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A Call to Repentance
Amos 5:4–15 is a direct call to turn back to Yahweh. The passage links true seeking of God with life, and it exposes worship, power and wealth that ignore justice, goodness and the needs of the poor.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, Yahweh speaks to the house of Israel. The message repeats the call to seek Yahweh and live, while warning against going to Bethel, Gilgal and Beersheba. The passage then names specific sins in public life and urges justice, goodness and right judgement in the courts.
Amos 5:4–15Main takeaway
This passage teaches that seeking Yahweh is shown in rejecting evil and establishing justice, especially where the vulnerable are being wronged.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Seek Yahweh, not empty religious placesThe passage opens with a promise and a warning. Yahweh says, “Seek me, and you will live”, then repeats, “Seek Yahweh, and you will live.”
Explanation
The passage opens with a promise and a warning. Yahweh says, “Seek me, and you will live”, then repeats, “Seek Yahweh, and you will live.” Israel must not rely on Bethel, Gilgal or Beersheba. Those places will not save them, and some will come to ruin or captivity.
02The God they must seek rules creation and judgementAmos describes Yahweh as the one who made the Pleiades and Orion, changes deep darkness into morning, darkens day into night, and pours out the waters of the sea on the earth.
03Their sins damage justice in public lifeThe rebuke becomes very specific. They have turned justice bitter and thrown righteousness down.
Explanation
The rebuke becomes very specific. They have turned justice bitter and thrown righteousness down. They hate truthful correction in the gate and push aside the needy in the courts. They also trample the poor, take wheat taxes, afflict the just, and accept bribes.
04Repentance means loving good and establishing justiceBecause this is “an evil time”, a prudent person keeps silent. Yet the final call is clear and active: “Seek good, and not evil”; “Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts.”
Explanation
Because this is “an evil time”, a prudent person keeps silent. Yet the final call is clear and active: “Seek good, and not evil”; “Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts.” Life is connected with turning from evil and doing what is good and just.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What contrast does Amos make between seeking Yahweh and seeking Bethel, Gilgal or Beersheba?
02How does Amos 5:8–9 help explain why Israel should seek Yahweh seriously?
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Amos 5:4–15
4For Yahweh says to the house of Israel: “Seek me, and you will live;
5but don’t seek Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and don’t pass to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing.
6Seek Yahweh, and you will live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel.
7You who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth!
8Seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is his name,
9who brings sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the fortress.
10They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks blamelessly.
11Therefore, because you trample on the poor and take taxes from him of wheat, you have built houses of cut stone, but you will not dwell in them. You have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.
12For I know how many are your offenses, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the just, who take a bribe, and who turn away the needy in the courts.
13Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
14Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be with you, as you say.
15Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts. It may be that Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”