Amos 6

vv1-7 First among the nations, first to go into exile

Pride, arrogance, and laziness amongst Israelite leaders. Dignitaries in v1 is same as Numbers 1:17 “17 So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name,”

Calneh, Hamath, and Gath we cities that were prosperous. Amos is saying “They are as powerful as you, and doomed for destruction also.”

Beds of ivory, lambs and fattened cattle remind us of luxury, idleness, and the corruption Israel used to gain those things.

v5 says “Just as David make songs for God, they make songs for their god: their bellies”

Amos 6:6 “6 Who drink wine from sacred bowls While they anoint themselves with the finest of oils— Yet they have not grieved over the collapse of Joseph.” Note v7 says “the revelry of those who lounge around will come to an end.” Revelry literally means feast, and basically everything Amos has mentioned so far (carefree, lying down and lounging around, eating lambs, calves, and fattened cattle, making music, drinking wine, anointing with oil) connects with revelry and feasting.

vv8-11

“The Lord of armies swears by himself” Not the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, nor the God of Israel. Swears by himself.

vv9-11 basically say that The Day of the Lord, or God’s wrath, will be so great that 90% of Israelites will die. Think about videos of people searching for survivors and pulling out dead bodies during earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, or 9/11.

People will know that it was God that did this, and they won’t speak his name lest the invite him to turn his attention to them again. For us, persecution is promised and we must learn to lean on the Rock when times are tough.

God hates their arrogance, so he’ll totally destroy the state. God himself will do this in divine judgment.

vv12-14

Lodebar and Karnaim are places in the Transjordan, indicating Israel was celebrating over their victories. Lodebar is actually a prophetic renaming of Lo Debar. Lodebar means nothing. Hamath is in the north and Arabah is in the south, indicated God will torment the entire nation.

Amos 5:24 “24 “But let justice roll out like waters, And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” turns into Amos 6:12 “12 Yet you have turned justice into poison, And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood,”

Isaiah 5:20 “20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

1 Timothy 4:2 “2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,”

Applications

Pride, arrogance (ministries, spiritual gifts)

Danger for us because we can easily be too revelrous and carefree to the problems around us. (luxurious travel, luxurious living, cars instead of taxis, first class plane tickets, “toys”)

Lean on the Rock.

Justice and Righteousness again