Dusk on a rooftop terrace in Samaria: an ivory-inlaid couch with cushions, a wooden lyre leaning on it, wide bowls and an alabaster flask on a low cedar table, no one there, the valley in haze beyond and a calm sky above.

Woe to those at ease

Amos 6

Comfort is a gift. It turns dangerous when it stops you grieving.

14 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–2The nations judgedEight oracles, closing on Israel
3–5:17Hear this wordThree messages to Samaria
5:18–6Woe to those at easeThe Day of the LORD, and Zion’s comfortChapter 6
7–9:10Five visionsLocusts, fire, plumb line, fruit, the altar
9:11–15The fallen tent raisedRuins rebuilt, vineyards planted

Woe to Those at Ease in Zion

Amos

Woe to those at ease in Zion

and those secure on Mount Samaria,

the distinguished ones of the foremost nation,

to whom the house of Israel comes.

Amos 6:1

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Amos

Cross over to Calneh and see;

go from there to the great Hamath;

then go down to Gath of the Philistines.

Are you better than these kingdoms?

Is their territory larger than yours?

Amos

Therefore, you will now go into exile

as the first of the captives,

and your feasting and lounging

will come to an end.

Reflect

Grieve over the ruin

They had beds of ivory, the best food and fine oils, “but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.” What ruin around you, in your family, your church or your town, have you stopped grieving over? Write down one, and what it would look like to care again.

The Pride of Israel

God

The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself—the LORD, the God of Hosts, has declared:

“I abhor Jacob’s pride

and detest his citadels,

so I will deliver up the city

and everything in it.”

God

And if there are ten men left in one house, they too will die. And when the relative who is to burn the bodies picks them up to remove them from the house, he will call to one inside, “Is anyone else with you?” “None,” that person will answer. “Silence,” the relative will retort, “for the name of the LORD must not be invoked.”

God

A fine cut-stone house fallen into a heap beside a small mud-brick house collapsed to rubble, dust still settling, no one there.

For the LORD gives a command:

“The great house will be smashed to pieces,

and the small house to rubble.”

Question

Quick question

Amos describes the feasts of the rich in 6:4–6. Then comes the ‘therefore.’

In 6:7, who goes into exile first?

God

“Do horses gallop on the cliffs?

Does one plow the sea with oxen?

God

But you have turned justice into poison

and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—

you who rejoice in Lo-debar and say,

‘Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?’

God

Early dawn from the hill country of Samaria: a valley road winds north toward hazy green hills, a round stone watchtower stands in a terraced vineyard, and far off on the horizon a low brown haze of dust hangs where an army marches.

For behold, I will raise up a nation

against you, O house of Israel,”

declares the LORD, the God of Hosts,

“and they will oppress you

from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.”

0:11

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

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Amos 6

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A verse to carry with you

Woe to those at ease in Zion and those secure on Mount Samaria, the distinguished ones of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes.

Amos 6:1

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