Putting Away the Evil Day Amos 6:3

Amos the “herdsman” prophet pronounced “woe” upon the people who were “at ease in Zion” and “trust in the mountain of Samaria”. Israel was “named the chief of the nations”, and yet they forsook the LORD and His ways. The LORD told them to compare themselves to “Calneh” of Babylon and “Hamath” of the Philistines to determine if they were “better than these kingdoms” or whether their “border” was “greater than” their “border”, and in chapter six and verse three of his prophesy, Amos referred to those who “put away the evil day” where we read:

You that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;

The verse begins, “You that put far away the evil day,...” Amos began with the words, “You that put far away” which means “the people who exclude, drive away and thrust aside” “the evil day” which refers to “the bad, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant and displeasing period of time”. The LORD referred to the people who acted as though the “evil day” was far off and into the future even though they proclaimed it was near them.

The verse goes on to say, “...and cause the seat of violence to come near;” Amos continued, “and cause the seat” which means “make the dwelling place, abode and locality ” “of violence” or “wrong, cruelty and injustice” “to come near” which means “to draw close, approach be brought nigh”. Rather than extending the time of “the evil day” of the LORD coming upon them, the behavior of the people of Israel only made it come closer to them.

When we consider these words of Amos, we see the deception the people of Israel were under. They spoke of the coming “evil day” of the LORD, but acted as though it was far into the future. Rather than being imminent, the LORD's judgment was thought to be delayed. Too many people today act in a manner that is unbelieving of Jesus' return even though Jesus said, “Be you therefore ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40), and although He promised He would return, many do not act or believe He will. God desires for us to live a life in expectancy of His imminent return, and should we find ourselves acting like His coming back is “far away”, let us repent before we find ourselves left out and judged.

Next time we see Amos writes to those who “lie on beds of ivory”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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