"Woe to the Complacent Nations"

“Woe to the Complacent Nations”

Amos 6:1 (KJV)

“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…”(addressed to Judah and Israel)

I. The Complacent Nations! vs 1

A. Israel(Northern Kingdom)

B. Judah(Southern Kingdom)

1945. הוֹי hôy: An interjection meaning ho! woe! alas! It is used in lamenting a person’s death (1 Kgs. 13:30). It is used in prophetic announcements of judgment or threats (Isa. 1:4, 24; Jer. 48:1; Ezek. 13:18; Amos 5:18). It is used to draw attention to an unexpected but momentous occasion (Isa. 18:1) or to a hope-filled and joyous expectation (Zech. 2:6[10]).

Baker, W., & Carpenter, E. E. (2003). The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament (p. 260). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

at ease=secure(in a bad sense, false security), haughty, quiet, tumult(confusion or disorder), complacent

(a military term opposite of “attention”)

From Saul to Solomon—3 kings—120 years! The kingdom divided, 10 tribes of Israel went North and 2 tribes of Israel went South!

There were 13 more kings—138 years later Jereboam II comes into power. The Northern Kingdom was at its Height of 1. Wealth 2. Wickedness 3. Worship!

In 50 years it will be taken over by Assyria! Judah will be taken over by Babylon later! Israel fell! Assyria and Babylon would later fall!

Where was America 258 years ago? In 1763?

Britain had just won the 7 years war and gained more North America land.

It made a proclamation that no colonist could settle west of Appalachia.

The Treaty of Paris, marked the end of the French and Indian war. France fell!

Then came taxes, taxes, taxes!

1776 Declaration of Independence.

1789 George Washington became our 1st President. Britain fell!

2020 Joe Biden became our 46th President. U.S.A. fell??? 2070?? If a Prophet came to you and said in 2070 the USA will be overtaken by an enemy nation what would you do?

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that forget God” Psalm 9:17

Complacency is an insidious sin, because it's based on lies, motivated by pride, and leads to trusting something other than God (Zeph. 1:12). Like the people in the church of Laodicea, complacent people consider themselves "rich, and increased with goods" and in need of nothing (Rev. 3:17). In reality, however, they have lost everything that's important in the spiritual life. When the Lord sees His people becoming complacent and self-satisfied, He sometimes sends trials to wake them up.

Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - Old Testament - The Prophets.

II. The Complacent Nations Curse!

A. Blindness vs 2-3

1. “Ye that put far away the evil day...” 3

Zephaniah 1:12 (KJV)

12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

B. Self-Indulgence vs 4-7(of the wealthy)

1. food vs 4

2. wine vs6

3. music vs 5

4. laziness vs 4

7  “Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive,

And the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed” (The party is over, and the hangover of captivity begins!)(Just like addiction)

C. Apathy vs 6b

“But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.”

6:6 are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph The leaders are consumed with self-indulgent pleasures. They ignore the rampant injustice and impending national disaster.

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Am 6:6). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

7667. שֵׁבֶר šēḇer: A masculine noun meaning destruction, ruin, affliction, fracture, solution of a dream, breach. This noun can be used to express the result from the breaking of a dream (i.e., its interpretation [Judg. 7:15]). Isaiah used this noun to express the possible result of sin by speaking metaphorically of the shattering of a wall (Isa. 30:13). In Leviticus, this noun is used to designate a fracture of the foot or hand, indicating a cripple (Lev. 21:19). The noun can also be used to indicate the primary reason for suffering due to disobedience to God.

Baker, W., & Carpenter, E. E. (2003). The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament (p. 1097). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

C. Judgment vs 8-14

1. Wealthy Smitten first!

6:8 the pride of Jacob Israel’s self-sufficient attitude and refusal to repent are signs of the great pride that will lead to their downfall.

hath sworn=to be complete, to seven oneself, charge, adjure

abhor=puffing disdainfully at, to loathe

excellency=arrogance, pomp, pride, majesty, swelling

his palaces=to be elevated, citadel

1347. גָּאוֹן gāʾôn: A masculine noun designating pride, majesty, arrogance, excellence. It refers to the exalted majesty or excellence of the Lord (Ex. 15:7; Isa. 24:14; Mic. 5:4[3]) and even to His redeemed people and their pride in Him (Isa. 4:2). It is used in a neutral sense to describe the proud, high waves of the sea (Job 38:11) and the thick growth or thicket around some areas of the Jordan (Jer. 12:5). Israel, Jacob, Judah, and Israel are all depicted as possessing excessive pride (Jer. 13:9; Amos 6:8),

6:10 we must not invoke the name of Yahweh Out of fear of calling down further judgment from an angry deity.

“Jesus Christ is no longer on trial before men – men are now on trial before him!”

A.W. Tozer

2. The Great House Smitten 2nd! vs 11

a. “with breaches”

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament 7447. רָסִיס rāsiys

II. A masculine noun meaning a piece, a fragment. It refers to the small parts into which an object can be broken. In context, it indicates a house broken into pieces of rubble or debris (Amos 6:11).

III. A masculine noun meaning a breach, a breach in the walls. It refers to holes in the structure of a house; collapsed sections in its walls or roof (Amos 6:11).

3. The Little House Smitten 3rd! vs. 11

a. “with clefts”

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament 1233. בָּקִיעַ bāqiyaʿ

1233. בָּקִיעַ bāqiyaʿ: A masculine noun meaning a small fragment or break. It refers to a crack or hole in the wall (Isa. 22:9) of the City of David as a future prophetic picture of the fall of that city. It refers to the fragments of the small houses that will be left after the Lord judges His people Israel (Amos 6:11).

Am 6:12“For ye have turned judgment(a favorable verdict) into gall,(poisonous poppy, serpents poison, venom)

And the fruit of righteousness into hemlock(wormwood)”

Lamentations 3:15 “He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.”

3939. לַעֲנָה laʿanāh: A feminine noun indicating wormwood, bitterness. It is always used in a figurative, metaphorical sense. It describes the character of an adulteress as bitter (of wormwood) (Prov. 5:4). It is used of a rebellious or bitter root or spirit in persons (Deut. 29:18[17]) that, appropriately, results in judgments of bitterness (of wormwood), i.e., the judgments of God (Jer. 9:15[14]; 23:15; Lam. 3:15, 19). It is used to describe the opposite of justice and righteousness which should be sweet experiences (Amos 5:7; 6:12).

Baker, W., & Carpenter, E. E. (2003). The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament (p. 554). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

King James Version Chapter 6

13  Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought,

Which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?

King James Version Psalm 75

4  I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly:

And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

5  Lift not up your horn on high:

Speak not with a stiff neck.

6  For promotion cometh neither from the east,

Nor from the west, nor from the south.

7  But God is the judge:

He putteth down one, and setteth up another.

February 7

“If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up.”—Job 22:23.

ELIPHAZ, in this utterance, spoke a great truth, which is the summary of many an inspired Scripture. Reader, has sin pulled you down? Have you become like a ruin? Has the hand of the Lord gone out against you, so that in estate you are impoverished, and in spirit you are broken down? Was it your own folly which brought upon you all this dilapidation? Then the first thing to be done is to return to the Lord. With deep repentance and sincere faith find your way back from your backsliding. It is your duty, for you have turned away from him whom you professed to serve. It is your wisdom, for you cannot strive against him and prosper. It is your immediate necessity, for what he has done is nothing compared to what he may do in the way of chastisement, since he is Almighty to punish.

See what a promise invites you! You shall be “built up.” None but the Almighty can set up the fallen pillars, and restore the tottering walls of your condition; but he can and he will do it if you return to him. Do not delay. Your crushed mind may quite fail you if you go on to rebel; but hearty confession will ease you, and humble faith will console you. Do this, and all will be well.

Spurgeon, C. H. (1893). The cheque book of the bank of faith: being precious promises arranged for daily use with brief comments (p. 38). New York: American Tract Society.