Amos 6:1-14    Click here for Bible Verses

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Amos 6:1-14.  Let’s go!

Amos 6:1 (NIV) 
 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! 

On verse 1:  Amos addresses the complacent and prideful leaders of two kingdoms: the southern kingdom of Judah (referred to here as “Zion”) and the northern kingdom of Israel (referred to here as “Mount Samaria” since Samaria was the capital city of Israel).  The leaders of Israel in particular had a lot of pride, seeing themselves as the greatest men of the greatest nation (“notable men of the foremost nation” (v1)).  What can we learn from this?  When you are in a position of influence or affluence, you must be especially careful not to let pride poison your perspective.

Amos 6:2 (NIV) 
 Go to Calneh and look at it; go from there to great Hamath, and then go down to Gath in Philistia. Are they better off than your two kingdoms? Is their land larger than yours?

On verse 2:  Amos wants to warn the leaders of Judah and Israel about not letting pride cause their downfall.  Amos points them to three other kingdoms that once were great and powerful but that had recently been invaded and captured: Calneh and Hamath were two prominent city states in the nation of Aram but they were captured by Shalmaneser III of Assyria in approximately 850 B.C.  Gath was a major city in Philistia yet it was taken over by Hazael of Aram in approximately 815 B.C.  These kingdoms were apparently larger than Judah and Israel, but they still fell.

What can we learn from this?  When things are going well, beware of getting prideful.  God can bring a person down just as easily as He can exalt a person.  So stay humble no matter what.

Amos 6:3-7 (NIV) 
 You put off the evil day and bring near a reign of terror.
 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves.
 You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.
 You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.

On verse 3:  In their complacency the leaders of Israel would “put off the evil day” by arrogantly dismissing the thought that disaster would ever strike their nation.  Little did they know that their prideful attitudes and sinful ways were ushering “a reign of terror”.  Though the Israelites experienced economic prosperity under King Jeroboam II, the decades after Jeroboam’s death would be filled with fear, violence and uncertainty.  In the 31 years after Jeroboam II’s death, Israel would be ruled by six kings, a number of whom would seize the throne through military coups and assassinations.  Eventually, the Assyrians would capture Israel and send the Israelites into exile.  How quickly the fortunes of Israel would turn shortly after Amos wrote these words.  Thus Amos warns the Israelites against being complacent now and ignoring the coming destruction that was awaiting them.

What can we learn from this?  Complacency and laziness are a recipe for disaster.  As we talked about this past Sunday at Thrive, if Zacchaeus had gotten too comfortable up in the tree, he would have missed the greater things God had planned for him.  Let’s not be complacent in seeking God or passive in the way we worship with our church.  Be proactive.  Attack each day and make it count for Jesus.

Amos 6:8 (NIV) 
 The Sovereign LORD has sworn by himself–the LORD God Almighty declares: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it.”

On verses 8-14:  After addressing the Israelites’ complacency, Amos takes aim at another related problem: the Israelites’ pride.  In verse 8, the Lord responds to “the pride of Jacob” (another name for Israel).  Since the Israelites kept placing their hope in their own strength instead of trusting in the Lord, the Lord promises to give Israel up entirely to a foreign nation. Verses 9-11 illustrate just how thoroughly the Israelites will be handed over to destruction and foreign control.

What can we learn from this?  God detests pride.  One of the most prevalent themes in the Bible is that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  How do you know if you have a problem with pride?  There are many clues, but here are two we can see from this passage:

  1. Clue #1 that you struggle with pride:  You think you are above God’s laws and commands.  That is, you think God’s laws and commands do not apply to you, that you do not need to listen to God’s Word or obey His commands.  That’s how the Israelites “turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness” (v12).
  1. Clue #2 that you struggle with pride:  You deny any need for God.  Rather you rely on yourself and attribute your accomplishments to your own strength and smarts.  This is what the Israelites did when they would say, “Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?” (v13)

Because of their own pride, the Israelites would suffer dearly.  Similarly, if we struggle with pride, it’s time to humble ourselves, lest we suffer a similar fate.  For pride comes before a fall, but humility comes before honour.  No matter how big or prosperous you get, always stay hungry for God and humble before Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me that I need to guard against two things: complacency and pride.  When I’m starting to get comfortable spiritually or start to get complacent, that’s when I need to watch out.  When I’m often thinking that my own strength and resources will ensure that I am secure, that’s when I need to beware.  No matter what my circumstances, may I always stay hungry and desperate for you, recognizing that apart from You I can do nothing.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!