Text:  Amos 5:1-27  (Read)

The Setting 

   This is the third of Amos' messages given at Bethel in the
northern Kingdom.  Under Jeroboam II the nation was
wealthy but corrupt, religious but not spiritual.
  This message was given in the form of a Lamentation, or
a funeral sermon.  Imagine Amos standing in the city square
and saying, "Listen friends, while I preach your funeral
sermon today!"  Let's look at Israel's funeral sermon.  It was
designed to lead them to repentance.  (5:1-13).

                                       I.  Seek God -- 5:1-13

  Vss. 1-3.  The "Virgin of Israel," referring to the city of
Samaria and the northern kingdom, is declared to have
"fallen."  Its fall is so sure it is spoken of as having taken
place already.  This is known as the "prophetic tense."  The
term "fallen" is a word indicating a violent death, as in
battle.

  Vss. 4-6.  If they would turn and  seek the Lord they
would live.  [Q-1] But where was the place the northern
kingdom worshiped?
  God says, "You can't expect to find me there!  I'm not to
be associated with your golden calf and the rituals you
perform at Bethel!"
  [Q-2] Do you remember one of the excuses Jeroboam
gave for erecting the altars in the northern kingdom?  (See
1 Kings 12:28?)
  Though they rationalized that Jerusalem was too far to go,
they went even farther (to Beersheba, 60 miles south of
Jerusalem) on pilgrimages to idolatrous shrines!
  But in all this Amos is saying, "You are religious!  But
you are Seeking God in All the Wrong Places!"  For these
things Gilgal and Bethel will perish and go into captivity.
  Lesson:  Just being religious is not sufficient.  One must
be right with God, worshiping His way to be saved.
  Amos calls for their repentance, "Seek the Lord, and you
will live!"

  Vss 7-9.  In Israel, sweet justice had been turned into
bitter injustice (wormwood).  Amos tells them just who the
One is that they should seek, the Creator!
  [Q-3] What are the Pleiades and Orion?  (Read vs. 8)
  [Q-4] What is the "Message of the Stars?"

  It is in God's providential power to bring destruction upon
the mighty!  Israel at this time was one of the most powerful
nations in the world, but within thirty years she would be
nothing.  If God wills it, the most powerful nation can be
brought to nought. Its armies and economy cannot save it if
God wants to humble a nation!

  Vss. 10-13.  That rich arrogant nation could not stand
having someone reprove them and who would stand up and
demand justice.  They "abhorred" him (stronger than hate). 
[We'll see in ch. 7 how a priest at Bethel challenged Amos'
preaching.]

  Amos gives a list of their sins.  And it sounds so modern.
One would almost think we're reading today's newspaper
headlines when we read Amos.  It shows us that the desires
for sin and greed  have not changed in 2700 years since
Amos' day!

  Read vss. 10-13.  It's a powerful indictment!  They
trampled on the poor and extracted bribes before they would
give justice ("because of such wickedness don't expect you
will get to live in your lovely luxurious houses" -- and they
didn't!  vs. 3.)

  God knew the sins of their nation.  And we shouldn't
think He's not aware of ours  (vs. 12,  God says "I know.")

  The GOD they should seek is not at Bethel, but the
Creator, the One who loves justice, and who knows!

                                     II.  Seek Good -- 5:14-17

  Vss. 14-17.  It appears that Israel maintained she was
faithful to God, but this was just self deception.  As a nation
she needed to change her ways.  [Q-5] What might be the
result if she would turn?  (See vs. 15).
  Again in vs. 16 Amos returns to the funeral sermon motif. 
There would be so much weeping in the day of Israel's
calamity they would have to call in inexperienced shepherds
to act as mourners along with the professionals.

  God's purpose in sending Amos is that perhaps they will
repent and He will not have to send "the day of the Lord"
upon them in retribution.  The fact is that they did not and
the Assyrian Captivity was not more than thirty years off.

  Lesson:  God doesn't want to have to punish his people,
He gives them opportunity to repent and return.  But when
they just will not listen He must, in His holiness, punish sin
and wickedness.

                          III.  Something the Lord Hates  (vs. 21)  5:18-25

  Vss. 18-20.  "The Day of the Lord" is a recurrent theme
in the prophets.  It speaks of a day of reckoning, of
judgment, and it stands as a fore-picture of that Last Great
Final Day of Judgment when Christ returns and all men
stand before Him.

  Israel looked for such a day for they thought it meant
retribution on their enemies, but Amos declares it will not be
a day of light, but of darkness for them.
  Men will try to escape but will not get away from the
calamity (vs. 19).

  Vss. 21-27.  [Q-6]  Look in vs. 21, what does the Lord
hate?
  Is He against all religious assemblies per se?
  No, but against their type of counterfeit worship!  He is
not opposed to prayers and sacrifices as such, but the way
Israel was doing it.  What a lesson for us!  We might be
singing songs and praying, but it could be something that the
Lord hates if we are not doing it right!  The right way is the
Lord's way, and with the right heart that he demands.

  God says in vs. 22 that He will not accept their
counterfeit religion.  Be sure and read vss. 21-24!

  Rather than great swelling sounds of music, God would
rather see great swelling justice rolling from our hearts like
a mighty raging river in a flood season.  What a picture!
  Because of her counterfeit ways the Lord was going to
send Israel into captivity beyond Damascus, that is to
Assyria (vs. 27).

                                            Some Lessons

1.  We are all writing our own funeral sermon now.
2.  True living is seeking after God  (vs. 4).
3.  God has revealed Himself as the Creator (vs. 8).
4.  And He is the One who works in Providence (vs. 9).
5.  God hates: injustice, oppression, impiety.
6.  Ceremonialism destroys the true spirit of worship.
7.  Righteousness has no substitute (vs. 24).  We can't
    substitute 'sacrifices' for doing right!).

  Do we come to the assembly to sing songs, pray a few
words, hear a sermon, or do we come to worship the Lord
God of heaven, our Creator and our Sustainer?
  Do formalism and ceremonialism rob us of the real
significance that worship ought to be?
                                                         -- Windell Gann

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