Woe to Self-Security in Zion!
Amos 6 is a fresh appeal of Jehovah to those wrapped up in self-security, warning them of sure sorrow. “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!” (vs. 1). Here they are shown that the resources of nature are impotent to hide from the judgment of God; impotent too their place of honor in being raised above the nations, with the house of Israel looking up to them. “Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?” (vs. 2). Calneh was far east, a very ancient city and of long continuances. (Compare Gen. 10:1010And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:10) and Isa. 10:99Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? (Isaiah 10:9)). Hamath was a Canaanitish kingdom north of the land. Gath lay in the west. Where were they now? What cause Israel had to fear, worse and more guilty than they! “Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; that chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph” (vss. 3-6). Thus whether some pretend to court the day of Jehovah, or others dare not to look “the evil day” in the face that they might oppress and enjoy without remorse, it comes to the same end of judgment from God, who is not mocked in either case. Hence in verse 7 they are told that they shall be with the first that go captive, and the noisy banquet (or revel shout) of the outstretched shall depart. It will be turned into mourning and the cry of despair.
None so Hateful As the Wicked That Bear God’s Name
The prophet then solemnly pronounces the hatred God feels against the ways of Israel, so dishonoring to Him and so corrupting to man. “Jehovah hath sworn by Himself, saith Jehovah the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein. And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. And a man’s uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the side of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue; for we may not make mention of the name of Jehovah. For, behold, Jehovah commandeth, and He will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.” {vss. 8-11}. It is a picture of utter desolation and despair.
Lastly, the absurdity of expecting any other result than destruction from their ways is set strikingly before them. “Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock: ye which rejoice in a thing of naught, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah the God of Hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness” {vss. 12-14}. The Assyrian must teach Israel with thorns.