Seek the Lord; Receive His Gracious Promise of Life

Amos 5:1-6a

In this chapter Amos began his message of prophesy with the command from God for the house of Israel to “hear this word which I take up against you” (v.1). This message was a lamentation – “a song or hymn usually composed for funerals or fallen leaders, but often used sarcastically by the OT prophets to lament or to ironically predict the death of a nation” (see note Ezekiel 19:1, NIV). Here the prophet mourned the coming destruction God had brought against His chosen people. They disobeyed Him and fell prey to sin. Amos exposed how wealthy Israelites had become corrupt and oppressed the poor (chap. 2). They refused to repent and turn back to God after repeated warnings and calls. They loved the form of religious rituals but not God’s goodness, mercy, kindness, justice, and etc. When we stubbornly reject God and His grace, it will eventually result in His wrath.

He personified Israel as “the virgin of Israel,” who has fallen and won’t rise again. She has been forsaken in her land by the false gods in which she trusted. They cannot hold us up; they always fail. Israel doesn’t have any help to raise her up (v.2); she’s left alone because God brought judgment on all her neighbors. False gods are lifeless and couldn’t save Israel. The Lord said that 90 percent of Israel   would be destroyed. Their neighbors couldn’t save them; their false gods could save them, and neither will they save us.

The Lord commanded Israel to seek Him (v.4) not Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba. These had become their centers of idolatry and would certainly go into exile (v.5). He said to “seek the Lord, and you will live” (v.6a). What a gracious invitation to avoid destruction! God commanded His people to love Him unconditionally then and now. He told His covenant people at Mt. Sinai that He was a jealous God; therefore, for the sake of our souls, we must believe Him. Will you seek the Lord today and live?