Amos 5:1-6 - Seek me and live

5:1-3

God makes what seem to be severe judgements, and indeed they are severe, for Israel’s sins are severe. And the same applies to all of us. In fact, people don’t like it when we preach about God’s judgements, all sorts of objections are raised. However, God gives these prophecies with the hope that we will come to our senses and repent. Israel would be fallen forever if she continued on this road of disobedience. Moreover, part of the problem at this time was that Israel was feeling rather pleased with herself. Economically and militarily she was quite strong, but if a nation is defying the Lord, all her strength is worth nothing when judgement comes. If she trusted in her armies to protect her she would be sorely disappointed.

5:4-6

These verses reveal a vital principle in reading the Bible. Never take a verse out of context (even the nice ones!). If we read verse 1-3 in isolation then the only conclusion is that Israel has had it, she had fallen beyond hope. But we need to read them together with the following verses. God’s intention is that Israel stops trusting in Bethel and Gilgal, and instead turns to the Lord Himself. It seems that we will do anything to avoid turning to the Lord. We will set up idols of all sorts, and would rather trust in these worthless things than trust in the living God. Bethel and Gilgal would come to nothing. If they continued to make these their object of trust then disaster would come. We need to beware of making the same mistake. Bethel and Gilgal had religious significance, there were associated with things that God id, but Israel then made an idol out of them, making them, instead of God, the object of trust. We can make structures, even doctrines the object of trust. Doctrine is important, even vital, but it is the one behind the doctrine that we must trust in. We can put trust in religious practices, instead of the One whom the practices are celebrating. And this is a serious matter, if we do not trust in the living God Himself, then we are done for.