Lesson8-AmosChapter5
1/13
THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson8,Chapter5
WeareabouthalfwaythroughtheBookofAmos.Surprisingly,ifthereisan
overridingthemetoAmos’sprophecyatthispoint,itmustbethematterofsocial
injustice.Iwanttopauseforafewminutestohighlightthis,becauseitcanbeso
easilyoverlookedduetoourfaith’stendencytoover-spiritualizethingsrather
thanfacingthetangiblerealitiesthatweallfaceinthisworld.Inamostfamous
storyintheNewTestament,wereadthis:
CJB
Matthew26:7-11
7
Awomanwhohadanalabasterjarfilledwithvery
expensiveperfumeapproachedYeshuawhilehewaseatingandbeganpouringit
onhishead.
8
Whenthetalmidimsawit,theybecameveryangry."Whythis
waste?"theyasked.
9
"Thiscouldhavebeensoldforalotofmoneyandgivento
thepoor."
10
ButYeshua,awareofwhatwasgoingon,saidtothem,"Whyare
youbotheringthiswoman?Shehasdoneabeautifulthingforme.
11
Thepoor
youwillalwayshavewithyou,butyouwillnotalwayshaveme.
“Thepooryouwillalwayshavewithyou…”.IfJesusweretobeinterviewedby
thelocalmediaintheWesttoday,Hewouldbelabeledasinsensitiveand
uncaringaboutthepoorforsayingsuchathing.WhatHeissaidisthatnomatter
underwhatcircumstances,nomatterunderwhichtypeofhumangovernment,
nomatterinwhateraofhistory,therewillalwaysbeasocialorderinwhichthere
willbethehavesandthehavenots.Therewillalwaysbethewell-do-do,and
thereforetherewillalwaysbethelowlyandpoor.Thisisafact.Itisafactpartly
becauseweliveinUniverseofopposites.But,italsolargelybecausefallen
humanitydoesnotlivebyGod’ssystem,andinsteadbyourownbaseinstincts.
IsraelshouldhavebeensomewhatdifferentasGod’select;notinthefactthat
therewouldstillberichandpoorjustlikeeverywhereelse,butratherthatthe
governmentandtherichwouldmakesurethatthepooreroftheirsocietywere
treatedfairly,morally,andwithequaljustice.Therefore,overandoverinthe
BiblewefindGod’sthoughtsandHiscommandsthatreflectHisdeepconcernfor
thepoorandHisloveforthem.
CJB
Psalm14:6Youmaymocktheplansofthepoor,buttheirrefugeisADONAI.
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
2/13
CJB
Psalm140:13IknowthatADONAIgivesjusticetothepoorandmaintains
therightsoftheneedy.
Yehoveh,speakingthroughIsaiah,promisesthisaboutthecomingMessiah:
CJB
Isaiah11:1-5ButabranchwillemergefromthetrunkofYishai,ashootwill
growfromhisroots.
2
TheSpiritofADONAIwillrestonhim,theSpiritofwisdom
andunderstanding,theSpiritofcounselandpower,theSpiritofknowledgeand
fearingADONAI-
3
hewillbeinspiredbyfearingADONAI.Hewillnotjudgeby
whathiseyesseeordecidebywhathisearshear,
4
buthewilljudgethe
impoverishedjustly;hewilldecidefairlyforthehumbleoftheland.Hewillstrike
thelandwitharodfromhismouthandslaythewickedwithabreathfromhislips.
5
Justicewillbethebeltaroundhiswaist,faithfulnessthesasharoundhiships.
IcouldgiveyoudozensmoreexamplesofScriptureonthesubject.Thepointis
this:socialjusticeisattheverycenterofGod’sconcernformankindanditis
reflectedinthedirectmeaningofHisfundamentalcommandmenttoloveyour
neighbor.And,especiallywithIsrael,therewasasensethattheirpoormayhave
beenofevengreaterconcernforGodthanfortherich(whomHelovedequallyas
much),butwho’sneedsforthemostbasicnecessitiesoflifewereneverindoubt.
AsfortheMinorProphets,nonespokewithmorepassionandinspirationon
behalfofthepoorandneedythanAmos.Yet,nonealsospokesoeloquentlyor
severelyagainsttheindifferent,decadent,andmorallydefunctelitewealthyas
Amos.Notbecausethewealthywerewealthy,norbecausewealthwasabad
thing,butratherbecausetheydidn’tuseagoodlyportionoftheirwealthtoshow
compassiontothemostvulnerableofIsraelitesociety.
RecallthedevastatingindictmentagainsttherichofIsraelfromAmoschapter2:
CJB
Amos2:6-8
6
HereiswhatADONAIsays:"ForIsra'el'sthreecrimes,no,
four-Iwillnotreverseit-becausetheyselltheuprightforsilverandthepoorfor
apairofshoes,
7
grindingtheheadsofthepoorinthedustandpushingthelowly
outoftheway;fatherandsonsleepwiththesamegirl,profaningmyholyname;
8
lyingdownbesideanyaltaronclothestakeninpledge;drinkingwineinthe
houseoftheirGodboughtwithfinestheyimposed.
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
3/13
So,whatwashappeningtotheenormouspopulationofthepovertystrickenin
Ephraim/Israel?Theelitesandtheleadershipwereusingtheircitizens’
impoverishedconditiontogainmorepersonalpowerandwealth.Quiteliterally,
therichwereoppressingthepoor,andthinkingoftheirownmaterialgainsas
God’sblessinguponthem.Amossaysthattheirwealthisabouttobeconfiscated
becauseGodHimself…whohasrepeatedlysaidthatHewillpersonallybethe
defenderofthepoor…isabouttoexactheavenlyjusticeupontheunjust.Sadly,
thepoorwillsufferaswellnotsomuchascollateraldamagetoGodjudgingthe
wealthy,butbecausetheyaresaidtodeserveitduetotheirpervertedworship
practices.
WhatwealsoseeinAmosisahistoryofhowIsrael’sshamefulsocialinjustices
developedovertime.ThepathofrebellionagainstGod’swayswasalwaysa
realityinIsrael.Thelargestfactorinthisrebellionwassaidtobetheleadership;
civilandreligious.Therefore,GodwouldpunishIsrael’sleadersthemost
severely.Asisnoticedbyevenacasualobserver:populationsofpeopleonly
rarelyactinaconcertedfashionunlesstheyareledtodoso.And,the
developmentofacommonnationalculturalmindsetorethosdoesNOToccur
randomlyorbyaccident;itisalwaysinresponsetotheinfluenceofthe
leadership.Thecitizensofauthoritariansocietieshavetheirnationalethos
forceduponthemaccordingtothewhimsofatyrant,whileinmoredemocratic
societiesithappensaccordingtheirpoliticians’desirestogaugethewantsofthe
peopleandgivethemsomeofwhattheywantinexchangeforbeingputinto
powertoaccomplishwhateveristheiractualpersonalagenda.Intheend,the
resultisessentiallythesame:injusticeforthepoor.
Amoschapter5,then,takesustotheconsequencesforallofthissocialinjustice
andforIsrael’srebellionandapostacy.Thechapteropenswithwhatcanonlybe
calledalamentfortheseriouslyfallenEphraim/Israel.Let’sreadAmoschapter
5.
READAMOSCHAPTER5all
BiblescholarssometimesapproachBiblebooksandchaptersbydividingthem
intoliteraryunitsforthesakeofstudy.Thatis,aliteraryunitissomeverses
strungtogetherthatformatrainofthoughtonasubject.Thefirst17versesof
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
4/13
chapter5areclearlysuchaunit.DouglasStewartinhisthoughtsonthissection
ofAmos,furthersub-dividesthisliteraryunitinto5parts.Inverse1,thatisa
typicaltraditionalpropheticformalsummonsforIsraeltohearandtakeheedto
whatYehovehisabouttosay,is1)adescriptionofthecomingcatastrophe,
followedby2)acallforIsraeltoreact,then3)adirectaddresstothepeopleof
thenow-fallenIsrael,4)followedbyanothercalltoreact,andthenfinally5)a
summonsforthenationofIsraeltomournbecauseofthecominginevitable
tragedythattheyhavebroughtuponthemselves.
Verse1,then,speaksofwhatalreadyisdecidedasfarasGodisconcerned.
Therefore,sincethesubjectisthedeathofIsraelasanation,thentheonly
appropriatethingisforaperiodofmourningtobegin.Thefirst17versesare
giventousintheformofafuneraldirgesungoverthecorpseofEphraim/Israel.
Verse2speaksofIsraelas“thevirgin”oras“themaiden”.Recallthatbiblically
speakingavirginismerelythetermusedforanunmarriedgirl.Whereasinthe
Westwetendtothinkoftheterm“virgin”mostlyinthesexualsenseofaperson
yettohavinghadsexualexperiencewithsomeoneoftheoppositesex,biblically
(whilethatiscertainlyanunderstoodpartofit)theideaismorethatagirlisstill
livingunderherfather’sroofbecauseshehasyettomarryandhavebirthed
children.So,herpurposeinlifehasyettobefulfilled.Israel,asametaphorical
virginintheflowerofherlife,isgoingtobeprematurelycut-offfromhernatural
andexpecteddestiny.And,intheformofgovernmentandorderofsocietythat
shenowexists,willneverriseagain.Herpathforwardisforeverchanged.
Whenwereadtheterm“fallen”(fallenIsrael)itisreallyshorthandfor“fallenin
battle”;thatis,mortallywoundedandleftfordead.Thus,thebuilt-inimplication
isthatIsrael’sfateistoloseamilitarybattlefortheirterritory.Evenworse,this
losswillnotcomeinabattletoexpandIsrael’sterritorialholdings,butratherit
willcomeinthedefenseoftheirownland,inhumiliatingdefeatandnotvalor.
Israelis,asofnow…yearsbeforetheinvadersarrive…powerlesstoalterthe
courseofherfuture.Includingthewords“withnonetoliftherup”means,there
isnohopeforrescue…notevenhelpfromIsrael’sGod.
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
5/13
Verse3iswhatwemightlabelasacurseofdecimation.Thisoffersmeyet
anotheropportunitytoreinforcetherealitythateverythingthatGodisdoing
againstIsraelisbasedupontheLawofMoses.Deuteronomy28promisesthis:
CJB
Deuteronomy28:62-63
62
Youwillbeleftfewinnumber,whereasyouwere
onceasnumerousasthestarsinthesky-becauseyoudidnotpayattentionto
thevoiceofADONAIyourGod.
63
"Thusitwillcomeaboutthatjustasonce
ADONAItookjoyinseekingtodoyougoodandincreaseyournumbers,sonow
ADONAIwilltakejoyincausingyoutoperishandbedestroyed…
Therefore,verse3showsthatineveryinstitutionofIsraelthehumanlosswillbe
inthe90%range.Ofthecitiesandvillagesonlyaremnant…about10%…will
remain.Ofanarmyof1000,only100willsurvive.Outofanarmyof100,only10
willsurvive.WhatweneedtonoticeisthatallthatIsraelthoughtwouldmake
themimmunefromsuchapossibledisaster(theirGodandtheirarmy)willnot.
Israelisdeceived,andhasafalsesenseofsecurity.Butevenso,verse4offers
arayofhope.Thisbeginsthesecondsub-unitofthislamentforIsraelthat
Stewartcalls“acalltoreact”.WhatoughttobeIsrael’sreactiontolearning
aboutwhatisgoingtohappentothemandwhy?Itoughttobetochange;to
changebyrealizingtheirpredicamentandpreparingforwhatliesahead.
Preparationforadisasterisanadmissionthatwedon’tcontroleverything.
Preparationcomesfromaproperhumility.Godsaysthatthefirststepinthat
preparationprocessis“toseekMe”.ThosewhowillseekHimhaveagreater
chanceofsurvival.Inotherwords,Israel’ssalvationisconditionalonseeking
God.And,althoughoffered(butitisnotgoingtobeaccepted),shouldenough
individualswithinthenationofEphraim/IsraelrepentandseekGod,thenthe
nationofIsraelcanstillbesaved.ThepointhereisnotthatIsraelisgoingtotake
thisinvitationfordeliveranceandactuponit(theywon’tandGodforeknowsit),
it’sthataprincipleandaGod-patternisreaffirmed.ItisthatwhileGod’sdecision
isopentosomedegreeofchange,itisalwaysdependentuponHispeople
realizingandadmittingtheirwrong,andchangingtowhatisright.I’llsayitagain:
salvationhasalwaysbeenconditional.
Israelwasalreadyaredeemedpeople;ithadbeensosinceGodrescuedthem
fromEgypt.Butsoonthereaftertheybegantheirrebellion.Inupanddown
swings,theirrebellionhadbeencontinuous.AsectionofIsraelhadcrosseda
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
6/13
line-in-the-sandandGod’swrathwouldbeunleasheduponthemfortheir
covenantviolation.Israelwentfromredeemed,torebel,andnowhadasecond
chanceforredemption…IFtheytookholdofit.Iftheydidnot,thentheirfate
wouldbejustasthoughtheyhadneveratonetimebeenredeemed.Letme
assureyouthatevenwiththeadventandsacrificeofYeshuaonthecross,
nothinghaschanged.
CJB
James1:22-25
22
Don'tdeceiveyourselvesbyonlyhearingwhattheWord
says,butdoit!
23
ForwhoeverhearstheWordbutdoesn'tdowhatitsaysislike
someonewholooksathisfaceinamirror,
24
wholooksathimself,goesawayand
immediatelyforgetswhathelookslike.
25
Butifapersonlookscloselyintothe
perfectTorah,whichgivesfreedom,andcontinues,becomingnotaforgetful
hearerbutadoeroftheworkitrequires,thenhewillbeblessedinwhathedoes.
CJB
James5:19-20
19
Mybrothers,ifoneofyouwandersfromthetruth,and
someonecauseshimtoreturn,
20
youshouldknowthatwhoeverturnsasinner
fromhiswanderingpathwillsavehimfromdeathandcovermanysins.
I’llpreachtoyouforaminute.IhaverailedbeforeaboutthefalseChurch
doctrine(amongsomedenominations)ofonce-saved-always-saved.Thisis
classicallyunscripturalandisinsteadtheepitomeofmanmadedoctrine.Infact,
itisinafutiledefenseofthisuntenabledoctrinethattheChurchhas(overthe
centuries)removed,re-inserted,andthenremovedagaintheentireBookof
JamesfromtheNewTestament.Onlysincetheearly1800’shasmostBibles
re-insertedit.Today,thebasicdefensefortheonce-saved-always-saved
proponentsagainstwhatJamessaysisthatitismerelyahypotheticalstatement
thatisimpossibletohappeninreality;anunneededwarning.Ifthiswasn’tsuch
adangerousdoctrine,I’dnotbesointentonshiningalightonit.Theideathat
oncewesaythesinner’sprayerthatwebecomepermanentmembersofthe
Kingdomregardlessofwhatwedoorbelieveafterwarddefieseverythingsaidto
thecontraryinthewholeoftheBible.Salvationisindeedconditional;itis
conditionalonusmaintainingthatsalvationbycontinuingourdevotiontoGod
thatincludessincerelyintendingtoobeyHiscommands.DisobediencetoHis
commandsiscalledsin;that,too,hasnotchanged.Itisonethingto
acknowledgeGod’scommandsasvalidandrelevanttous,andthentofail
occasionallyinfollowingthem;itisquiteanothertodeclarethatHiscommands
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
7/13
nolongermatterorperhapsnolongerexistforus,andsowearefreetobehave
howeverwelikeortomakenewrulestoreplacetheformerones.Oreventhat
althoughweatonetimebelievedhoweverwenolongerdo,doesn’tmatter.That
weonlybelievedifbutonlyforadayoursalvationremainsguaranteed.Thisis
nottrueandIfearmillionswhofeelsafeandsecurearegoingtofindouta
differenteternaldestinythantheyhavebeentoldawaitsthem.Whatwe’re
readinginAmosispreciselywhatI’mspeakingabout.Israelknewtheyhadbeen
redeemedatonetimeintheirpast,andsowerecertainthattheycouldrelyon
thateventregardlessoftheircurrentbehaviorortheirdeceiveddisregardfor
obeyingGod’scommandments.Today’sChurchmoreresemblesAmos’s
Ephraim/Israelthanitdoesthe1
st
centuryJesusmovementamongtheJewish
people,andreformisdesperatelyneeded.
Verse5tellsIsraelthatIFtheytrulydesiretoseekGod,theyshouldnotseek
HiminBethel,Gilgal,orBeersheba.These3placesarethe3mostvisited
sanctuariesusedbytheNorthernKingdomofEphraim.Infact,theyaretoavoid
thoseplaces.It’snotthatofthemselvesthesewereinherentlyevilorpagan
places.What’stheproblem,here?ItisthattheleadershipofEphraim/Israelhad
establishedtheselocationsasworshipcentersbaseduponthehybridized
religiontheyhadfashionedforthemselves.I’msuretheseplacesseemed,onthe
surface,perfectlylegitimatetotheEphraim/Israelites.Allweresteepedin
happeningsfromtheHebrews’ancienthistoricalpast.
BethelwasnamedbythePatriarchJacobanditwasalegitimateholysite.But
JeroboamturnedBethelintoapervertedworshipcenterasasubstituteforgoing
totheTempleinJerusalem.GilgalwasthefirstplaceIsraelencampedupon
crossingtheJordantoenterintoCanaan.ItwaswhereJoshuahadthat
generationencampthatwouldbethefirsttooccupythePromisedLand,andit
waswhereamasscircumcisionceremonytookplace.Beershebaisassociated
primarily,ofcourse,withIsaacandhisfatherAbraham.ByAmos’stimeallof
theselocationshadbeenco-optedandnowrepresentedrebellionagainstthe
CovenantofMoses.
ItmightbealittlehardforustograspjustwhatthepeopleofEphraim/Israel
thoughtwhenAmostoldthemthattheyweretonolongergototheseplacesto
worship.ThelessonbeingtaughtisthatseekingGodisnotthesameasseeking
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
8/13
theirtraditionalsanctuaries.Nodoubtsuchaninstructionwasconfusingand
mosttroubling.I’llputitinmodernterms;ifAmoswerestandingbeforeushe
wouldsaythatseekingGodisnotthesamethingasattendingChurchor
Synagogue.Themanyritualobservancesatthevariouscultsightswerenot
whatIsraelwassupposedtodependuponforrighteousness;rather,Amossaid
theyweretorelinquishthoseobservancesthathaduptonowactuallyblocked
theirreturntoGod.Infact,BethelandGilgalweresoontodisappearfromthe
pagesofhistory.
WhenGodthreatenstobreakoutagainstthehouseofJoseph,thisisspeaking
aboutthe2tribesofEphraimandManasseh.Together,theyheldthemost
territoryinthePromisedLandandbothwerelocatedintheNorthernKingdom.
So,thehouseofJoseph,Ephraim/Israel,andtheNorthernKingdomwere
synonymousterms.BethelwouldbedestroyedalongwiththeNorthern
Kingdom.
Amoscontinuesinverse7(whichbeginsthenextsubsectionthatisadirect
addresstothepeopleoffallenIsrael)andbringssocialinjusticebackintothe
focusasthechiefcharacteristic,andthereasonforthepunishment,ofthefallen
houseofJoseph.Theentireconceptofjustice,asoverseenbyIsrael’sappointed
Judges,hasbeenlost.Theyhavetakenthebeautifulmoralthingofjusticeand
turneditintosomethingbitter.Whenwormwoodcomesintocontactwithwater,
itmakesthetastesobitteritisundrinkablesothatisthemetaphorthatisused.
TheresultofinjusticeisthattheintendedoutcomeofGodlyjusticeas
righteousnessisdestroyed.
Verse8hasbeenjudgedbymanyBiblescholarsasafragmentofanancient
hymntoYehoveh(frombeforethetimeofJob)thatAmosseemstohaveknown
andinserted.ItisevensuggestedthatAmosactuallysangthisportionofhis
messagetohisaudience.Whilethatmightsoundstrangetous,itwouldhave
seemedquiteappropriateforhisera.Thehymnaffirmsthepowerandmajestyof
Israel’sGod.ThePleaidesandOrionaretwowell-knownconstellations,bothof
whichAmossaysthatGodmade.Becausetheplacementintheskyofthe
PleaidesandofOrionhadbeenusedforcenturiestoindicatethechangeofthe
winterandsummerseasons,thenfortheancientIsraelitesitmeansthatGodis
theonewhocontrolsseasonsandsetssignsintothesky.Nextthehymncredits
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
9/13
Godwithchangingdaytonightandnighttoday.Thereferencetowaterandto
theseasisessentiallyaboutfloodsandrainfall,whichGodalsocontrols.So,in
verse9,Godnotonlycontrolstheskyandnature,Healsoistheonewho
determinesthedirectionandfateofallthenationsonearth.Hecandetermine
suchfateusingdestructivepowerthatcan,atHiswill,includeflatteningthe
vauntedfortificationsofnationsthattheythinkareimpregnable.
Verse10picksupagainwiththeissueofsocialjustice.The“they”hereis
referringtoIsrael’sleaders.Itistheywhodon’twantjusticeandhavenointerest
inthetruth.WhenAmosspeaksofjusticeatthegateitisreferringtothe
standardancientpracticeofholdingcourtatsomedesignatedmeetingareajust
insidethecitywallsattheentrygate.Theideawasthatthecourtwasopenand
publicforalltowitness.Let’stakejustamomenttotalkabouttheconceptof
truth.
Inmoderntimes,theterm“truth”is,Ithink,mostlymisused.Wetendtomix
together…orthinkassynonymous…thetermsfactandtruth.Whiletheyareused
thatwayinWesternsociety,fromabiblicalperspectivefactandtrutharequite
differentthings.Speakingobjectively,Ialsothinkthatinthis21
st
centuryworld
thatisrapidlyevolvingtoastateofnearlyuniversalamoralityequatingtruth
withfactisbutamanifestationofalackofconcernformorality.Whatis
amorality?Thecommondefinitionofitis:anabsenceof,indifferencetowards,
disregardfor,orincapacityformorality.Here’swhatI’mgettingat.FromGod’s
standpoint,truthexpressesthenatureofHismoralcode.Therefore,foranyone
todeclaresomethingas“truth”thatisoutsideof,orindisagreementwith,God’s
moralcodecannotbetruth.Truthoperatessimilarlytowisdom.TheBible
explainsthatwisdom’ssourceisheaven;infact,Wisdomisliterallyspokenofin
theBibleasalivingdivineentityinthesamewaythattheFather,theSon,the
HolySpirit,theWord,etc.arealllivingdivineentities.So,fromastandard
Christianperspective,wisdomisasmuchGodasisthoseotherdivineentities
thatChristianTrinitydoctrinesrefertoas“persons”ofGod.Ifwefollowthat
samelineofvocabulary,thinkingandlogic,thentruthisalsothemanifestation
ofalivingdivineentity,whosesourcecanonlybeHeaven(somethingcoming
fromoutsidethesphereofthefinite)andwhosesubstancecanonlybeGod.
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
10/13
Fact,ontheotherhand,comesfromwithinthefinite4-dimensionalUniverse;
thephysicalworldinwhichwealllive.Itisanexpressionofthebelievedand
actualexistence,orperhapstheactualcurrentstate,ofaphysicalobjectoras
somethingexistingorhappeninginrealitywhetheritistangibleornot.For
instance:itisafactofnaturethatraincomesfromclouds.Itisafactthathuman
speechisthemovementofairwaves.Itisafactofhumanbiologythatthereare
twosexes,maleandfemale,eachwithdistinguishingcharacteristics.Itisafact
ofhistorythatAdolfHitlerwasadictatorofGermanythatledtheworldintowar.
Fact(generallyspeaking)hasnomoralelementtoit;itisamoralinitssubstance.
Factscanbeprovedtobeaccurateorinaccurate,orbelievedatonetimetobe
accurateonlylatertobeprovedinaccurate.Thattheearthisflatwasafact
accordingtoscholarsandclergyofthe15
th
centuryandearlier.Laterthiswas
provedtobeinaccuratesotheshapeoftheearthisnowfactuallystatedasbeing
round.Sincetheshapeoftheearthisnotamoralissue,thenwhatevertheclaim
ofitsshapemightbe,itoughttobespokenofintermsoffactandnottruth.
Truth,however,isneverwronganditneverchanges.
So,tobeclear:inAmos5:10theissueisnotaboutjusticebeingadministered
improperlyaccordingtoJudgeswhowerenotinterestedincollectingthecorrect
factsofthecase;ratheritisthatIsrael’sJudgeswerenotinterestedinproper
morality…truth...asthebasisforrenderingaverdict.There’sonlyoneplaceto
lookforawrittencodeofGod’sdefinitionofmorality…truth…andthat’sHismoral
codethatiscalledtheLawofMoses.InAmos,asweseeGodjudgingpagan
nationsbasedonGod’slaws,thenwelearnthatthereisonlyonemoralcodefor
allofhumanity;notoneforIsraelandanotherforeveryoneelse.Thisthen
meansthereisonlyonetruth,andallelseisfalsehood.Ifoneisnotinterestedin
truth,thenrighteousnessfallstotheground.Bottomline:fromGod’s
perspectivenointerestintheLawofMosesasmankind’sguidetojustice,equals
nointerestintruth.
Whenvs.11beginswith“therefore”,itmeansthataconsequenceoroutcomeis
abouttobeannounced.Asconsequenceforthewealthyoppressingthepoorand
unjustlytakingawayfromthemso-calledtaxesontheirfieldcropstowhichthey
arenotentitledaccordingtoTorahstandards,thewonderfulmansionsthatthe
richbuildforthemselves(themoneyforwhichhascomefromthosetaxes)shall
befornaughtastheywon’tgettoliveinthem.Thisiscalledafutilitycurse.A
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
11/13
futilitycursedescribesareversal…anoppositeoutcome…ofaperson’s
expectations.Again,allofthesecurses…orpunishments…aretakenpreciselyas
theprescribedpunishmentsforprescribedcrimesintheLawofMoses.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:15
15
"ButifyourefusetopayattentiontowhatADONAI
yourGodsays,anddonotobserveandobeyallhismitzvotandregulations
whichIamgivingyoutoday,thenallthefollowingcurseswillbeyoursin
abundance:
Then,afewverseslaterinthelistingofcurseswefind:
30
Youwillgetengagedtoawoman,butanothermanwillmarryher.Youwill
buildahousebutnotliveinit.Youwillplantavineyardbutnotuseitsfruit.
So,allofaperson’shardworkandgainswillbebroughttonothingbyGodfor
violatingHislawsandprinciplesinordertohavemadethosematerialgains.Here
inchapter5verse11,thewealthyhouse-buildersandvineyardownerswillface
completefrustrationbecauseoftheirimmoraltreatmentofthepoor.Theynot
onlywon’tgettoliveintheirownhomes,theywon’tgettoenjoythewinethat
comesfromtheirvineyards.Sonow,justasEphraim/Israel’selitehavebecome
wealthyattheexpenseofothers,sowillothersbecomerichattheirexpense.
Inverse12GodsaysthatHeisquiteawareofthewealthy’snumerouscrimes
(meaningviolationsofGod’smoralitycode…theLawofMoses).Godseesasthey
bullypeoplewho(unlikethemselves)areactuallyinnocentofcrimes.Hewatches
astheyextortandtakefromthehelpless.So,howeveritisthattheseIsraelites
believedthatperhapstheycoulddothesethingsinsecretsuchthatYehoveh
wouldnotseeorcare,theyarelearningthatnothingcanbehiddenfromHis
sight.Hehasseenandrememberedeverysinandshamefulacttheyhave
committed,andnowitistimetopaythepiperforit.
Thenextversesays:“Attimeslikethesetheprudentpersonstayssilent,foritis
aneviltime”.Exactlywhatthisistalkingaboutisuncertain.Souncertainthat
nearlyunanimouslyBiblescholarsseethisasaglossormorelikelyjustascribal
mistakethateitherwaswrittendownwrong(sowereallyhavenoideawhatthe
intendedpointwas),or(andmuchmorelikely)alatereditoraccidentally
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
12/13
droppedthisversefromsomewhereelseintothisspot.IconfessIhavenobetter
insightonthisthananyoneelse,butthisversedoesseemtointerrupttheflowof
thepassagesostrangelythatitcannotbelonghere.So,we’lljustmoveonto
verse14.
“Seekgoodandnotevilsothatyouwillsurvive”.God,again,offerstheprospect
oflifewhensofarthepeoplehaveonlybeenguaranteeddeath.Again,the
principlethatsalvationanddeliveranceareexpressedaspurelyconditional
baseduponapersonstraighteningupandflyingright…ornot.ThefirsttimeGod
toldthepeoplethattheoptionofseekingHimtoavoiddeathincludedhowNOT
togoaboutseekingHim(byNOTeveragaingoingtotheillegalcultcentersof
Bethel,GilgalandBeersheva),nowHespeaksaboutseekingHimintermsof
whatTOdo.EssentiallyGoddefines“seekingHim”aslivingamoralandethical
life.Letmesaythatagaininadifferentway:whatwedo(ourdeeds),ourchoice
oflifestyle,whosevaluesandmoralswegoby,thewaywepracticeourfaith,our
attitudetowardsthepoor…thisiswhatitmeanstoseekGod.SeekingGod
doesn’tmeantohaveasuper-warmfeelinginourheartforHim.SeekingGod
doesn’tmeandoingallkindsofreligiousrituals,orwalkingthroughthedoorsof
ourchurchorsynagogueateveryopportunity.ItmeanstoseekHiswaysandto
dothem.
LestIforgetmentioningthecriticalactofprayer…andprayeriscertainlyan
importantpartofseekingGod…prayeroughttobethebeginningactofseeking
thatleadstodoing…notprayerasasubstitutefordoing.SeekingGodindeedhas
aspiritualelementtoit,butaccordingtoAmositmoreamountstotheproper
divinemotivationforwhatwedo.So,fortheProphet,“seeking”involvesour
totaldedicationtodeterminingthe“good”anddoingit.And,herethisisspeaking
almostentirelyabouthuman-to-humanrelationships…lovingyour
neighbor…thatcanonlyhappenifonefollowsGod’smorallawcodewiththeright
heartattitude.
TheresultofseekingGodinthiswayisexpressedinthesecondhalfofthisverse.
“ThenYehovehGodofhostswillbewithyou,asyousayHeis.”FortheIsraelites
atthistimeinhistory,thisexpressedthoughtisverynearlyacatchphrase.“God
withus”isgroundedintheideaoftheirnationalGodprovidingwell-being,
prosperity,andvictoryinbattle.IfYehovehiswithIsrael,thengoodthings
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
13/13
happen.IfHeisnot,theoppositeoccurs.BecauseEphraim/Israelisstillatpeace
andisquiteprosperousatthetimeofAmos’sprophecy,thentheysayitcanonly
bebecause“Godiswithus”.Theyarewrongandarebutafewyearsawayfrom
findingoutinlivingcolorhowverywrongtheyhavebeeninsuchanassumption;
anassumptionthatAmosistakingapartpiecebypiece.Wemustneverlet
appearancesfoolus.MuchofthemodernWesternworldissoveryprosperous;
andinmanyWesternChurches(andinthemindsofthecongregationmembers)
thisprosperityistheproofthatGodmustbewithus.Ipersonallyfinditquite
hardtoacceptthatwhenweseetheWesternworld(oftenwiththeagreementof
theChurch)franticallyattemptingtoreverseeverymoralstandardwehavelived
byupuntilnow;denouncingtraditionalmoralstandardsthatintimespastwe
havehadnocompunction…asanationalculture…aboutconfessingthatour
moralsandethicsarebiblicallybased(evenifattimestheywerenot).
Goodness:eventheUSA’sSupremeCourtbuildinghasanetchingofMosesand
theLawonitsimpressiveentrytoconveythatprinciple.
Ifmyassessmentisevenpartiallycorrect,andwehavebecomelike
Ephraim/Israelasaculture,thenweneedtoheedAmos’smessage:
acknowledgeoursituation,repent,andprepare.PreparebyfirstseekingGod
(meaningtochangeourbehavior),andpreparebytakingpracticalmeasuresto
betterassurethebasicneedsofeverydaylifecanbemetforthatmomentwhen
shortagesandcatastrophesstrikeusunexpectedly…whichtheysurelywill.
Godbeganinverse14toshowHisworshipperswhattodoandhowtoprepare,
anditcontinuesintoverse15.Itbeginswithconscious,tangiblechoicesto
embracewhatGodcallsgoodandtoshunwhatGodcallsevil.Itisonlythrough
thatmeansthattheLordwillrestoretheblessingsofthecovenantterms.One
moretime:itisallaboutthecovenantGod-worshippershavewithYehoveh.We
willbejudgedbyit,andGodwilltreatusaccordingly.ShalomM.Paulputsitthis
way:
Conversely,concernanddevotiontogoodisnotsufficient;they(Israel)must
sincerelylovegood.Tolovegoodisthenpracticallyinterpretedtomeanawayof
lifethatiscountertotheirpresentmannerofbehavior.
Lesson8-AmosChapter5
14/13
Repentanceinandofitselfisnotmagical.OurrepentancecannotforceGodto
forgiveus,ortoforgodisciplineuponus.MercyisGod’sandGod’saloneto
determine.Paul,whoisusingtheTorahashisguide,saysthis:
CJB
Romans9:14-16
14
Soarewetosay,"ItisunjustforGodtodothis"?Heaven
forbid!
15
FortoMoshehesays,"IwillhavemercyonwhomIhavemercy,andI
willpitywhomIpity."
16
Thusitdoesn'tdependonhumandesiresorefforts,but
onGod,whohasmercy.
Ineverycase,whetherinIsrael’sorinours,ourultimatedestinyisdependent
uponGod’sresponsetoourcryformercy.Noamountofritualorprayeror
declarationcancoerceGodtoforgive.
Verses16and17concludethisliteraryunitwithacalltomourn.Yehoveh’swrath
meansdestructionanddeathforEphraim/Israel.Everywherewithinthe
NorthernKingdom,ateverylevelofsociety,willsuffer.Eventhevineyardsthat
aretraditionallyaplaceofjoywilljoininthelament.WhenGodsaysthrough
Amosthefinalwordsofverse17…“…Iwillpassthroughamongyou..”itismeant
torecallthissameGoddecimatingtheEgyptians.
CJB
Exodus12:12
12
Forthatnight,IwillpassthroughthelandofEgyptandkill
allthefirstborninthelandofEgypt,bothmenandanimals;andIwillexecute
judgmentagainstallthegodsofEgypt;IamADONAI.
We’llendithereandtakeupatverse18nexttime.