Amos 6

Woe to you who are at ease in Zion.  Does the God of Israel not want people to be comfortable?  Is it a sin to rest and relax? Amos is using a Hebrew word (sha’anan) that can be used either of peace and tranquility in a good sense or complacency in a bad sense.  For example, Isaiah (in Isaiah 32) announced woe on the complacent women (v9,11); but later he says that God will bless Israel with rest (v18).  In each case it is sha’anan.  So we must ask: what makes living at ease a sin?  Amos gives us important indicators.  Living at ease is sin when:

·        There is an attitude of self-importance, Amos 6:1-2.  Amos refers to them as notable people, likely using a term they used of themselves.  Israel has a smug attitude that led them to consider themselves as safe and secure.  But the prophet says they will be no different than other cities that saw themselves as self-important (Calneh in Babylon; Hamath in Syria; Gath in Philistia); at one time all were prosperous and important but now were in ruins.

·        There is no sorrow for sin, Amos 6:3-7.  They saw themselves as far from doom, living luxurious and partying lifestyles.  The reference to David is very fitting.  Some may have excused their preoccupation with music & musical instruments by saying, "Well, David played a harp, didn't he?"  What they forgot was the purpose for which David played & composed music.  He sought to glorify God; to these people the preoccupation with music obliterated all sense of guilt & sorrow for their sinfulness (v6).  Jesus said that blessing begins with poverty of spirit and grief over sin (Matt. 5:3-4).  Complacent Israel had none of this!

·        There is pride, Amos 6:8-11.  All the above add up to serious pride and arrogance in Israel.  In v9-10 Amos speaks of how humbling the judgment will be.  Although burial was the method of disposing of dead bodies in Israel, likely because of contagion the bodies of the dead in the coming judgment would be dealt with by cremation.  And when the person who did this work would ask if there were any more, the one who answered would be cautioned not to say anything about the name of the Lord who had brought this on Israel, an indication of the humiliation of God once proud people.

·        There is self-satisfaction, Amos 6:12-14.  Lo Debar means nothing in Hebrew.  Karnaim means horns, a symbol of strength.  Under Jeroboam II these two cities had been retaken and Israel took all the credit, credit for something God had actually brought about.  So God will judge Israel from the far north (the entrance of Hamath) to the far south (the valley of the Arabah).

Jesus has the same loathing of those in His Church who are living at ease (Rev. 3:16-17).  Paul warned us, Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy (Rom. 13:13) Let us examine ourselves!  For the glory of God and the obedience of faith.