Amos

Amos 6: God judges Israel’s proud feasting

Begin in prayer

Before we hear how God ends Israel’s proud feasting, please bring your family before Him. Ask Him to uncover the sin we excuse and to show us why Christ alone can save.

As for your terror, the pride of your heart has deceived you, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill, though you should make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there,” says Yahweh.

Jeremiah 49:16

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us Your judgment against pride. Teach us that Jesus humbled Himself to take away His people’s guilt. Give us hearts that care when others suffer. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Amos warns the leaders who feel secure in Zion and Samaria, who put off the evil day and bring violence near. They feast in comfort without grieving over Israel’s ruin, so they will be first into captivity. God swears that He hates Jacob’s pride and will hand over the city. Death will fill the houses, and the one who remains will be told not to mention God’s name. Israel boasts of its own strength, yet God will raise a nation to afflict the whole land.

As you read Amos 6, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God hates Israel’s pride and will bring their feasting to an end.

The leaders mistake their high place among the nations for safety before God. Amos asks whether Calneh, Hamath and Gath are better than Israel, so Israel’s greater gifts leave it more to answer for. Their feasting is sinful because it goes with violence and indifference to the ruin of Joseph. Joseph names Israel, so their pleasure shuts out the suffering of their own people. God’s answer reverses their position, so those who lead in luxury will lead the captives. His oath by Himself makes the promised judgment certain. His hatred of their pride explains why their fortresses will be handed over. Justice turned into poison shows that their strength has been used to harm others. The strong buildings they trust cannot stand when their own God commands their destruction.

How does Amos 6 show us that God hates Israel’s pride and will bring their feasting to an end?

God sees the pride hidden by comfortable lives.

God tells these secure leaders to look at other kingdoms and compare their territory with Israel’s. They fill their days with feasting while refusing to grieve over Israel’s ruin. God calls their confidence sinful, even though they see themselves as important people. Their place at the head of the feast will become first place among the captives.

God will hand over the strong city.

God swears by Himself that He hates Jacob’s pride and detests its fortresses. These strong buildings cannot shelter anyone when God gives the city to its enemies. The man taking bodies from the house will forbid the survivor to mention the LORD’s name. The LORD’s command will shatter both great houses and small ones.

God will overthrow Israel’s proud strength.

Israel has turned justice into poison by using it to harm people. Their boast about winning by their own strength uncovers their pride. God Himself will raise the nation that afflicts them from one end of their land to the other. Success gives sinners no protection from the Judge who rules over every nation. Jesus humbled Himself to the cross, and God lifts up all who humble themselves and trust Him.

Memorise

I abhor the pride of Jacob, and detest his fortresses. Therefore I will deliver up the city with all that is in it.

Amos 6:8

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what pride must I confess to Jesus instead of excusing it?

They drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils, “but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph”. Their feasting will end. They turned justice into poison and boasted of their own strength. Fine meals and strong walls cannot keep His judgment away.

We too can enjoy good things while refusing to face our sin. They drank wine in bowls, but on the cross Jesus drank the cup of God’s judgment for His people, to take away their guilt. He completed that rescue, and nothing is left unpaid. The Father raised Him to life. Our comforts cannot give what His death and resurrection have secured.

Turn from your sin and believe in Christ. Bring Him the pride that keeps you from admitting wrong. The proud sinner who humbles himself and trusts Jesus will be forgiven. Ask Him to give you a heart that cares when others suffer. The risen Christ saves those who rely on Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God hates pride, and comfort gives no shelter from His judgment. Verses 9 and 10 describe death in the houses and a fearful silence, so choose words that fit your children. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that His judgment cannot be escaped by wealth or strength, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so please let each one pray briefly if they wish.

But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 10:17

Lord God, You see pride that we hide behind our comforts. Thank You for the grace found in Jesus. Please bring each of us to repent and believe in Him. Give us hearts that care when others suffer, and teach us to use Your gifts with thanks. Amen.