Amos 5-6

Chapter 5: Seek the Lord and do good

Israel is exhorted (encouraged) to seek the Lord and do good.

“Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of Hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5:14-15)

We are encouraged to do good, and to seek the Lord while doing good. If we do that, the Lord will be gracious and merciful upon us. The Lord who made the stars invites Israel to seek Him, but not in the vain places of sacrifice such as Gilgal, Bathel and Beersheba. Israel perverts justice and treads down the poor. There will be wailing and woe in the day of the Lord. Feast days, sacred assemblies and sacrifices will not be accepted by the Lord.

“Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.” (Amos 5:23) Those who praise the Lord with the wrong intent and scream and shout without truly following the Lord are wicked in the eyes of God.

Chapter 6: Woe unto them of Zion

Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria! Woe to those who live the life of luxury, who lie on beds of ivory. When a relative of one of the dead comes to burn the corpses, should he find one person still alive, that person will not permit him to mention the name of the Lord for fear that the Lord will turn his wrath on him. Justice has been turned to gall, and righteousness to wormwood.