A Lamentation Against Israel Amos 5:1

Amos the “herdsman” prophet shared over and over again how the LORD desired for Israel to “return to” Him. Pestilence, mildew, lack of water, death of their young men and horses, stench, conquering and warning to “prepare to meet” their God didn't persuade them. In chapter five and verse one of his prophesy, Amos began to share the LORD's “lamentation” against Israel where we read:

Hear you this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.

The verse begins, “Hear you this word which I take up against you,...” Amos began with the words, “Hear” or “listen to and obey” “you this word” which refers to “speech, speaking, utterance and communication” “which I take up” or “bear, carry, support, sustain and endure” “against you” which means “in opposition and opposed to Israel”. The LORD called for the people of Israel to pay attention and listen to the “speech” he was to “sustain” against them.

The verse goes on to say, “...even a lamentation, O house of Israel.” Amos continued, “even a lamentation” which means “a dirge or elegy which is accompanied by beating the breasts or on instruments”, “O house” or “dwelling, habitation and shelter” “of Israel” which means “God prevails” and was “the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. God began a “dirge” against the people of Israel which would cause them to “beat their chests” and “strike instruments” in anguished agony.

When we consider these words of Amos, we see the passion of the LORD for Israel. He attempted to gather them to Himself and used various means to convince them they should “return” to Him, but they would not. Though He gave them warning after warning, they did not repent, and now He took up a “lamentation” against them because of their rebellion. If we think this through, we see the “dread” in the LORD's words against the people of Israel, and the same is true for people today. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to save people from their sins, and over and over He beckons them to “repent” and “believe” in His sacrificial replacement for eternal death and separation from Him. Yet, people do not receive His offering. Oh the lamentation He shall say over those who reject His gift, and lest we be among them, may we receive Jesus and never hear His mournful and ominous words.

Next time Amos shares how “the virgin of Israel is fallen”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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