Amos 5:18-27
18 Woe to you who are longing for the day of the Lord,
For what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you?
It will be darkness and not light;
19 As when a man flees from a lion
And a bear confronts him,
Or he goes home, leans with his hand against the wall,
And a snake bites him.
20 Will the day of the Lord not be darkness instead of light,
Even gloom with no brightness in it?
21 “I hate, I reject your festivals,
Nor do I delight in your festive assemblies.
22 Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fattened oxen.
23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs;
I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.
24 But let justice roll out like waters,
And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
25 Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, house of Israel?
26 You also carried along Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves.
27 Therefore I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of armies.
The Prophecy of Judgement that Begins with “Woe” (1)
The Prophecy of Judgement that Begins with “Woe”
Before we move on, let’s go over the outline of the Book of Amos once again. Chapters 1-2 were the first section of the Book of Amos. There, judgment against the nations was prophesied, and its conclusion was directed against the northern kingdom of Israel. Chapters 3-6, which we are now dealing with, are the second section (the main part of this book), and are prophecies spoken especially against the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos points out the wickedness of the people of Israel and calls for true repentance. He prophesies that if they do not repent, destruction and captivity await them. Chapters 7-9 are the third section, the visions Amos saw. In the second section, there are three prophecies of judgment that begin with the phrase, “Hear this word” (3:1; 4:1; 5:1), and in addition, there are two prophecies of judgment that begin with “Woe” (5:18; 6:1). Today’s passage is the first of the prophecies of judgment that begin with “Woe.”
The sins of Israel
(1) In Israel, there were those who misunderstood the meaning of “the day of the Lord” and were longing for its coming. Since the concept of “the day of the Lord” had been spoken of before Amos by Obadiah and Joel, the people of Israel already knew it. “The day of the Lord” is the time when the Gentile nations will meet with suffering. And in the end, the people of Israel will be exalted. Certainly these points are something to rejoice over, but before that, a great tribulation will come for Israel. Therefore, the Lord cannot help but issue this warning to the people of Israel: “Woe to you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light.” (2) The people of Israel were offering offerings in accordance with the Law of Moses, but it was merely a matter of outward form and was by no means pleasing to God. The Lord commands them, “But let justice roll out like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Israel’s unfaithfulness did not begin only now; it had been that way since the time of the exodus from Egypt. The people of Israel of that generation also fell into idol worship, serving the two Assyrian star gods, “Sikkuth” and “Kiyyun.” We hold a faith in the Second Coming, but we need to examine whether there is any misunderstanding in it. The Lord’s return will be a great blessing for those who walk with Christ day by day, but it will be a fearful day for sinners. James wrote this: “You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near” (James 5:8). Are you ready to welcome the Lord?
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, I will walk in anticipation of the Lord Jesus’ return, making preparation for it. Please guide me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.