For it is only as good men do right that evil can be stayed and the wicked pay their due, but if good men stand aside, evil will prevail. And it must not prevail.”
–B.N. Rundell (Tincup)
“I have kept hold of my righteousness and will not let it go. My heart does not rebuke any of my days.”
–Job 27:6 (NASB)
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Matthew Henry states, “Where God has a mouth to speak, we must have an ear to hear; it is our duty, it is our interest; yet so stupid are most men, that they to be again and again called upon to hear the word of the Lord; to give audience, to give attention; hear this word.” He doesn’t mince words–men are stupid when they do not listen to the Word of the Lord.
Listen to the prophet: Hear God’s Word!
5.1 — Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel: 5.1 — Hear this word which I am taking up for you as a song or mourning house of Israel:
5.2 — The virgin of Israel has fallen; she will rise no more. She lies forsaken on 5.2 — She has fallen, she will not rise again–the virgin Israel. She lies unnoticed on her
her land; there is no one to raise her up. land; there is no one to raise her up.
5.3 — For thus says the Lord GOD: “The city that goes out by a thousand shall 5.3 — For this is what the Lord GOD says: “The city which goes forth a thousand strong
have a hundred left, and that which goes out by a hundred shall have ten left to will have a hundred left, and the one which goes forth a hundred strong will have ten left
the house of Israel.” (NKJV) to the house of Israel.” (NASB)
Amos is mourning Israel; there is bad news. These verses are a lament or dirge over Israel. Note that lamenting is usually done after death. What is the prophet doing? It is a time of festivities at Bethel; Israel is prosperous, yet here this prophet is singing a dirge over its death. He is preaching a funeral sermon to the nation of Israel, much like was told to John, “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” (Revelation 3:1, NKJV) Inside the nation was rotten. As Warren W. Wiersbe says, “The way we treat God’s Word is the way we treat God.” It would do the United States to take a deep, hearty look inside to see the rottenness and the wickedness as it has turned away from the morality of God’s Word. Look inside, before the cancer eats away at the innards.
Listen to the Word of God — America: Hear God’s Word!
Death is upon you. Hope and dreams and aspirations are gone. “The virgin has fallen; she will rise no more.” The corpse will be left to rot. A rotting body leaves a stench, and the prophet knows that it is already decaying inside. The army and mighty men will not be able to help; they will not be able to withstand the might of the Assyrians.
Wiersbe points out, “There can be no victory when the Lord has abandoned you to your fate, because you have abandoned Him.” Wake up! Do not mock God! Hear God’s Word–repent for now is the day of salvation. Recall the blessing proclaimed in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…” (NKJV)
Hear, O Israel, the Word of the Lord — Listen, O people of America and heed the Word of the Lord. Perhaps there is still time. “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.” (Psalm 85:6-9, NKJV) Only when we fear the Lord and obey His Word will He smile upon us. Is the prophet beginning His death chant? Let it not be Lord, but let us turn to You.
——————————–
Matthew Henry states, “Where God has a mouth to speak, we must have an ear to hear; it is our duty, it is our interest; yet so stupid are most men, that they to be again and again called upon to hear the word of the Lord; to give audience, to give attention; hear this word.” He doesn’t mince words–men are stupid when they do not listen to the Word of the Lord.
Listen to the prophet: Hear God’s Word!
5.1 — Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel: 5.1 — Hear this word which I am taking up for you as a song or mourning house of Israel:
5.2 — The virgin of Israel has fallen; she will rise no more. She lies forsaken on 5.2 — She has fallen, she will not rise again–the virgin Israel. She lies unnoticed on her
her land; there is no one to raise her up. land; there is no one to raise her up.
5.3 — For thus says the Lord GOD: “The city that goes out by a thousand shall 5.3 — For this is what the Lord GOD says: “The city which goes forth a thousand strong
have a hundred left, and that which goes out by a hundred shall have ten left to will have a hundred left, and the one which goes forth a hundred strong will have ten left
the house of Israel.” (NKJV) to the house of Israel.” (NASB)
Amos is mourning Israel; there is bad news. These verses are a lament or dirge over Israel. Note that lamenting is usually done after death. What is the prophet doing? It is a time of festivities at Bethel; Israel is prosperous, yet here this prophet is singing a dirge over its death. He is preaching a funeral sermon to the nation of Israel, much like was told to John, “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” (Revelation 3:1, NKJV) Inside the nation was rotten. As Warren W. Wiersbe says, “The way we treat God’s Word is the way we treat God.” It would do the United States to take a deep, hearty look inside to see the rottenness and the wickedness as it has turned away from the morality of God’s Word. Look inside, before the cancer eats away at the innards.
Listen to the Word of God — America: Hear God’s Word!
Death is upon you. Hope and dreams and aspirations are gone. “The virgin has fallen; she will rise no more.” The corpse will be left to rot. A rotting body leaves a stench, and the prophet knows that it is already decaying inside. The army and mighty men will not be able to help; they will not be able to withstand the might of the Assyrians.
Wiersbe points out, “There can be no victory when the Lord has abandoned you to your fate, because you have abandoned Him.” Wake up! Do not mock God! Hear God’s Word–repent for now is the day of salvation. Recall the blessing proclaimed in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…” (NKJV)
Hear, O Israel, the Word of the Lord — Listen, O people of America and heed the Word of the Lord. Perhaps there is still time. “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.” (Psalm 85:6-9, NKJV) Only when we fear the Lord and obey His Word will He smile upon us. Is the prophet beginning His death chant? Let it not be Lord, but let us turn to You.