Sermon Tone Analysis

*THE DAY OF THE LORD Amos 5:16-27*

*What is it?

[v.16,17] *– */Therefore" –/* this is a consequence, a conclusion from what has gone before (2 months ago) goes back to v.13, because of the suppression of justice and righteousness.

conclusion: judgement because of Israel's refusal to repent.

This judgement comes in what is known as "the day of the LORD".

What is the day of the Lord?

The time that יהוה Himself passes through our midst – in the NT it is equated with the coming of Jesus.

Jesus is coming!

Coming as King! - to rule and judge!

Are we ready, are the people around us?

This is what God says!

Full weight of authority!

There will be bitter anguish and distress!

Wailing!

When God says it will happen – it will happen!

יהוה has spoken!

The full weight of His Name: יהוה, God of armies, the Lord, goes behind this declaration of the misery that will come upon Israel because they spurned His appeal to repentance, to seek Him, to life.

The name "God of hosts" recurs throughout Amos - God is in command of armies, the heavenly host that will execute His judgement that He has decreed."

It's not going to be a fun time!

Note the repeated emphasis on "wailing" (מִסְפֵּד) - there would be great distress in Israel: wailing (מִסְפֵּד - 3x), cries of "woe! woe!" (הוֹ - 2x), mourning (אֵבֶל), lamentation (נֶהִי) - woe, misery and lamentation heaped upon each other, such will be the sorry, tragic plight of Israel - because she did not heed יהוה.

So too will be our fate if we do not heed the one who speaks from heaven (*Hebrews 12:25*/See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.

For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven./)

This mourning is universal - in every street, all the plazas, not only in the city but also the rural areas are in mourning.

Why? "/Because/ ...." there is a reason:- יהוה will pass through the midst of them in judgement.

It is wonderful to have God with if we have turned from our evil ways (v.14) but it is terrible for God to be near us, in our midst, if we have not!

God in our midst!

- ? wonderful – that's what Israel thought – they longed for the day of the LORD, but it wasn't going to be like they expected.

We long for the day of the LORD, for His coming – have you ever considered the possibility that your preconception of how it will be may be wrong?

What will the day of the LORD be like?

God in our midst – either wonderful or awful.

*What will it be like?

[v.18-20]* - Israel thought that it was religious, that יהוה was with them - they longed for the day of the LORD.

They had this great longing for this great day of deliverance, the day when יהוה would come and set everything right and vindicate His people.

Such a day was coming but they had an entirely false concept of what it would be like.

We too profess to long for Jesus’ return.

But they were deluding themselves - they had no concept of how far they were from God.

They were far from God because their behaviour did not line up with His standards.

God’s coming is wonderful if we have turned from evil (v.14) but if we have not, the "Day of the LORD" will not be the wonderful occasion we have been anticipating, but a day of terror - darkness and gloom, not light and brightness.

So יהוה warns them of the "Day of the LORD".

It will be a wonderful day and an awful and terrible day - depending on our relationship to יהוה (cf.

The Last Battle) - there will be fire, blood and smoke - war and devastation, the fires of judgement.

It will be a day of darkness not of light (*Joel 2:31**,32*/“The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the //Lord// comes.“And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls./).

This will be what the day of the LORD will be for God’s people who have forsaken their covenant relationship with Him.

The Day of the LORD is a day of distress and destruction from the Almighty.

From it only individuals (the remnant) will be saved - those who call on the Name of the LORD.

*v.19* – Things were bad, but they looked to the Lord's coming to make everything right.

But instead of better, thing got worse!

The Day of the LORD will be "out of the frying pan and into the fire" - as times get more difficult (cf. 4:6-11).

The people of God long and hope for deliverance, for the "Day of the LORD" - but instead of deliverance and salvation, it is even worse - not disciplinary action, but judgement - from lion to a bear, escaping to the "safety" and "security" of home, only to be bitten by a snake.

So their panacea for all, the Day of the LORD, won’t solve all their problems but will bring even greater calamity.

*v.20** *- The light they had hoped for will turn out to be darkness, not salvation but judgement, not deliverance but exile.

They had clung to a false hope - held on to a lie! Tragic indeed!

"Gloom with no brightness in it!"

Have we believed a lie?

Set before ourselves a false hope?

Has incorrect doctrine and eschatology set us up for bitter disappointment, left us unprepared for the reality we will have to face?

Are we resting on our laurels, confident of deliverance and thus unprepared, not alert for His coming?

*How can we be prepared?

[v.21-24]* – Religion won't do it- Israel was religious.

Why so bad and not what they longed for?

They were not godless – in fact it was their religion that was the problem.

Have you ever considered that our religious observance may be making things worse rather than better?

I've met many sincere religious people who are convinced that their religion has ensured that things are right with God [sung in choir].

Going to Tedder Ave will not help you in that day.

Israel prided themselves in religious observance – there's the problem!: PRIDE!

Israel felt secure in its religion (v.14, 18) but יהוה hated it!

God hates religion!

It was empty religionism, ceremonies and services but without any relationship to יהוה - a relationship that would affect their lives, the way they lived (cf.

*James 1:21-27**/Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

/*/But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.*

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.*/).

To avert disaster, "justice must roll down like waters, and righteousness like an overflowing stream" (v.24).

JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS - the foundation of יהוה’s throne, the basic principles of His reign - is the essence of Amos’ message.

Israel thought it had not gone away from God because it was still highly religious.

They observed the festivals and feasts, gathered together for religious observance, offered sacrifices - burnt offerings, grain offerings and peace offerings (notably, sin offerings were absent - they were not conscious of their sin, thought they were O.K., no repentance or contrition).

They sang songs and played music - but there was no reality.

It was mere religious observance because it was tradition, habit, to absolve their conscience, discharge their religious duty, superstition, keep God happy.

"As long as we go to church on Sunday, we can do what we like in our business during the week, we’re good faithful Christians".

Many today believe church attendance, or active involvement secures life for eternity ("Anglican" mind-set).

But it is utterly futile, meaningless, a waste of time - there is no reality.

How do you know?

Because it makes no fundamental difference to their life - still they live for themselves, are self or man centred.

It has no effect on their concern for others, they continue to exploit and practice injustice.

God *hates* such religious carryings on!

Great ceremonies, beautiful "worship" and music, entertaining and lively programs - but יהוה is entirely missing - He is left out - there is no life transformation, people being transformed into His likeness as they behold Him, and this being evidenced by their lives lived according to the principles of justice and righteousness.

*v.22* - Great sacrifice – but God takes no notice [whole life sacrificed to religious service – on way to being declared a saint – but what does God think?]

They went through all their religious rituals but יהוה would not accept them, or take delight in them or even look at them.

If God doesn’t accept the sacrifices, what on earth is the purpose of continuing to offer them?!

If God isn’t there and isn’t involved, then religion is the most futile exercise.

Yet church service continue and observance goes on even though they deny Jesus’ resurrection, miracles, the Bibles as God’s Word etc.

What on earth is the point?!

If God isn’t involved, why do it?! *v.23* – Worship of worship – fine music (Messiah), loud music – but does God hear?

How like today’s churches where music is worshipped.

Loud, tumultuous, noisy commotion, stirring people with loud insistent music - soulish enjoyment of human spirits delighting in the atmosphere the music generates - often it has precious little to do with offering to God praise that is His due, but is rather a ministering to the people.

If it is directed to man, the motive is soulish; if the people’s hearts aren’t directed to God then He says: "I WILL NOT HEAR!" Our music may be loud but God doesn’t hear it!

God had had a gutsfull of insincere, soulish, religious carrying on.

*v.24* – If not religion, what is God looking for?