1

Amos’ Dirge

Amos 5

2

Proclamation of Doom

• Dirge–a song of lamentation for one who

is dead

• 10 northern tribes are identified• “Fallen” denotes a violent death

–2 Sam. 1:19,25

3

2 Sam. 1:19

“Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high

places! How have the mighty fallen!”

4

2 Sam. 1:25

“How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain

on your high places.”

5

The Plea – v. 4-15

• “Seek Me” – v. 4–Seek the Lord by turning to His

revealed word

–Seek Him by obedience to His word

–Seek Him in true worship

6

The Plea – v. 4-15

• The people had gone into idolatry at:–Bethel in the north–Beersheba in the south

• “Seeking” the Lord would result in life – vs. 4-6

7

The Plea – v. 4-15

• They had:–Turned “justice to wormwood” – v. 7

–“cast righteousness down to the earth”• Similar to our “trampled under foot” Heb. 10:29

8

The Plea – v. 4-15

• God is mighty!–Created the shining stars

• Hebrew – Kimah – The Pleiades

• Hebrew – Kesel – Orion

–Causes the rain

9

The Plea – v. 4-15

• They resented God’s prophets

–V. 10 “They hate him who reproves in the gate”

10

The Plea – v. 4-15

• “Seek good and not evil” – v. 14,15–God had revealed the “good” and

the “evil”• “Good & evil” are not without identification

• “Good & evil” demand some kind of authority to determine an accurate analysis

11

The Prediction – v. 16-27

• Amos is actually giving Israel God’s message – v. 16

• Lamentation for the dead will fill the city & the Land

12

The Prediction – v. 16-27

• The “day of the Lord” identifies His judgment – vs. 18-20–There will be no escape! – v. 19

• Like running from a lion into a bear

• Going home to rest, only to be bitten by a snake while leaning

13

The Prediction – v. 16-27

• Their external religion was vain – v. 21-24–Isaiah prophesied against Israel

because of their many offerings in vain• Is. 1:11-16; 66:3

14

Isaiah 1:11-16

“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12 "When

you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My

courts? …”

15

Isaiah 1:11-16

“… 13 "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me.

New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14 "I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am

weary of bearing them. …”

16

Isaiah 1:11-16

“… 15 "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 "Wash yourselves, make

yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,”

17

Isaiah 66:3“But he who kills an ox is like one who

slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog's neck; He

who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine's blood; He who burns

incense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations,”

18

The Prediction – v. 16-27

• Their external religion was vain – v. 21-24–Isaiah prophesied against Israel

because of their many offerings in vain• Is. 1:11-16; 66:3

–Note, God will not accept them even though they were offered • Mt. 7:21-23

19

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven

will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart

from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

20

The Prediction – v. 16-27

• Their external religion was vain – v. 21-24–Note v. 23 – “Take away from Me the

noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.”

21

The Prediction – v. 16-27

• Their external religion was vain – v. 21-24–V. 24 – “But let justice roll down like

waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

22

The Prediction – v. 16-27

• Their external religion was vain – v. 21-24

• In vs. 25 & 26 we see the duplicity of Israel’s service in the wilderness

23

Amos 5:25-26

“Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? 26 "You also carried along Sikkuth your

king and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for

yourselves.”

24

Listen Closely

• We need to learn the necessity of taking God seriously–Heb. 2:1-3

25

Hebrews 2:1-3

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the

word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3

how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken

through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,”

26

Galatians 6:7,8

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this

he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the

flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit

reap eternal life.”

27

We must respect God …

• First, Internally–External religion is not true religion–Matthew 15:8,9 “This people honors

Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. 9 'But in vain do they worship Me, teaching AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'”

28

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all

these things will be added to you.”