The law cannot be bent and retain her legitimacy.”
–A.K. Vyas (Dodge City)
“We know, of course, that the Law is good in itself and has a legitimate function. Yet we also know that the Law is not really meant for the good man, but for the man who has neither principles nor self-control, for the man who is really wicked, who has neither scruples nor reverence…”
–1 Timothy 1:8-9 (Phillips)
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You wouldn’t see Amos driving about Samaria with a bumper-sticker on the back of his chariot reading, “Smile, God loves you.” (Cohen) True, God loves each one of us enough to call us to repentance. Following this warning, Amos will then have several visions that he will declare to the people, but first we must look at the second half of chapter six.
8 — The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts says: “I abhor the pride of Jacob, and hate his palaces; therefore I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.”
9 — Then it shall come to pass, that if ten men remain in one house, they shall die.
10 — And when a relative of the dead, with one who will burn the bodies, picks up the bodies to take them out of the house, he will say to one inside the house, “Are there any more with you?” Then someone will say, “None.” And he will say, “Hold your tongue! For we dare not mention the name of the LORD.”
11 — For behold the LORD gives a command: He will break the great house into bits, and the little house into pieces. (NKJV)
Right at the start, we see a solemn, divine oath. God swears by Himself and there is no higher authority. This oath “puts the sentence past revocation.” (Matthew Henry) God’s message to those in arrogance is that lowliness is coming. He tells them that pride leads to collapse. God does not approve of people just the way they are, be they rich or poor. Amos’ message was to a sinful, prideful generation.
Because of their sin, God says, “He abhors the pride of Jacob” meaning the land, the Promised Land. The people boasted of their security, wealth, and luxury. Jesus proclaimed, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15, NKJV) Lloyd Ogilvie explains, “Like a deadly cancer, pride ate away at the soul of God’s people. Pride motivated their defection from Him.”
Death is on the way. If not by the hand of the Assyrians, then by a pestilence that follows. Even in burial, there would not be the name of God mentioned. They know the pestilence is from God and they do not want to risk getting God’s further attention. “People who had not believed that God would come in judgment would now be afraid of what further disaster He might bring upon them.” (NKJV Study Bible) Matthew Henry puts it this way, “The foolishness of men perverts their way, and brings them into distress, and then their heart frets against the Lord.”
12 — Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.
13 — You who rejoice over Lo Debar, who say, “Have we not taken Karnaim for ourselves by our own strength?”
14 — “But, behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” says the LORD God of hosts; “and they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the Valley of the Arabah.” (NKJV)
Destruction is coming. The luxurious and elegant houses would soon be nothing but ashes. “They had perverted just judgment into the bitterness of gall, a thing obnoxious and to be despised, and had twisted the fruit of righteousness into hemlock, moral, ethical, and spiritual poison.” (Albert Garner) What seems to be foolish questions by Amos is exactly what the people had done–acted foolishly. “The pure fruit of just had been made into poison.” (Peter C. Craigie) Look at what the people have done to justice and Amos declares that the Lord will no longer put up with it. Ogilvie says that it is “folly and obdurate stupidity to go against what God has commanded.” Foolishness, lack of common sense, and arrogance have been the character of the people. What the people have done just didn’t make sense. (hmm, look at the conditions in Los Angeles before the fire–ponder). The people have mocked true justice. “The people deranged God’s order and went contrary to His design for humankind.” (Ogilvie) Is this not what we see in our nation today with the deconstruction of foundational ideas and values? Instead of justice there is chaos and absurdity. “If pride leads to arrogance…stupidity is not far behind.” (Ogilvie)
Warren Wierbe declares that, “Humble dependence on God is the only guarantee of His help and blessing.” That certainly wasn’t the mindset in Israel. Amos warns, “Behold, I will bring a nation against you [Assyria]” The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, later using the same words, “Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar [Chaldea].” (5:15, NKJV) Israel functioned as if God was no longer in control. With growing apostasy in the country they no longer took Him seriously and were on the threshold of losing their existence and identity. “Boastful arrogance was changed into baneful anguish.” (Wiersbe)
It would do us good as a nation and as individuals to check our attitude and our humility before the Lord. He desires, no, He requires a righteous people. H. A. Ironside said, “‘The righteous Lord loveth righteousness,’ and will not connect His name with what is contrary to it.”
——————————-
You wouldn’t see Amos driving about Samaria with a bumper-sticker on the back of his chariot reading, “Smile, God loves you.” (Cohen) True, God loves each one of us enough to call us to repentance. Following this warning, Amos will then have several visions that he will declare to the people, but first we must look at the second half of chapter six.
8 — The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts says: “I abhor the pride of Jacob, and hate his palaces; therefore I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.”
9 — Then it shall come to pass, that if ten men remain in one house, they shall die.
10 — And when a relative of the dead, with one who will burn the bodies, picks up the bodies to take them out of the house, he will say to one inside the house, “Are there any more with you?” Then someone will say, “None.” And he will say, “Hold your tongue! For we dare not mention the name of the LORD.”
11 — For behold the LORD gives a command: He will break the great house into bits, and the little house into pieces. (NKJV)
Right at the start, we see a solemn, divine oath. God swears by Himself and there is no higher authority. This oath “puts the sentence past revocation.” (Matthew Henry) God’s message to those in arrogance is that lowliness is coming. He tells them that pride leads to collapse. God does not approve of people just the way they are, be they rich or poor. Amos’ message was to a sinful, prideful generation.
Because of their sin, God says, “He abhors the pride of Jacob” meaning the land, the Promised Land. The people boasted of their security, wealth, and luxury. Jesus proclaimed, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15, NKJV) Lloyd Ogilvie explains, “Like a deadly cancer, pride ate away at the soul of God’s people. Pride motivated their defection from Him.”
Death is on the way. If not by the hand of the Assyrians, then by a pestilence that follows. Even in burial, there would not be the name of God mentioned. They know the pestilence is from God and they do not want to risk getting God’s further attention. “People who had not believed that God would come in judgment would now be afraid of what further disaster He might bring upon them.” (NKJV Study Bible) Matthew Henry puts it this way, “The foolishness of men perverts their way, and brings them into distress, and then their heart frets against the Lord.”
12 — Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.
13 — You who rejoice over Lo Debar, who say, “Have we not taken Karnaim for ourselves by our own strength?”
14 — “But, behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” says the LORD God of hosts; “and they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath to the Valley of the Arabah.” (NKJV)
Destruction is coming. The luxurious and elegant houses would soon be nothing but ashes. “They had perverted just judgment into the bitterness of gall, a thing obnoxious and to be despised, and had twisted the fruit of righteousness into hemlock, moral, ethical, and spiritual poison.” (Albert Garner) What seems to be foolish questions by Amos is exactly what the people had done–acted foolishly. “The pure fruit of just had been made into poison.” (Peter C. Craigie) Look at what the people have done to justice and Amos declares that the Lord will no longer put up with it. Ogilvie says that it is “folly and obdurate stupidity to go against what God has commanded.” Foolishness, lack of common sense, and arrogance have been the character of the people. What the people have done just didn’t make sense. (hmm, look at the conditions in Los Angeles before the fire–ponder). The people have mocked true justice. “The people deranged God’s order and went contrary to His design for humankind.” (Ogilvie) Is this not what we see in our nation today with the deconstruction of foundational ideas and values? Instead of justice there is chaos and absurdity. “If pride leads to arrogance…stupidity is not far behind.” (Ogilvie)
Warren Wierbe declares that, “Humble dependence on God is the only guarantee of His help and blessing.” That certainly wasn’t the mindset in Israel. Amos warns, “Behold, I will bring a nation against you [Assyria]” The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed, later using the same words, “Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar [Chaldea].” (5:15, NKJV) Israel functioned as if God was no longer in control. With growing apostasy in the country they no longer took Him seriously and were on the threshold of losing their existence and identity. “Boastful arrogance was changed into baneful anguish.” (Wiersbe)
It would do us good as a nation and as individuals to check our attitude and our humility before the Lord. He desires, no, He requires a righteous people. H. A. Ironside said, “‘The righteous Lord loveth righteousness,’ and will not connect His name with what is contrary to it.”