Amos 5 –6

     The fifth chapter of Amos is described as a Lament for Israel’s sin. It certainly provides a bleak picture of Israel’s future. The prophet has already said that all that will remain will be as worthless as a bit of animal seized back from the predator. Out of a city of a thousand (5:3) perhaps a hundred will be left. A town of a hundred might have ten.
      Amos earnestly repeats the Lord’s call to seek out God and live, but exclaims bitterly over those that turn justice to wormwood. Do they really imagine that the Lord who made the constellations, who brings the daylight and rules the oceans can be ignored?
      Ironically, of course, the people to whom Amos is speaking, think they are all right with God, despite their treatment of the poor. Therefore, the things they have done – build houses, plan vineyards...they will not enjoy the fruits of them.
      Some scholars regard 5:13 (that the prudent will keep silent in such a time) as a later addition since it doesn’t seem in accord with Amos’ forthright spirit. On the other hand, it could be ironic humor on Amos’ part.
      Amos again records the call to seek good instead of evil, and to establish justice in the home that God will be good to the few who are left after the time of judgment. But if the words are recorded in some of the order he spoke them, Amos does appear to have much hope it will happen, for the words of judgement return, the farmers shall mourn, the professional mourners will wail and God will pass through the midst of them (a probable reference to Passover).
      The “Day of the Lord” was something the people looked forward to. This was no apocalyptic expectation, for that theology did not develop for some centuries ahead of Amos. But since he didn’t define Day of the Lord, it must have been a common term used by the people. Perhaps it was the annual celebration of the New Year. If it was at all similar to the Babylonian New Year ceremonies (and customs were often similar), it might have included re-enthronement of the king, ceremonial victory over enemies, renewing the promise of prosperity and the setting of fate for the year to come. Eventually, the idea of the coming of God to bless the people might have suggested the idea of a day when God would come to begin a permanent era of righteousness.
     But Amos thought the people were foolish to look forward to the Day of the Lord. Because, on such a day they would only deserve darkness. He used imaged like fleeing from a lion to meet a bear, similar to the modern ‘out of the frying pan into the fire.’
     Amos declares God’s distaste for the festivals. The offerings are unacceptable. The songs are offensive. Instead, let just roll down like water and righteousness like a never-ending stream.


      It’s too bad, Amos says, for those who are living in comfort and peace of mind in Israel. They should look at other nations and their misfortunes, and realize that they are no better than them. All the people are doing is hastening trouble and violence upon themselves.
     The opulence Amos describes must have been awe-inspiring, especially for the poor upon whose oppression the comfort was bought. Beds of ivory, lounging on their couches to eat lambs and calves, singing idle songs. Ivory was an expensive substance, and eating meat was rare except for special occasions. Cows and sheep were valuable producers of wool and milk, and therefore not commonly eaten as the rich apparently ate them, along with wine from bowls, anointing themselves with expensive oils. In all this they don’t give a moment’s grief for the ruination of their country, nor for what God really wants of the people.