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THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson9,Chapters5and6
WhenwereadtheBible,andespeciallywhenwereadtheProphets,wearefaced
withachoiceofperspective:tothinkoftheseScripturesasperhapsan
interesting,butnotparticularlyrelevant,historylessonconcerningancientIsrael.
Or,wecanthinkofthemasadivinerecordofhowGodhasalwaysdecidedand
behaved…revealingHisimmutableprinciplesandpatterns…andthereforeitis,
andwillalwaysbe,greatlyrelevantbecauseHedecidesandbehavesthesame
wayinallgenerationsincludingwithours,Hismodern-dayworshippers.I
certainlyhopethatyouaccept,asdoI,thatthelatterandnottheformeristhe
case.
Inourpreviouslesson,aswestudiedAmoschapter5,welooked-onasAmos
prophesiedthat,asaresultofIsrael’srebellionagainsttheircovenantwithHim,
GodwouldreformulateHisrelationshipwiththemfromactingastheirprotector
toactingastheiradversary.Thiswasnotanidlewarningorhypotheticalthreat,
as(throughAmos)GodexplainsjustwhatthisnewrelationshipwithIsraelis
goingtolooklike,andwhatitmeansforthem.Itmeansfirstandforemostthat
GodisgoingtoenticeapowerfulnationtoinvadeanddecimateIsrael…that
nationactingasHishandofpunishmentforHischosenpeople’sunfaithfulness.
Whilethepromisedinvasionisperhapsafewyearsoff,itiscomingatGod’s
directionandsoitisirreversibleandunstoppable.Therefore,Amosurgently
warnsthepeopletopreparefirstbyrepenting,andsecondbyarrangingtheir
livesandtheiraffairstoprotectthemselvesagainsttheinevitabledisasterthatis
coming.Further,GodexplainsthatHehasalreadypulledHisblessingsaway
fromEphraim/Israel;itisonlythattheleadershipandthepeopleareobliviousto
itprimarilybecauseIsraelcontinuesasawealthy,powerful,andimportant
countryintheregion.Asthepeoplelookaroundthem,revelingintheirpower
andprosperity,pattingthemselvesontheirbacksfortheirsuccess,theyassume
theirloftyandenviouspositionexistsbecausethey’vedoneitthemselves,butit
alsoindicatesthatGodmustbepleasedwiththeirlifestylesandwiththeir
worshipofHim.But…theyaredeceived.Rather,saystheLordinverse17,Heis
goingto“passthrough”Israel.HeisusingthesamewordsHepromisedtoMoses
thatHewould“passthrough”Egypttokillalltheirfirstbornofhumansand
livestock.

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WeknowfromhistorythatGoddidexactlyasHesaidHewoulddoto
Ephraim/Israel.Onlyinthe21
st
century…afterthepassingof2700years…are
theremnantsofthedestructionofthe10tribesofEphraim/Israelfinallybeing
beckonedfromHeaventoreturntotheirancienthomelandfromthefar-flung
placestheyweresent.Believers;thereissomethingfarmorepersonaland
relevantinAmos’swordtous,whichwearemeanttotaketoheart,thana
historylessonaboutthefallenNorthernKingdomofIsrael.Itisanominous
reminderthatGod,withsufficientprovocationandwithenoughreckless
faithlessnesstowardsHim,willnotonlypullHishandofblessingandprotection
fromHiselect,butHewillalsoreverseourredemption.TheChurchrightlyhas,
forhundredsofyears,drawnthecloseparallelbetweenIsrael’sredemptionfrom
Egyptandourredemptionfromsinandoppression.Whileweusuallyspeakof
thatredemptionasbeingunconditional,thatstatementistoobroadanditcan
leaveusspirituallyexposed.Israel,too,thoughtthattheirredemptionhadbeen
unconditionalandtheconsequencesforthatgraveerrorarewhatwehavebeen
readingabout.Thereisaconditiontooursalvation;forancientIsraeltheyhadto
trustinYehoveh(andtheproofoftheirtrustwastopaintthebloodofalambon
thedoorpostsoftheirEgyptianhomes),andforthepast2000yearsitisthatwe
mustfirstsincerelytrustinthebloodofYeshuatheMessiahtoreceiveour
salvation.But,thereisanotherandevenlargerquestionthatlooms;istherean
ongoingconditionafterwefirsttrust,oraretherenofurtherrequirementsofus?
WhenwelookabitcloserattheNewTestamentwefindthatwhatisactually
unconditionalisGod’sloveforus…notoursalvation.Thosesameversesalso
explainthatGod’sloveisforallmankind;notjustHiselect.So,God’sloveisby
nomeanstheindictororresultofourpersonalredemption,anymorethanitwas
forIsrael.GodcontinuedtoloveIsraelevenasHewasinprocessofreversing
theirsalvationhistory,usingtheAssyrianEmpirewarmachinetodestroy90%of
theEphraim/Israelitepeople,andexilingtheremaininglivingfromtheir
PromisedLand.Whilegainingoursalvationiswithoutconditionexceptforthe
conditionoftrustingJesusforit,maintainingoursalvationisanothermatter.We
mustconsciouslyandwithpurposehold-ontoourredemption,oncegiven,by
remainingfaithfulandobedienttoGod,whichrevealsourleveloftrust(orlackof
it)inHim;somethingthatifrealandtrueinourmindsandlivesshowsupasthe
goodfruitwearetobearaswecontinuetoglorifyHim.However,shouldwego
inadifferentdirectionandeventuallycrosssomecosmiclineinthesandofTOO

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muchunfaithfulness,andTOOmuchdisobedienceandrebellion,andthedefacto
endofourtrustinGod,HewillrescindourredemptionbecausethattrustinHim
thatweoncehadhasbecomeafarceandisworthless.
IntheBookofHebrews,theanonymouswriterwasinspiredtowarnBelieversof
exactlythissituation…ofthefollyofthinkingthatwecanmakeagoodshowfor
atimeofclaimingtrustinGod’sSonforredemption…orevenouractually
sincerelybelievingatfirst…butthenlaterpullingawayfromthattrustandliving
insin,andyetstillexpectingGod’sgracetoremainuponus.
CJB
Hebrews10:22-29
22
Therefore,letusapproachtheHoliestPlacewitha
sincereheart,inthefullassurancethatcomesfromtrusting-withourhearts
sprinkledcleanfromabadconscienceandourbodieswashedwithpurewater.
23
Letuscontinueholdingfasttothehopeweacknowledge,withoutwavering;for
theOnewhomadethepromiseistrustworthy.
24
Andletuskeeppaying
attentiontooneanother,inordertospureachotherontoloveandgooddeeds,
25
notneglectingourowncongregationalmeetings,assomehavemadea
practiceofdoing,but,rather,encouragingeachother.Andletusdothisallthe
moreasyouseetheDayapproaching.
26
Forifwedeliberatelycontinuetosin
afterreceivingtheknowledgeofthetruth,therenolongerremainsasacrificefor
sins,
27
butonlytheterrifyingprospectofJudgment,ofragingfirethatwill
consumetheenemies.
28
SomeonewhodisregardstheTorahofMosheisputto
deathwithoutmercyonthewordoftwoorthreewitnesses.
29
Thinkhowmuch
worsewillbethepunishmentdeservedbysomeonewhohastrampledunderfoot
theSonofGod;whohastreatedassomethingcommonthebloodofthe
covenantwhichmadehimholy;andwhohasinsultedtheSpirit,giverofGod's
grace!
Hear,please,thatseriesofconditionalwordsofoursalvationfoundinthis
passage.SINCERE(notflippantorcasual)faith,CONTINUEtoholdfast(nothold
fastinitiallyforalittlewhile,butnolonger),KEEPpayingattentiontoone
another(notlovingyourneighborwithgooddeedsatfirstonlytogrow
disinterestedlater),knowingthetruthandwronglyCONTINUINGtosin.Wecan’t
claimGodandredemptionandthenknowinglydowrong.Ifwedon’tfollowthis
urgentpleading,whatistheresult?Therenolongerremainstheeffectofthe

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sacrificeofChristonourbehalfforoursinsthatwemayescapeeternal
punishment;instead,wewillcertainlyfaceterrifyingjudgment.
ThethrustofthismessagewasbroughttoIsraelbyanumberofProphets,and
rejectedbymostoftheleadershipandthepeople.Wearerightnowreading
abouttheconsequences.
OpenyourBiblestoAmoschapter5.
READAMOSCHAPTER5:18–end
Amosisthefirsttousetheterm“TheDayoftheLord”inourBibles.Whatitreally
says,though,is“TheDayofYehoveh”.Keepthatinmindaswecontinue.And
thecontextofitsuseis“woetothosewhowantit”,and“whydoyouwantit?”
becauseitisgoingtobeadayofdarknessandnotlight.Withabitof
tongue-in-cheekIhaveaskedthissamequestionofyouTorahClassstudentsin
someearlierBiblebookstudies.Whyareyousoanxiousforthatday?Whydo
youraiseyourhandstotheheavensandaskthatitnotbedelayed?Ido
understandthatmostBelievers,atleastthoseofthemoreevangelicalbranches
ofChristianity,thinkofTheDayoftheLordprimarilyinregardstothereturnof
Christandriddingtheworldofevil.But,Ialsosuggestthatmostdon’tfully
think-outwhatthateventisgoingtoactuallylooklike.Thefewyearsleadingup
toTheDayoftheLordaregoingtobethedarkestoftimes…beyondourcurrent
abilitytoevenimagineit…thattheworldhaseverknown.TheDayoftheLordis
aboutjudgment…notjoy.Thedivinejudgmentthatbringstoanendthemass
crueltyoftheAnti-Christandothereviltyrantswillbeevenmoreterrible.The
collateraldamage,staggering.Thepricehumanitywillpayfortheretofinallybe
alastingpeaceonearthandgoodwilltoallmenisbeyondourcomprehension.
Billionsofpeoplearegoingtodie.Billionsmorearegoingtosuffer.So,whatdid
“TheDayoftheLord”meantoAmos,andwhatmentalimagewasformedwithin
themindsofthepeoplewhofirstheardthosepropheticwords?Becausewithin
thatmeaningandmentalimageisgenerallyhowwearetounderstanditallthese
centurieslater(acknowledgingthatwiththepassingofhistorywenowhave
moreinformationaboutitthanthoseofAmos’sday).

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Thereisprobablyahalf-dozenrathernuancedopinionsofitsexactmeaningthat
aresubscribedtothroughouttheworldoftheology.ItisnotedthatinMiddleand
NearEastculturesexistingwellbeforethetimeofIsraeltherewasabeliefofa
comingcosmiccatastrophethatwouldeventuallybefalltheearth.VonRad
positedthatacalamitousHolyWarwasthecontextfortheDayoftheLord.
AnothercommonlyheldopinionisthatTheDayoftheLordhastodowithan
appearanceofGod…atheophany.Thereareothers.However,Ithinkwhatwe
cansaywithoutventuringtoofaroutonalimbisthatTheDayoftheLorddoes
notpointustowardsaday…asingle24hourperiod…ofgreatdevastation,but
ratheritpointstowardsaperiodoftime.Somewhereduringthatperiodoftime,
theLordwillmakeanappearanceinordertorescueHisown,andtobring
judgment(destruction)uponHisenemies.WhoareHisenemies?Allthosethat
HedeterminesdonotholdasinceretrustinYeshuafortheirsalvation.
ForAmosandforthepeopleofIsrael(all12tribes)thiswouldhavebeen
envisionedasGodcomingtotakerevengeonIsrael’senemiesandthroughthat
bringfullandfinalsalvationtothefamilyofJacob.Inotherwords,thebadstuff
iscoming,butnotforus.So,Amosisacknowledgingthatindeedaperiodof
planet-widedivinejudgmentiscoming.However,Israelhasdeceiveditselfinto
thinkingthattheyareimmunefromit.Thatis,thisjudgmentisforIsrael’s
benefit,anditisallaboutpropellingthewell-deservingnationofIsraelintoa
goldeneraofnationalprominenceaboveallothernationsonearth.Theywere
wrongtothinkit,andwearewrongtothinkthatwe,asBelievers,willbeheld
harmlesstothecominghorrorsassociatedwiththeDayofTheLord.
So,verse18says“woe”;woenottothepagannationsbutrathertothose(Israel)
whoignorantlyyearnforthisday…TheDayoftheLord.Inthiscase,atthis
moment,thisisspecificallyabouttheNorthernKingdom.Amoshasjustpopped
aballoonofapopulardoctrinethatthepeopleofEphraimhadembracedand
wererelyingonasagiven.Youcanimaginethatitwasnotatallwell-received;
itwouldtakeaProphetofgreatcourageanddedication(likeAmos)todeliver
thismessageofdoomtoapeoplewhohonestlybelievedthattheyhadelevated
themselvesspirituallytosuchheightsofgreatpiousnessbeforeGodthatitmade
themuntouchable.AsShalomM.Paulputsit:Amossaysthat“pastsalvationis
notanunlimitedguaranteeforfuturelifeinsurance”.Israelisgoingto

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experiencethereverseofeverythingtheyexpected.TheDayoftheLordfor
themwillbedarknessandnotlight.Deathanddestruction,andnotsalvation.
Verse19usesaliterarysimiletoemphasizethepointbeingmade.Justlikea
personfranticallyrunsawayfromalionbutrightintothejawsofabear,orlike
apersonwhorunsinsidetheirhometogetawayfromdangeronlytobemetby
apoisonoussnakeintheirhouse,sowillIsraelthinkthatYehovehwillprovidea
meansofescapefromwhatothersaresufferingonlytofindoutthereisn’t.
Verse20seekstoeraseeventhefaintestofhopesfortheirsurvival.The
darknessofthatdaywillbetotaldarkness,notpartial.Nolightwhatsoever…not
evenaglimmer…willbeseen.Again,thiscallstomindthesamesortof
phenomenathathappenedtotheEgyptiansinordertoredeemIsrael.Onlynow,
thisdarknessisgoingtohappentoIsraeltoreversetheirsalvationhistory…to
UN-redeemthem.
CJB
Exodus10:20-23
20
ButADONAImadePharaohhardhearted,andhedidn't
letthepeopleofIsra'elgo.
21
ADONAIsaidtoMoshe,"Reachoutyourhand
towardthesky,andtherewillbedarknessoverthelandofEgypt,darknessso
thickitcanbefelt!"
22
Moshereachedouthishandtowardthesky,andtherewas
athickdarknessintheentirelandofEgyptforthreedays.
23
Peoplecouldn'tsee
eachother,andnoonewentanywhereforthreedays.Butallthepeopleof
Isra'elhadlightintheirhomes.
NotehowinEgypt,thedarknesswassototalyoucouldn’tevenseetheperson
standingnexttoyou.But…theIsraelitesDIDhavelightintheirhomes.The
peopleofEphraim/IsraelexpectedthesamethingtohappenontheDayofthe
Lord…thattheywouldreceivetheLord’sfavor.But,no,saysAmos.Thistime
IsraelwillexperiencethesamedarknessthattheEgyptiansfeltbecause,justlike
fortheEgyptians,GodisnowgoingtotreatIsraelasHisadversaries.
Thefinal7versesofchapter5revolvearoundthisprinciple:religiousritualdoes
notsave.Evenmore,religiousritualthatisvoidofmoralitymakesGodreject
thoseperformingit.Whatispropermoralityasregardsritual?Wehavetogoto
God’scodeofmorality…theLawofMoses…toknow.ForEphraim/Israel,their
religiousritualwasnotmoralbecauseitdidn’tfollowtheritualpracticesand

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conditionsassetdownintheLawofMoses.TheNorthernKingdomhadreworked
somepaganritualstosuitthem,andsubstitutedtheseritualsfortheonesGod
hadordainedonMt.Sinai.Eventheplaceoftherituals(itwasonlytobeatthe
TempleinJerusalem)waswrong,becauseEphraim/Israelhadcreatedtheirown
cultworshipsites.Irecallsomeyearsagowhentalkingtoafriendaboutmy
doubtsandconcernsoverChristianEasterandChristmasobservances,dueto
thebulkoftheseobservancesclearlybeingofpaganorigin,shetoldmenottobe
concernedbecause“Jesushadbaptizedthem”.Thatis,theverythingsthatwere
usedforpaganritualwerenowdeemedbytheChurchasOKtousetoworship
GodbecauseJesushadcleansedthemandmadethemsuitable.Ihavenodoubt
itwaswiththissamekindofmisguidedlogicthatEphraim/Israelborrowedso
manyoftheirworshippracticesfromtheirpaganneighbors,andfeltjustifiedin
usingthemtoworshipYehoveh,GodofIsrael…eventhoughtheLawofMoses
warnedthemnotto.
Inverse21,GodgoessofarastosaythatHehatesanddespisestheirfeasts.
While“hatesanddespises”isnotawrongtranslation,abetterandmoreaptone
isthatGodhatesandrejectstheirfeasts.Thatisbecausewhileourknee-jerk
reactionistomaketheterm“hate”intooneofintenseemotionaldislike,thatis
notthecasehere.Biblically,hateistheoppositeoflove.Andfarmoreoftenthan
not,biblicallyspeakingloveismeantinthesenseofallegianceandfaithfulness;
notofemotionalwarmaffections.Therefore,tohateistoreverseallegiance;to
hateisrefuseortodissolveallegiance.Thus,tohateinvolvesrejectionofthe
hatedperson,andrejectionisthebettertranslationfortheHebrewwordused
here,whichisma’ac.Infact,saysGod,Healsohates(Herejects)alloftheir
solemnassemblies…nodoubtmeaningassembliesotherthantheannualfeasts
suchasperhapsspecialoccasionsofcommunalworship.And,bytheway,don’t
thinkofthoseoccasionsofcommunalworshipintermsofChurch-likeor
Synagogue-likeweeklymeetings.ThereisnoevidencewithintheBible,norfrom
otherancientJewishsources,thatweeklyassemblieseveroccurredinIsrael’s
historyuntilwellafterJudah’sreturnfromtheirBabylonianexile.
Inverse22,GodessentiallyrejectsallofEphraim’ssacrificialofferings.
Specifically,Hecallsoutthe3mostfrequentones:theOlah,theMinchah,and
theShelamim.CommonlycalledtheBurntOffering,theGrainOffering,andthe
PeaceOffering,thefirst2areusuallyperformedtogetherandareaboutatoning

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forsins.The3
rd
,thePeaceOffering,isavoluntaryofferingthatcaninvolvethe
makingofvowsorsimplyanofferingofthanksgiving.Thus,GodissayingHe
won’tacceptanyrequiredofferingsorvoluntaryofferings,whichtogethercovers
allpossiblereasonsforsacrifices.Why?Becausetheycansaythattheyare
sacrificingtoHim,buttheyaredoingitwithinanillegalworshipsystem,which
meanstheyaredisobeyingHislawsandcommandments.Itseemsthatwhether
itisthemostancientHebrew,theearlyIsraelite,JudaismortheChristianfaith,
wehaveapenchantforinsistingondoingthingsourway;andbeingequally
insistentthatGodwillacceptourworshipanywaywewishtogiveittoHim.And
thisbeliefisdesperatelyheldontodespiteexampleafterexampleintheBibleof
God’sharshreactiontothosewhoattemptit.Beingsincerewhenwhatwe’re
doingismorallywronginGod’seyes,makesitnolesswrongandunacceptable.
Onceagain;thisparticularreactionofGodtowardsIsrael’spervertedworship
practicesiscalledforintheLawofMoses;so,Godisonlyexecutingthetermsof
theCovenanttowhichHeandIsraelmutuallyagreed.
CJB
Leviticus26:26-31
26
Iwillcutoffyoursupplyofbread,sothattenwomen
willbakeyourbreadinoneovenanddoleoutyourbreadbyweight,andyouwill
eatbutnotbesatisfied.
27
"'Andif,forallthis,youstillwillnotlistentome,but
goagainstme;
28
thenIwillgoagainstyoufuriously,andIalsowillchastiseyou
yetseventimesmoreforyoursins.
29
Youwilleatthefleshofyourownsons,you
willeatthefleshofyourowndaughters.
30
Iwilldestroyyourhighplaces,cut
downyourpillarsforsun-worship,andthrowyourcarcassesonthecarcassesof
youridols;andIwilldetestyou.
31
Iwilllaywastetoyourcitiesandmakeyour
sanctuariesdesolate,soasnottosmellyourfragrantaromas.
Verse23nowfocusesonthesongsandmusicusedintheprocessofworshipping
God.So,Henotonlyrejectstheirsacrificesandtheirfeasts,butalsoeventhe
praisetheyoffer-uptoHimintheformofmusic.Isitthechoiceofmusicandthe
wordsofthesongsthatmakeitunacceptable?We’renottoldso.Isuspectthat
thepointbeingmadeisthateveryformofpraiseandworshipofGodisnolonger
acceptabletoHimbecausethepeoplewhoareattemptingitdon’thaverighteous
hearts,andsotheydon’tliverighteouslives,andthustheirmotivesandtheir
spiritualconditionmakethemasoutcaststoHim.TheycancallonHisnameday
andnight;butwithoutasincere,Godprescribedrighteousness,itisallfor

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naught.FellowBeliever,doyouseriouslythinkthathaschangedbecauseofthe
adventofYeshua?Canweintentionallygoonsinning…livinganunrighteouslife,
bearinganunrighteousheart…andstillexpectGodtoacceptus?
CJB
Romans6:1-2Sothen,arewetosay,"Let'skeeponsinning,sothatthere
canbemoregrace"?
2
Heavenforbid!Howcanwe,whohavediedtosin,stilllive
init?
Notlivingrighteously(thatis,sinning)isanathematoourrelationshipwithGod.
Whatistheremedyforunacceptableworship?GodtellsusinAmos5:24.
24
Instead,letjusticewelluplikewater,andrighteousnesslikeanever-flowing
stream.
ThisisthesamethoughtthattheProphetSamuelutteredtoasinfulKingSaul
nearly3centuriesearlier.
CJB
1Samuel15:22Sh'mu'elsaid,"DoesADONAItakeasmuchpleasurein
burntofferingsandsacrificesasinobeyingwhatADONAIsays?Surelyobeyingis
betterthansacrifice,andheedingordersthanthefatoframs.
RitualisgoodwhenitisGodordainedandperformedbyrighteouspeoplewith
therightmotivations.ButevenGod-ordainedritualobservancesareuselessif
notdonewithacontriteandrighteousheart.
Verse25hasGodaskingIsraeltorecalltheirhistory;specifically,their
wildernessexperience.Duringthat40yearsinthedesert,sacrificescouldnot,
andwerenot,doneeverydayexactlyasprescribed.Somuchofthesacrificial
systemlookedaheadintimewhenIsraelwassettledinthePromisedLand.For
instance,whenIsraelwasonthemove,therewassimplynofeasiblewayto
pause,setuptheTabernacleandAltar,andsacrificedaily.So,Yehovehis
remindingIsraelthatwhiletheprescribedsacrificesandritualsaregood,yetHis
extremeandvigilantcareforthemwasnotbaseduponthoserituals.Rather,it
wasallbasedonGod’sgraceinexchangefortheirsinceretrustandfaithfulness.

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I’llgetabitpreachyforamoment,andI’llaskup-frontforyourforgivenessfor
myfrankness.TheideawithinRomanChristianity(andRomanChristianity
representsvirtuallyallbranchesofWesternChristianity)thatitwaswiththe
adventofJesuswhereupongraceenteredthisworldandbecamethebasisof
God’srelationshipwithhumansisabsurdandignorant.God’srelationshipwith
humanitywasalwaysaboutHisgrace;ithasneverchanged.EvenIsrael’s
redemptionfromEgyptwasGod’sactofgracebecauseIsraelhaddonenothing
todeserveitnordidtheyworktomakeithappen.TheLawofMoseswasyet
anotheractofgrace,andespeciallywasthesacrificialsystembasedonGod’s
grace.Godagreedtoallowaguiltyhumantobeforgivenforhisorhersinsby
meansofoneofGod’sinnocentanimalcreaturesbeingslaughteredand
burned-upintheguiltyperson’sstead.So,GodissayingtoIsraelinverse25,
hey,whendidyougettheideathatsacrificeandritualwerewhatIwantmost
fromyou?PerhapsthetimeofthemostintimacybetweenGodandIsraelwas
duringthatwildernessjourneywhenIsraelwas100%dependentuponGod,and
theyknewit.Yes,theycertainlyfailedfromtimetotime,andoftenwere
punishedforit.Buttheyknewwhototurnto,theyknewwhosecommandsto
followandwhathappenedwhentheydidn’t.
EvenbeforeIsraelleftEgypt,GodhadgiveninstructionstoIsrael’selders.
CJB
Jeremiah7:21-24
21
ThussaysADONAI-Tzva'ot,theGodofIsra'el:"You
mayaswelleatthemeatofyourburntofferingsalongwiththatofyoursacrifices.
22
ForIdidn'tspeaktoyourancestorsorgivethemordersconcerningburnt
offeringsorsacrificeswhenIbroughtthemoutofthelandofEgypt.
23
Rather,
whatIdidorderthemwasthis:'PayattentiontowhatIsay.ThenIwillbeyour
God,andyouwillbemypeople.Ineverything,liveaccordingtothewaythatI
orderyou,sothatthingswillgowellforyou.'
24
Buttheyneitherlistenednorpaidattention,butlivedaccordingtotheirown
plans,inthestubbornnessoftheirevilhearts,thusgoingbackwardandnot
forward.
TheHebrewslivinginEgyptunderoppressionfromthePharaohstilldidn’tobey
God.Noamountofritualorsacrificewasevenorderedatthattime;onlytheir
obediencetotheways(therighteousways,themorality)thatGodshowedto
them.

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Andyet,herestandsIsraelintheirPromisedLand;alanddrippingwith
abundanceandIsraelawealthynation.AllofitbecauseofGod’sgrace.ALand
Godisabouttotakebackfromthembecausetheirheartsgrewevil,theirsouls
dark,andtheirmindsarrogant.Theyinventedtheirowndoctrines,theirown
worshippractices,andexpectedGodtoacceptthem.
Verse26describesIsraelcarryingaroundacoupleofpaganidols,whichofitself
isacompleterepudiationoftheirclaimofloyaltytoYehoveh.So,aftersocial
injusticehasbeenaddressed,aswellasthedecadentlivingofIsrael’seliteand
theirdisdainandoppressionoftheworkingpoor,nowGod’scomplaintagainst
themturnsbacktoidolatry.Thesetwonamedpagandeitieswereastraldeities,
bothofwhichhavelonghistoriesbehindthem.Sikkut(alsocalledSakkut)and
KiyunwerelongpartofthevariousancientMesopotamianreligions.So,whatis
beingtalkedaboutisagreatreligiousprocession(aparade)thatthe
Ephraim/Israelitescopiedfromtheirpaganneighbors,evenusingtheirpagan
stardeitieswhoseimagestheycarriedintheprocession,andthendedicateditall
toYehoveh.
ForalltheseoffensesagainstGod,andmore,verse17pronouncesjudgment.All
thefalsethingsthatIsraelhadreliedupontosupporttheirfalsemanmade
religionwouldprovetohavebeenworthnothing.GodisessentiallytellingIsrael
togoaheadandhangontothose2deitiesandtotakethemalongastheygointo
exile.Let’smoveontoAmoschapter6.
READAMOSCHAPTER6all
Interestingly,AmosnowincludesJudahinthisprophecyagainstEphraimwhen
hespeaksofZion.So,thisoracleisdirected(fornow)attheentirefamilyof
Jacob…allthetribes.Evenmorespecificallythiswoeisagainstthosedescribed
asateaseandcomplacent.Thesefolksfeelconfidentandsecureintheirwealth
andinthedefensestheyhavepreparedagainstanyeventuality.
The2ndhalfofverse1isabitdifficulttotranslateandsoafewdifferent
attemptshavebeenmade.Whiletheyallaregenerallyinagreementastothe
substance,itstillrequiressomeguessesastothemeaningoftheexpressions

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thatarebeingusedtodescribethesenotablesofIsrael.Oneofthethingswe
havetorealizeisthateventhoughtribalismwasinfullswingatthistime,
nonethelessthecapitalcitiesofJerusalemandSamariawereadministered
outsidetheusualmannerthattribeswere.Sincethesewerethecentersof
politicalpower,thenwealthwasofcourseattractedtoit.Everyonewantedsome
typeofrelationshiporconnectiontothemonarchy.Thatconnectioncouldcome
viamarriage,orbybirth,or(forallbuttheveryprivilegedfew)itcouldbe
becauseofemploymentbythemonarchyorsimplylivingnearesttothekingand
hiscourt.Livingneartothekingwasalwaysreservedforonlythewealthiest.
Thesenotables,then,hadthekingsear.Theyalsoweregivenspecialprivileges
andpowerthatonlythemonarchycouldbestow.Someweregiventhepowerto
taxthepeopleandtocontrolveryprofitablenationalbuildingprojects.Therefore,
itwasthecommoncitizens…thehouseofIsraelitiscalledhere…thatcametothe
notableswhentheyneededgovernmenthelpandjustice.So,itisthiselite
group…thenotables…ofbothJudahandIsraelthatverse1isaddressing.
Inverse2,acomparisonisdrawnbetweenIsraeland3gentilenations:Calneh,
Hamath,andGath.Theoracleasksarhetoricalquestionwhoseansweris“no”.
Thequestionis:areyou,Israel,betterthanthose3nations?EventhoughIsrael
wouldinstinctivelyanswer“yes”astheythoughtthemselvesthe
cream-of-the-cropandall-important,GodmakesitclearthatHeseesthemasno
betterthanthose3pagancity-states.Atthistimeinhistory,CalnehandHamath
wereactuallyunderthecontrolofEphraim/Israel.Gath(oneofthe5major
Philistinecities)wasunderJudah’scontrol.So,partofthepointofchoosing
those3citiesforcomparisonincludestheideathattheseareallsubjugated
cities…theywereinvadedandlosttheirfreedom…justasSamariawillsoonbe
invadedandoverrun(andJerusalemseveraldecadeslaterwill,too).Theother
pointbeingmadeisthatnationsandkingdomsmaythinktheyhavepriority
beforeGod…Israelincluded...but,likeIsrael,theyhavebadlyassessedtheir
situation.
Verse3continuestospeaktotheeliteofIsrael.“Puttingfaroffthatevilday”
meansthesefolkspushawayanddenyanythoughtthatsuchathingasterrible
aswhatAmosisproposingcouldactuallyeverhappentothem.Theysimply
continuetheirdecadenceandimmoralitybelievingtheycannotbetouched.Yet,

Lesson9-AmosChapters5&6
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itisthatsameattitudethatcausesthecomingviolenceonlytoaccelerate,and
fortheirwealthandpositiontobedashedtopiecesevensoonerthanitmight
havebeen.Putanotherway:itistheleadersandtheeliteofEphraim/Israelwho
arefullyresponsibleforbringingaboutthecalamitythatisabouttobefallthem.
Idaresay,thatisthecasenearlyeverytimeanationorakingdomfalls.
Incompetentandarrogantleadersarecertaintheirwealthandpowerwill
insulatethemfromwhatevertheresultisoftheirfolly.There’snothingnew
underthesuninthis.
Thenext3versesareasomewhatdetailedlistofthedecadentbehaviorsofthese
notableelitewhoharbornothoughtthattheycouldeverlosewhattheyhave.
Verse4paintsthemasbasicallylazy.Leisureistheirpreferredwayoflifeandit
ishowtheyspendthebulkoftheirtime.Thebedsofivorywereexpensively
craftedwoodinlaidwithornateivory,andwerenot“beds”aswethinkofthem
today(mattresses),butratherwewouldcallthemcouches.Thesewealthydine
onnothingbutthefinest.Theyeatmeatdaily;lamborbeef.Eventhentheseare
thechoicestofthesheepandcattletheyusefortheirmeatsource.Most
Israelitescouldnotimaginesuchathing.Eatingmeatwaswellbeyondthem
(mostoftheanimalproteintheyconsumedwasfish).Sheepandcattlewerefor
sacrificing,andsomanyofthemprobablyonlyatemeatasadirectresultof
attendingoneoranotherofthepilgrimagefestivals…Matzah,Shavuot,and
Sukkot…andofferingasheeporcowasasacrifice.Thefirstfeastoccursinthe
springtime,thesecondisasummerfeast,andthelastisafallfeast.So,eating
meatwasveryinfrequent.Mentioningtheregulareatingofmeatbytheeliteis
meant,then,topointoutthelavishandexcessivelifestyletheyled,incontrast
tothemeagerdietoftheaverageIsraelitefamily.
We’llstopherefortoday,andcontinueinAmoschapter6nexttime.