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April 30, 2025 - Amos 6

 • Series: April 2025

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion.” These opening words of Amos 6 may cause us to ask some questions. Who are these people? What’s wrong with being at ease? And what can be done about such a condition? One translation puts it like this: “Woe to you who are complacent in Zion” (NIV). And another says, “What sorrow awaits you who lounge in luxury in Jerusalem” (NLT). To be “at ease” is not necessarily bad. Jesus encourages us to find our rest in Him, and there were times when He Himself took breaks from His busy life to recharge and refocus. But Jesus was never “complacent,” nor was He known as one who would “lounge in luxury.” Amos is calling on those who had become self-reliant and self-indulgent to snap out of their spiritual lethargy. Zion is another name for Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah; and Samaria was the capital of Israel. Many in Zion felt safe simply because they lived in the holy city. People in Samaria felt safe because their city was high on a hill and surrounded by thick walls. In both places there was a false sense of security, a lack of dependence on God (v 1a). This presumptuous attitude was especially evident in the nation’s leaders, “the notable men” to whom people came for help. These men may have been famous and popular in Israel, but the prophet challenges them to visit other lands. Stronger kingdoms than theirs had already fallen to the Assyrian army, so why should God preserve them? They “put far away the day of disaster,” supposing they could deal with this threat at a later time. But procrastination is a foolish response to impending disaster. The situation is urgent, and the only hope, for them or for us, is to turn to God in humble repentance (v 1b-3). But instead of mourning and grieving over their sins and those of their nation, the Israelites were treating themselves to the very best of life’s pleasures. There they are, relaxing on “beds of ivory,” feasting on tender meat, singing their trivial songs, drinking large quantities of wine, and wearing expensive perfumes and colognes. They cared extravagantly for their own bodies but cared nothing for the needs of others. Yet it was these people, the “cream” of Israelite society, whom the Assyrians would take first into exile (v 4-7). It’s always easy to isolate ourselves from the problems around us, enjoying our abundance rather than sacrificing our ease for the good of others. But the LORD simply calls it “pride,” which He hates. Judgment was near, people were not ready, and nobody cared. Christians, are we “at ease in Zion”? (v 8-14). For further meditation: