Woe to Those at Ease in Zion (Amos 6)

Amos has another message to deliver and we can see that it is a serious one because he begins it with the word ‘Woe’. It is addressed mainly to the northern kingdom, although there is a message also for the southern kingdom of Judah, here referred to when he mentions Jerusalem under its other name of Zion.

 

Why were they at ease? (v. 1)

The answer to this question is obvious. They misread the situation they were in. As we have observed, the period in which Amos ministered was a time of great prosperity for the northern kingdom. Israel was regarded as an important nation, with access to and contact with ‘the first of the nations’. Moreover, their location had natural defences which would make it difficult for an invading army to overcome them. Maybe visiting delegations had commented on their apparent security. Whether they did or not, Israel was at ease. They forgot that Zion could be attacked.

 

What did they forget? (v. 2-3)

They forgot what had happened to other prosperous places, some of them very close geographically, so the forgetfulness was more bizarre. He advises the inhabitants to go on a tour of three cities and see what happened to them. At some stage, they had been defeated by an enemy. His advice to them is like us going to the ruins of ancient cities and recalling what happened to them. The Israelites were assuming that they would not experience such a fate, but on what were they basing such confidence? Those three cities had seemed very capable, but only until a more powerful enemy appeared. Then they discovered who they really were. All they could contribute now was to be a visual reminder that powerful cities can disappear. But the Israelites failed to even notice what had occurred. It is like someone watching the news about troubles in other places and assuming that they would never come to his location.

 

What were their priorities? (vv. 4-7)

It is likely that Amos’ condemnation is of those in power and who had become wealthy through unrighteous practices. Their main interest was to have a good time. Amos describes their parties – comfortable surroundings, good food, pleasant music, plenty to drink, and soothing ointments. The prophet is not suggesting that this was an occasional experience. Rather, it was their everyday behaviour. Their focus was on pleasure. The problem was that it was not a time for feasting or focusing on pleasure. Instead, says Amos, they should have been ‘grieved over the ruin of Joseph’.

 

We can almost see their dismissal of such an idea. They would not see any evidence that Joseph had been ruined. In contrast, they could see with their eyes that things were going very well in an outward sense. But that was only because they had no spiritual vision. They were like the church in Laodicea where the members thought all was well whereas in reality, as Jesus revealed to that church, they were poor, blind and naked.

 

Their confidence would not prevent the judgement from coming. Indeed, although those leaders imagined that they were very secure, they would be the first to go into exile. This could be a reference to how their conquerors would treat them with contempt by putting the leaders and the ruling class at the front of the line as they trudged to their place of exile. As Amos says, ‘the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.’

 

What did God think of it all? (v. 8)

We have already thought in previous studies of this book about the response of God to the way they were behaving. In verse 8, Amos mentions again what the Lord’s response is. We can see three elements in the response.

 

First, he reminds the Israelites of his greatness, and this greatness is seen in two ways. One is that he is able to swear by himself and the other is that he is the God of hosts. Whenever a person makes an oath, he has to promise to or by someone greater. God cannot do that, so he swears by himself because he is the greatest person in existence. It is also the case that him swearing in this way is a statement that what he swears to do will happen. The other aspect of his greatness is that the heavenly host, the angels, serve him wholeheartedly and constantly, which is a vivid contrast from the way that Israel had responded to him.

 

Second, God reminded the Israelites of his attitude towards sin, especially the sin of self-confidence. The Israelites were depending on their own resources for their safety rather than on God. This does not mean that they should not have done their best and built fortresses for security, but it does mean that they should have depended on the Lord as their ultimate fortress.

 

Third, God reminded them of the unchangeableness of his purpose for them. They would go into exile because they had abandoned the Lord, and nothing would prevent it taking place. In his providence, he would bring about the situation in which his intention would be fulfilled. Nobody can hinder his purposes from happening.

 

How did Amos apply his message? (vv. 9-14)

We should recall that Amos began this message with the word ‘Woe’. Therefore we should expect some dire applications because to be in such a situation is very ominous.

 

First, Amos mentions that the time will come when people will fear the Lord, but not in a positive manner. He chooses a situation where bereavements are occurring. In verse 9, he says it will be common for families to be wiped out, and sadly this would take place when the Assyrians would invade Samaria. Then in verse 10, he gives an example of a relative preparing a dead body for burial and asking another person if there are any other dead bodies in the house. The implication is that one of them is going to say something else, something like ‘In God’s mercy, there are no more dead here.’ Before he can do so, the other person says, ‘Don’t mention the name of the Lord.’ This was the fear that things would only get worse if more divine judgement came.

 

Second, Amos mentions the usual practice of conquerors when they captured a city, which was to knock down all its buildings. This was an attempt to remove historical memory from the people. Imagine how Edinburgh would seem if all its old buildings were knocked down. Our own grasp of the history of our town has been affected if we can recall what Bridge Street used to look like. On a far larger scale, the Assyrians would remove all evidence of thy way that people had once lived in Samaria. But it was actually God who would do it as a punishment for their sins. Nothing would be left for people to admire.

 

Third, Amos points out that the people of the northern kingdom have behaved in an irrational manner. A person would not expect to see horses and oxen being used in situations where it would be hard for them to move. Similarly, a person would not have expected the Israelites to practice injustice and unrighteousness. It would be an act of foolishness for a rider to take his horse across a rocky place or for a farmer to plough in a place full of rocks. And it was extreme folly for the Israelites to have made the moral choices that they did. Instead of giving life to them, their decisions were like giving poison and replacing righteousness with something that would destroy them. What was the point of them expressing self-confidence in such an environment?

 

Amos gives an example of their self-confidence in verse 13: ‘you who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, “Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaim for ourselves?”’ He refers to two locations that Jeroboam II had recaptured (2 Kings 14:28). Lo-debar was a place whose name means ‘nothing’ and he says that was where they dwelt. His words are sarcastic because their territory could not provide security. Moreover, a small success in the past, when they captured a small city called Karnaim, did not mean more success in the future. Yet they were trusting in their own abilities.

 

Fourth, Amos mentions what the Lord has said to him about the extent of the coming oppression (v. 14). It would cover every inch of the land – Lebo-hamath was the northern boundary and the Brook of the Arabah was its southern boundary. In order to get their attention, God used the word ‘behold’. It was something for them to consider because it was his action.

 

Application

As we aim to apply the contents of this chapter to ourselves, we can do so by asking five questions. The first is, are we at ease in Zion? Zion in the prophecy of Amos here was a reference to Jerusalem, the capital of the southern kingdom. How would we describe such a person, living in the place where God’s temple was located, and then move from there to here, because Zion now is a name for the church?

 

One way is to say that it refers to a person who is not yet converted, although listening to services and attending other events. Obviously, such a person is at ease because he or she is unconcerned about their spiritual state. Maybe they forget the implications of their baptism, which is that they should live for God. It is not good to have that kind of ease in Zion. Such should turn to the Lord and ask for his mercy.

 

Another way by which this condition affects people is the way it is found among those who profess to be Christians but who show little effort in or enjoyment of spiritual activities. They prefer to do other things rather than attend church services or prayer meetings or Bible studies. They may be able to defend themselves against church authorities, but it will be very different when God brings them to account. Of course, the ease is not limited to public activities. It also affects personal spiritual disciplines. Anyone that is at ease in Zion should move quickly to get things right with God and what he requires.

 

A second question to ask in light of this chapter is, do we visit ruined places? Amos asked the Israelites to consider what had happened to three cities that had suffered in some way. I recall visiting the ruins of Ephesus, a city which once had a thriving church in New Testament times. And also at another time the ruins of Capernaum. Of course, a ruined building may not be in a state of complete collapse. The three cities mentioned by Amos were built again. There are some sites near us where God previously revealed his power. It can be sobering experience to consider what used to happen there.  

 

A third question that arises from this chapter is, are we grieved for the ruin of Joseph? This is a different type of ruin from that of the ruined cities. The ruin of Joseph was happening before their eyes and it referred to their departure from God. Amos tells us that the Lord wanted the Israelites to grieve for as long as that decline was taking place. God would have been pleased with that kind of response, but he was not pleased with the response that ignored the sinful mess into which the people had descended.

 

Of course, Joseph was a name for all the people, not just the ones who had caused or approved of the decline. We can see elsewhere how Daniel grieved for the nation of which he was a member and included himself among them when he prayed for their restoration. The question has been asked, ‘Who will weep for the people of Scotland?’ We can add, ‘Who will weep for the spiritual state of the churches in Scotland?’ Mind you, we need to see the problem before we will weep over it.

 

The fourth question that arises from the chapter is, what kind of fear of God do we have? The fear mentioned in the chapter was a fear caused by hopelessness and dread of worse to come. That was the fear of despair. We do not want that kind of fear when thinking about our God. The ones who have that kind of fear have a guilty conscience because they have not availed themselves of the mercy that God offers freely to those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus.

 

The fifth question is, do we take seriously the warnings of divine judgement? God through Amos reminded the Israelites once again that his judgement in a temporal sense was coming. It would be an awful experience when it came. Yet it would be as nothing in comparison to the final judgement. People usually have meetings of importance at some stage in their lives. No meeting will be like this future meeting when we stand before the all-knowing, all-powerful God. Jesus did say that every idle word will need to be accounted for. This day is coming, and all other days dwarf in comparison to it.

 

Amos speaks to us as strongly and as clearly as he spoke to the people of his day. That fact is a blessing for us if we heed his message about being at ease in Zion.