" Woe to them who are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria..." (Amos 6:1a). The people no longer trusted in God, but in Mount Samaria and the indulgence of luxury. They had carnal ease. They had an indifference to God. The lust of the flesh was their desire; in other words, they wanted to sin. The desire for godliness was not there, but the desire to yield themselves to all that corrupts the spirit was allowed to reign. Galatians 5 is an excellent chapter to read to understand the full extent of the sin of Israel at this time and also to see what joy and peace come from walking in the Spirit. It might well bring home the sin this country has been slowly slipping into, but there is hope if we turn to God. "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." ( NIV: Galatians 5: 19-21). Amos speaks to comfortable people because they have hardened their hearts to their God and have gone after idols. They put off the evil day somewhere in the future that is of no concern to them, but it was closer than they thought. They were cruel to the poor, but even among the poor were those who did not glorify God.
God asked them if they were better than the pagan nation. God was rebuking Israel to open her eyes to the judgment that would come if they did not return to Him. They would be the first to be taken captive. Amos prophesied during a time of prosperity, and people comfortable with their lives are not ready to hear criticism. They enjoyed their self-indulgence and cared not for the affliction of Joseph. This reminds us of the sin of the sons of Jacob as they sold their brother into slavery and cared not for his life. They would suffer his lot and be taken into captivity.
God could swear by no greater, so he swears by himself. God hates pride, and how frightful to have the God of all creation swear to your ruin. The siege would cause disease and death, and instead of anointing the bodies with fragrant oils and spices, they would be burned, and the fear of God would be on them so much so that they dare not speak his name lest something worse come upon them.
Amos uses two impossible situations to get their attention. Horses running on rocks or oxen plowing rocks is highly unlikely, but they had perverted justice and turned it to gall. Israel was proud of their military strength and did not give God the glory for their successes. This would be their downfall. Their real power was in God, who fought for them, but now he would not fight for them, and their defeat was assured. Lo Debar and Karnaim were cities taken when the Assyrians had weakened Damascus. They felt they had done it in their own strength. We can learn lessons from their arrogance. We do all things through Christ. To God be the glory.
Questions:
1. In verse one, whom does Zion refer to?
2. Who do they put their trust in?
3. What was Israel to learn from observing these places?
4. In verses 4-6, what luxuries did they indulge in?
5. At the end of verse six, what does it say did not grieve them?
6. What is the result of this in verse 7?
7. Who did God swear by, and why is this significant?
8. What happens with those left in the house, and what is the significance of not mentioning God's name?
9. In verse 11, what happens to the houses?
10. What rhetorical questions are asked in verse 12, and what is their significance?
11. Had the people really done great things in their own strength?
12. Because of their pride in their accomplishments, what will God do in verse 13?
