. [11] For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
   See All...)
1. If ten men remain in one house (Amos 6:9-10 [9] And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. [10] And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
   See All...)
1. All ten men inside the house will die (Amos 6:9And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
   See All...).
2. A man shall go in to gather the bones and bring them out to burn them in order to stop the plague (Amos 6:10And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
   See All...).
3. The only one spared would have been a man – “by the sides of the house” (Amos 6:10And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
   See All...).
2. They shall not make mention of the name of the LORD (Amos 6:10And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
   See All...).
1. The natural reaction would have been to comfort the one by the sides of the house with a statement such as “the Lord be with you.”
2. The man stops him ahead of time by saying, “Hold thy tongue:  for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.”
3. It is interesting to see just how foolish the so-called Living Bible is on this passage.
1. Amos 6:9And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.
   See All... – If there are as few as ten of them left, and even one house, they too will perish.
2. Amos 6:10And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.
   See All... – A man’s uncle will be the only one left to bury him, and when he goes in to carry his body from the house, he will ask the only one still alive inside, “Are any others left?”  And the answer will be, “No,” and he will add, “Shhh…don’t mention the name of the Lord – he might hear you.”
3. The Lord will smite the houses (Amos 6:11For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.
   See All...).
1. The Lord will smite the great house with breaches.
2. The Lord will smite the little house with clefts.
3. The Coming Affliction (Amos 6:12-14 [12] Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock: [13] Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? [14] But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.
   See All...)
1. Some questions concerning righteousness (Amos 6:12Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
   See All...)
1. The questions
1. Shall horses race upon rock?
2. Shall one plow with oxen upon rock?
2. The point of emphasis
1. Then why have you turned judgment into gall (bitterness)?
2. Then why have you turned the fruit of righteousness into hemlock (a poisonous plant)?
2. Some concerns of pride and pleasure (Amos 6:13Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?
   See All...)
1. They were rejoicing in a thing of nought.
2. They were expressing that their power was by their own strength.
3. The warning of affliction (Amos 6:14But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.
   See All...)
1. The Lord will send the affliction.
2. The affliction will span from Hemath to the river of the wilderness.
1. Hemath or Hamath is north and would incorporate the northern kingdom of Israel.
2. The river of the wilderness is connected to the river of Egypt (1 Kings 8:65And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
   See All...) and would incorporate the southern kingdom of Judah.