Amos 6:1-8

1. Context:   (BKC)    The Reasons for Judgment (chaps. 3–6); ch 6 Amos pointed again to the reasons for Israel’s judgment...partly because of their boastful complacency and luxurious indulgence.

2.  3 Failures and judgment:

v.8     “I despise Jacob’s arrogance; 

    I hate their fortresses. (BDB) citadel, castle, palace...citadel as securely barred

    I will hand over to their enemies the city of Samaria and everything in it.” 

  • They were arrogance v.1 and thought they were secured, but everything will be handed over to their enemies by God

 v.3 You refuse to believe a day of disaster will come, 

    but you establish a reign of violence

  • They refused to believe the disaster would come

v.5-7     They sing to the tune of stringed instruments; 

    like David they invent musical instruments. (NAC-imagining themselves to be little Davids)

    6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, (NAC-The term for bowls is the one usually used in ritual procedures)

    and pour the very best oils on themselves. (NAC-Its purpose could have been medicinal, cosmetic, or cultic. The verb describing its application is the one generally employed in a cultic setting)

    Yet they are not concerned over the ruin of Joseph. 

    7 Therefore they will now be the first to go into exile, 

    and the religious banquets where they sprawl on couches will end

  • They overstepped in the temple music, the sacrificial vessel, and the cultic oil, when they should have fear God. They should be fearful and concerned about the disaster happening in their country, but they did not. (BKC) Rather than heed the prophet’s warnings of judgment, the leaders of Samaria instead gave themselves to a decadent hedonism

3. Summary and reflection: For arrogant people they did not take the words of destruction easily. We enjoyed our accomplishment and cannot accept the fact that those will go away quickly. Instead of fearing the Sovereign God we refuse and continue to celebrate our "good" life and neglect the word of warning. 

Our bodies are failing and our days are limited. Do I edge those in my mind? Or I just try to ignore them?

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