Sermon Tone Analysis

*Amos 6** *

[Man’s view is different to God’s]

These are the words of Jesus to the church at Laodoceia "/you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,/" The church had one view of itself but God's view was entirely different.

This verse aptly describes the situation of Israel in Amos' day – and Western civilisation.

*READ Amos 6. *

| MAN'S VIEW | GOD'S VIEW |

| secure (v.1)at ease (v.1,4)wealthy (v.4)respected (v.1)cultured (v.5)strong (v.13)enjoy good life (v.4,5,6)

| vulnerable (v.2)ripe for judgement (v.3,7,14)unrepentant (v.1)detestable (v.8)proud (v.8)unjust and unrighteous (v.13)ripe for slaughter (v.9-11) |

*Is it appropriate: self-confidence?

**v.1**–*

Another message from יהוה - it is a message of WOE!

If there were one word to describe Israel it is the word COMPLACENT = quiet tranquil, peaceful, cosy, secure, prosperous, proud.

It was a warning against complacency.-

"In Zion" – who was Amos prophesying to? - to Israel but the problem not confined to them.

- false sense of security, confident that they were safe but what was the true situation?

God sees things differently to man! - considered notable, foremost .... in man's eyes!

Woe to those at ease - who live for pleasure, for recreation, for the good life, who’ve made their lives secure and comfortable and now are enjoying what they have established for themselves.

Amos’ messages had been directed to Israel, delivered in Samaria - but as well as addressing them, he also refers to the southern kingdom - they were pursuing the same course of taking life easy: "those who are at ease in Zion".

They were prosperous and indulged themselves in what that wealth could provide.

They were guilty of tremendous arrogance and pride - they were utterly convinced of their security - that nothing could touch them.

They had it made - completely self-assured.

They were men of importance and international influence, respected, sought out for advice, loans, permission, assistance.

If you wanted to get on, you had to get on side with these "leading men" - the wealthy, the idle rich.

How יהוה hates such assumed pride, arrogance and self importance!

They were so sure of themselves and their secure position - but if they considered a little wider than their own selves they would have reason for less confidence and more humility.

*v.2* – thought they were invincible but the truth was otherwise – they only had to open their eyes to see.

Others had fallen under judgment – why should we be immune?

God did it before – He will do it again (*2 Peter 3:4-7**/ /*/and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?

For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men./) - If they only looked and learnt from what was going on around them, they would see that cities greater than they had fallen to the Assyrians.

But this seems only to have increased their pride, they considered themselves superior - it hadn’t befallen them whilst those to the north and south had fallen.

Yet the lesson they should have drawn is that, if these greater cities could fall, perhaps they weren’t as secure as they imagined - it could happen to them.

They should have been humble and sought יהוה to be their Protector, instead of relying on their own resources.

All the places listed were conquered by Assyria so the allusion to being conquered by Assyrian forces is strong.

But Israel didn’t consider the possibility or let it disturb their life of ease - they, like us today, were too busy enjoying themselves, taking it easy, or making a buck at others’ expense.

*v.3* – Rather than facing judgment they put it off, thus it gets worse.

If we deal with sin now we won't have to face its consequences later (*1 Corinthians 11:31**,32*/ But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.

But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world./)

- "seat of violence" - a reign of terror – they would be subjugated under the cruel heel of the Assyrians.

But Israel takes not caution, nor makes any preparation to try and defend themselves.

They make no effort to put off the day of disaster - they are too taken up with their own selfish lives - just like us today (cf.

Matt 24:37-51).

They were so sure of themselves and their affluence that they actually hastened the day of violence - not only by their evil but also by their lack of preparation, lack of efforts to defend themselves.

"Why spend money on defense when it takes it away from me obtaining what I want?"

We are seeing a similar running down of defense forces today.

We are so sure invasion will never come - the record of history points to a different conclusion.

Was their self-confidence justified?

They thought they were secure but God saw the situation differently

*Is it appropriate: self-indulgence?** v.4* – But the rigours of defense were the furthest things from their minds - they were too preoccupied enjoying the luxury that the wealth they had accumulated provided.

They were lying back on their ivory couches, being waited upon.

Enjoying a life of idleness.

Sprawled out on their four-poster - doing nothing but gratifying their desires.

Feasting and sleeping.

Self-indulgence with concern for nothing else but their own pleasure and well being.

Luxury – self indulgence, nothing but the finest and the best.

It is a sin to indulge ourselves when around us there are people with nothing!

Paul, in Timothy says, in the last days men will be lovers of self, lovers of money and lovers of pleasure.

*v.5* – too much leisure, too much time on their hands – never has society been so much into recreation as we are today.

Only the idle and rich have the time to devote to gaining musical skill and afford to patronize it - for it is a luxury, a non-essential.

The poor are fully occupied gaining food to survive to spend time on musical improvisation.

"Improvise" - "sing foolishly" – foolish music, "folly" from one was addicted: drew wisdom and philosophy from decadent, immature, self-indulgent rebels whose lives were a patent and self-confessed mess – totally oblivious to the impending doom.

"sing foolishly" is reminiscent of the "singing in the Spirit" which has taken over as the most vital part of church life - it is worshipped itself, rather than being a means of expressing worship.

It is popular because it is a means of soulish self-expression demanding no discipline, practice or skill, but just an outpouring of human soul - sometimes to God but more often than not, for self-gratification.

- Full of sarcasm, יהוה rebukes those living in luxury, feasting and sleeping, delighting in the high life and all the joys of culture - the arts and religion.

Like David they devise musical instruments.

Music plays a great part in their life.

Very much like today.

Music is an essential and pervasive part of life.

It is worshipped.

The band plays on while the Titanic goes down.

*v.6* – They indulge in the fine luxuries and pleasures of life.

Using religious items for their own pleasure - "sacrificial bowls" for drinking, "anointing" with fine oils for themselves.

Selfishness, self-indulgence, self-gratification characterizes all they do.

The drinking of wine from fancy vessels is reminiscent of the trendy pubs and cafe culture that has taken off.

People spending their time drinking and idling it away in empty chat.

Fine oil, perfume - they don’t spare themselves the finest luxury.

Anointing was meant to be of another to appoint him to office - this was just for the pleasure of it – a false anointing.

Just as today "anointing" is much bandied about as a phrase - but only for the thrill to enliven things, not to consecrate someone to a life time of service to יהוה , as it was intended.

All the time their people were on the brink of calamity.

But no one took heed.

No one mourned the sorry, godless, corrupt, evil state to which the nation had fallen.

Just like New Zealand today.

Luxury, leisure, music, gluttony (as we call it "fine food"), drinking, indulgence – a perfect portrayal of 20th and 21st Century Western society.

No grieving over our ruin, our sin, the ruin of our society.

Think we are so sophisticated but our society is a mess, a ruin! - hopelessness, injustice, crime, immorality, greed, each for himself, suicide, drunkenness, drugs – who grieves over it?

I'm afraid I don't as I should (cf.

Lot *2 Peter 2:7-8 */ and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds)./)

*Consequence of living for self:** v.7 –* "Therefore" – consequence of self-indulgence and ignoring sin: judgment, exile.

Self-indulgence and life of ease and luxury will come to and abrupt end.

- Because they did not heed their own desperate state, ignored יהוה’s warnings but continued in their self-indulgent lifestyle "THEREFORE" judgement would come.

Israel would go into exile at the head of the exiles.

Their indulgent lazy feasting would come to a sudden end because יהוה Himself would intervene in judgement.

Like today, Israel carried on its hedonistic living for pleasure, oblivious to their true condition, turning a deaf ear to all warnings and so they met their doom that their actions merited, because they did so with no shame or regret.

Obstinately pursuing their high style of life.

The same tragic thing is happening today!

*v.8 –* Because Israel continued on in gratifying her desire, living for pleasure and comfort and refused to pay attention to her moral and spiritual state, disregarded all יהוה’s warnings, therefore punishment was inevitable (v.8-14).

The solemn certainty was emphasised by יהוה’s oath sworn by Himself.

Full force of God's name – on oath.

Sworn by Himself – the most powerful oath possible, and declares judgment – the end of the city – the death of its inhabitants.