Wailing and Alas Amos 5:16

As the people of Israel failed to continue their relationship with the LORD, Amos the prophet shared the result of their behavior. They were to “hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate” because that might result in “the LORD God of hosts” being “gracious unto the remnant of Joseph”. In chapter five and verse sixteen of his prophesy, Amos declared the LORD's exhortation for Israel to “wail” and cry “Alas! Alas!” where we read:

Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, says thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentation to wailing.

The verse begins, “Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, says thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! Alas!” Amos began with the word “Therefore” which is a conclusion word that means “since, on account of and wherefore”, “the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God”, “the God” or “divine ruler and judge” “of hosts” which refers to “the army, company and soldiers of angels”, “the Lord” or “the reverent address of God”, “says thus” which means “utters, proclaims and declares this”; “Wailing” or “lamenting, pliancy, complaint, requiem and dirge” “shall be in all streets” or “the broad and open places or plazas”; “and they shall say” or “the people within Israel shall utter, proclaim and declare” “in all the highways” or “the outside streets”, “Alas, Alas” which means “ah and oh as expressions of sorrow such as crying out and wailing”. The result of God's judgment would be “great lamentation and dirge” in the “streets and highways” with sorrowful expressions of extraordinary woe.

The verse goes on to say, “and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillful of lamentation to wailing.” Amos continued, “and they shall call” or “read aloud, proclaim loudly, summon, invite, commission, appoint and endow” “the husbandman” which refers to “the farmer or plowman” “to mourning” which means “lamentation and deep sadness especially for the dead”, “and such as are skillful” or “those who know, perceive, see, discern, discriminate and distinguish” “of lamentation” which means “wailing or mourning song” “to wailing” or “lamenting, pliancy, complaint, requiem and dirge”. These deeply “lamentable” times were to be so devastating, the people would call upon those who were “farmers and plowmen” as well as professional “mourners” to cry out in sorrow.

When we consider these words of Amos, we notice the deep devastation the LORD's judgment was to bring upon the people of Israel. Not until they were punished would they know the depth of woe that was upon them, but when they did, they called upon “farmers” and “professional mourners” to join them in their cries of anguish. Judgment has fallen too many times upon a person before they know the devastation they have caused in their lives. “Sin, when it is finished, brings forth death” according to James in the New Testament (James 1:15), and the people of Israel were to fully know the results of their rebellion and sin. Jesus Christ came to save people from their “sin”, and He provides rescue and salvation for those who believe in His death upon the cross and resurrection. Lest we be among those who cry “Alas! Alas”, let us receive the LORD's offering of Salvation before it becomes our lamentable fate.

Next time Amos refers to “wailing in the vineyards”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.