Not Grieved for the Affliction

Amos 6 targets the comfortable leaders: Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations. Amos tells them to look at other kingdoms that had fallen. Are they better than these kingdoms? If other proud nations fell, Israel could too. Yet they put far away the evil day.

Amos paints their lifestyle: who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock. They strum on the strings of a harp, who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the best oils, but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Wealth was not the problem by itself. The problem was enjoying it while ignoring a hurting nation.

Yahweh responds: I abhor the pride of Jacob, and detest his fortresses. Therefore they will now go captive with the first who go captive. The feasting and lounging will end. Amos asks, Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow there with oxen? Their injustice made no sense either. But you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness. They rejoiced in a thing of nothing and boasted of their own strength. God would raise up a nation against them.