Read: Amos 5-6
Chapter five
begins with a lament and call for Israel to repent. Amos reviews how Israel had fallen and the
devastation that is to follow (5:3) and pleads with them to renounce their
idols and seek God and live (5:4). Even
after their great sinfulness there was hope for this nation if they turned to
God. Amos then gives a magnificent
description of the Lord who turns night into day and governs the order of the
universe (5:4-9). He rebukes their
injustices and oppression and encourages them to repent (5:10-24). The appeal is summed up by the prophet’s
passionate plea to “seek good and not
evil that you may live” (5:14) - it is up to them to decide. In
verses 21-27 of chapter five God directly addresses Israel with the charge of
unfaithfulness. God rejected the current
practice of religion in Israel because the people had no basis on which to come
to God because their conduct reflected disobedience of His laws. It was the hypocrisy of the people’s behavior
that God hated. In the midst of their
wickedness they were still going to church and sacrificed animals. God hated their religious celebrations and won’t
accept their offerings or listen to their worship. What was inside their hearts mattered most
and there they were lacking. Even though
the people felt secure (6:1) and lived lives of luxury (6:4-6) this would soon
end. God would use a nation to punish
them (6:14).
Prayer and Journaling
1. Many people in our society eagerly seek success,
wealth, prestige and power. In their
pursuit, some people end up sacrificing their marriages, families and even
their health. What does today’s passage
teach us to seek? Ask the Lord to show
you what this should look like in your life.
2. Re-read Amos 5:21-24. Ask the Lord to show you any areas of
hypocrisy that you struggle with. Ask
Him what He requires of you in these areas – what changes are you to make in
your lifestyle?
3. In their complacency Israel failed to grieve
over the spiritual ruin of their nation (6:6).
What should grieve us today about our nation? Take time to pray about these things and
dialog with God about them. Ask the Lord
to help the church/Christians to be faithful and obedient to His Word in these
areas.
