Amos 5

Because injustice and oppression are so entrenched in the land, the prudent man keeps quiet (verse 13); he knows that nothing will change. Usually Christians should speak out against the evils in society; usually their voices will make a difference. But sometimes it is “prudent” to remain quiet—especially when speaking out may make the situation worse.

14 –15 Amos urges the Israelites to seek good, to look for any good they can do and then do it. Then, says Amos, the Lord will be with you (verse 14). The Israelites, being God’s chosen people, assumed He would always be with them; but they were wrong. Perhaps if they loved the “good,” God would have mercy on the remnant of Israel (verse 15)—that is, on those who heeded Amos’s message and turned back to God. But Amos doesn’t guarantee God’s mercy; he only says “perhaps.” God’s mercy does not come automatically; it is a gift of God’s grace (see Joel 2:14).

16–17 Amos understands that only a “remnant” is going to be saved from God’s judgment on Israel (verse 15). But for most Israelites, there will be wailing and cries of anguish—for the Lord will pass through their midst (verse 17), just as He “passed through” Egypt to bring judgment on the Egyptians (Exodus 12:12).

The Day of the Lord (5:18–27)

18–20 The Israelites “longed” for the day of the LORD (verse 18); they thought that for them it would be a day of light, a day of victory and vindication.²³ But how wrong they were! For them the day of the Lord would be a day of darkness, a day of judgment.²⁴ God’s judgment wasn’t reserved only for other nations; it would also fall on sinful Israel. In verse 19, Amos gives two illustrations to show that the coming judgment will be inescapable.

21–24 Here the Lord expresses His displeasure at the false worship of the Israelites (see Isaiah 1:10–17 and comment). Instead of such worship, the Lord wants to see justice roll on like a river (verse 24); He desires obedience and mercy, not empty sacrifices (1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Mark 12:33–34).

25–27 The Lord asks the Israelites a rhetorical question: Did their ancestors bring Him sacrifices in the desert? (verse 25). The answer is “Yes.” But what good had those sacrifices done? The people died in the desert in spite of them. Why? Because they had not obeyed the Lord (see Numbers 14:32–35). Heartfelt obedience is far more important to God than outward ritual.

But the Israelites in Amos’s time were no better than their ancestors. They had lifted up the shrine of their king (verse 26), presumably the pagan shrine King Jeroboam had established at Bethel almost two centuries earlier (1 Kings 12:28–29,32). “Therefore,” says the Lord, “because of your idolatry and all your other sins, I will send you into exile“ (verse 27). Thus the Israelites brought down upon them selves this, the ultimate covenant curse (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64).