Amos 5 reminds me of the classic movie lines used repeatedly throughout the “Terminator” series; “Come with me if you want to live”. At the height of tension and mayhem, an unexpected hand would reach out to the innocent person in trouble. With no other option available, they accept and flee together from certain death. It is important to note, this is not the end of the movie, but happens during chaos and confusion. In today’s chapter, Amos is addressing the Nation of Israel armed with knowledge of the dangers ahead and the mistakes of the past. He describes the bleak future, “Fallen is Virgin Israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up“. Amos repeats this line, multiple times, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Israel“. It seems that too often, we do not hear the call until we are out of options. Amos continues, “Seek Me and live“. He tells them not to go back to the former places of glory because they have all been corrupted. That is our human tendency, under stress, we long for the place where we first felt the goose bumps. Amos repeats the invitation, “Seek the Lord and live“, this time he describes the devastation that is coming.
Amos next compares God’s excellence to Man’s oppression. “There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground… detests the one who tells the truth… You levy a straw tax on the poor… oppress the innocent and take bribes… I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins“. To the oppressors Amos adds, “Seek good, not evil, that you may live… ‘for I will pass through your midst’, says the Lord“.
The chapter closes with a bit of a surprise. We tend to cheer when the bad-guys get what they deserve, but he writes, “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord!” He says, “That day will be darkness, not light“. Pay close attention to God’s explanation, “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to Me. Even though you bring Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them… Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen“. Religious rituals and ceremonies cannot bring salvation; a machine can be programed to mechanically repeat an action. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast“. Salvation requires faith in Christ, that He has paid the penalty for our sin. When our acts of worship are the result of the grace we have received, they are a sweet aroma to God. Why does the New Testament church look forward to the Day of the Lord? Jesus promised believers, “I’ll be back” (John 14:18). This was not a threat, but a promise of hope. Jesus often called, “Come to Me“. In the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, His final promise is, “Yes, I am coming soon“. Revelation 22:20 concludes, “Amen. Come quickly, Lord Jesus“. Are you running out of options? Friend, it is time to accept the invitation? It will change your future!