Mar 02 2007
AMOS 5:16-27
THE DIVINE LAMP: AMOS 5:16-27
AMOS 5:16-27
This current post is the second of three posts on Amos 5:1-6:14. Verses 16 and 17 provide a transition from the previous verses, (1-15) into the second major part of this broader section. They return to the theme of lamentation with which 5:1-15 began. They are to be understood as a further warning of what is coming and thus give added incentive to the people to repent, for as verse 15 put it: it may be that the Lord, the god of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
Vs 16 Therefore, thus speaks the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: “In all the market-places their shall be wailing; on every street they shall say ‘Alas! Alas!’ The husbandmen shall be called upon to mourn, and those skilled in lamentation shall be called to wail.
Vs 17 In every vineyard there shall be wailing, for I will pass through your midst,” says the Lord. (my translation)
As just noted above, these two verses give further warning to the people about what is coming and provide incentive for conversion. They also introduce part 2 (5:18-27) of the current section of 5:1-6:14. Recall that the actual lamentation in verse 2 stated: Fallen, no more to rise, is the virgin Israel; forsaken on her land, with none to raise her up (RSV). Just how extensive this event would be is made known in 15-16. All the people, in both city and country, the farmer and the merchant-all will feel its effects. These verses may be predicting an economic collapse due to drought and blight (see Amos 1:2; 4:7-9).
Vs 18 Woe upon those who look forward to the day of the Lord! What is this day of the Lord to you? It is a day of darkness, not of light.
Vs 19 It will be like a man fleeing from a lion, only to run into a bear; or like a man who enters his home, places his hand against the wall, and has a serpent bite him.
Vs 20 Will not the day of the Lord be a day of darkness, rather than of light, of gloom rather than brightness?
The day of the Lord was popularly conceived as a day of God’s salvific intervention on behalf a his people against their enemies. God, however, makes it clear that for sinners among his own people it will not be a day of salvation but of judgment.
Darkness, light and gloom are words often associated with God’s manifestation of himself for purposes of revelation (Exodus 19:16-24), or for the purpose of defeating his enemies (Exodus 14:19-31; Habakkuk 3:3-15). The holy of Holies in the temple at Jerusalem was also a place of darkness (1 kings 8:10-13). Having rejected the temple At Jerusalem in favor of their false shrines; and having rejected the revealed will of God; how can the people of the north continue to look forward to the day of the Lord as a good thing to be desired?
Vs 21 Your feasts I hate and reject;. Your solemn assemblies I have no delight in.
Vs 22 Although you offer up to me burnt-offerings and grain offerings I will not accept them. Nor will I look upon your fatted peace offerings.
Vs 23 Take away from me the clamor of your songs; I refuse to hear the melody of your harps. (my translation)
Worship at the false northern shrines, coupled with rampant sin, especially injustice towards others, combined to make their sacrifices and worship hateful to God.
Vs 24 Instead, let justice roll down like a river, and righteousness like a never ending stream.
Justice, mercy, and faith are far better sacrifices than mechanical actions: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and
dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law,
justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without
neglecting the others.” (Matt 23:23)
Vs 25 Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? (RSV)
In the wilderness the people often brought sacrifice to God, but it was seldom done rightly. It was often mixed in with error and idolatry. One only needs to think of the golden calf (exodus 32-34); the discontent and rebelliousness of the people (Numbers 10-14); and the rebellion of Korah and Dathan (Numbers 16). The many punishments God had to bring upon the people in the wilderness shows that something more than just sacrifice is needed to maintain the covenant with God. The verse should be seen in close relation to the one preceding it; the sense is: “did you bring me sacrifices accompanied by justice and righteousness when you were in the desert?”
Vs 26 You will carry away with you Sikkuth, your king, and Kaiwan, the star-god, images that you made for yourselves;
Vs 27 for I will put you into captivity east of Damascus,” says the one whose name is Lord, the God of hosts.
Sikkuth was an astral god of Mesopotamia who was associated with the planet Saturn. Kaiwan was an Akkadain god who was also associated with Saturn. Among the Akkadians Kaiwan was the god of justice. Recall that in chapter 5 God was described as He who made the Pleiades and Orion. Stars and planets are not gods but the creation of the One God who made and maintains control over them. Nothing gods made by human hands are worthless. These “gods” will be carried into exile by the people who made them when “The God” punishes them
Captivity east of Damascus is certainly a reference to the exile the people would suffer at the hands of the Assyrians in 722BC
