Amos 6-8

Amos 6

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion…”

• Both Judah (Zion) and Israel (Samaria) addressed
• Leaders feel secure because of their prosperity and status
• Examples (Calneh, Hamath, Gath)
  • Once-powerful cities that fell
  • They assume “this won’t happen to us”

Luxury of Israel

• Lie on ivory beds
• Eat the best food
• Drink wine in excess
• Enjoy music

But:

• “not grieved over the ruin of Joseph”
• They are comfortable while the nation is collapsing.

“They shall now be the first of those who go into exile”

Total Destruction

• God swears by Himself: ultimate certainty
• Cities handed over
• Even mention of death avoidance (“do not mention the LORD”)

“Do horses run on rocks?”Illustrates how unnatural their behavior i

Amos 7

Vision 1: Locusts

• Locust devastation (after king took portion)
• More about to occur
• Amos intercedes: “O Lord GOD, please forgive”
• God relents

Vision 2: Fire

• Consuming judgment
• Amos intercedes again
• God relents

 Vision 3: Plumb Line

• A plumb line tests straightness
• Israel is measured and found crooked
• “I will never again pass by them”

 Conflict with Amaziah (Priest of Bethel)

• Amaziah tells Amos to leave
• Rejects the message

Amos responds:

• Not a professional prophet
• Called by God

God speaks: Judgment pronounced on Amaziah’s household

‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city;

Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword;

Your land shall be divided by survey line;

You shall die in a defiled land;

And Israel shall surely be led away captive

From his own land.’”

Amos 8

Vision 4: Basket of Summer Fruit

Hebrew wordplay:

• “summer fruit” קָיִץ (qayits)
• “end” קֵץ (qēts / qets)
• “So when Amos replies to the Lord that he sees a basket of ripe qayis, God replied ‘Qes!’ An end is to come upon Israel.” (Boice)

 The harvest is ripe and judgment is ready

Injustice

• Trampling the needy
• Cheating with scales
• Selling the poor

God swears He will not forget

• Land trembles
• Mourning like for an only son
• Sun darkened at noon
  • Cf:Joel 2:10

“Not a famine of bread… but of hearing the words of the LORD”

• People will seek God’s word
• But will not find it

Application

In Amos 6-8, we see that God does not take complacency lightly. God gives us grace time and time again, but expects us to turn from our sin. Israel continued their ignorance and injustice leading to a “famine of hearing the word of the LORD”. We should  respond while He is still speaking.