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Woe to Rebellious Israel
Amos 5:16–27 warns Israel that those who long for the day of Yahweh should not expect comfort from it. The passage speaks of grief, darkness, rejected worship and captivity beyond Damascus.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, Yahweh speaks about public mourning, the coming day of Yahweh, rejected feasts and offerings, and a call for justice and righteousness. The passage ends by recalling Israel’s offerings in the wilderness, mentioning made images, and announcing captivity beyond Damascus.
Amos 5:16–27Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh rejects worship joined to injustice and warns that his judgement is no cause for confident longing.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Mourning fills the landThe passage opens with grief in public places: wide ways, streets and vineyards. Farmers and skilled mourners are called to wailing.
Explanation
The passage opens with grief in public places: wide ways, streets and vineyards. Farmers and skilled mourners are called to wailing. The reason is serious: Yahweh says, “I will pass through the middle of you”. This is not a joyful gathering but a warning of widespread sorrow.
02The day of Yahweh will be darknessSome people desired the day of Yahweh, but this passage says that longing was mistaken. Amos asks why they want it, because it will be darkness, not light.
Explanation
Some people desired the day of Yahweh, but this passage says that longing was mistaken. Amos asks why they want it, because it will be darkness, not light. The picture of escaping a lion only to meet a bear, then being bitten by a snake, shows there is no easy escape from this judgement.
03Yahweh refuses their worshipYahweh says he hates their feasts and will not accept their offerings. He will not listen to their songs or harp music.
Explanation
Yahweh says he hates their feasts and will not accept their offerings. He will not listen to their songs or harp music. In these verses, their worship is refused, and Yahweh calls for something else: justice rolling on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
04Images and captivity beyond DamascusThe final verses ask about sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness, then say Israel carried the shrine of images they had made for themselves.
Explanation
The final verses ask about sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness, then say Israel carried the shrine of images they had made for themselves. After this, Yahweh declares that he will cause them to go into captivity beyond Damascus. His closing name, “the God of Armies”, underlines his authority.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What pictures in this passage show that the day of Yahweh will be frightening rather than hopeful?
02Which parts of Israel’s worship does Yahweh refuse, and what does he call for instead?
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Amos 5:16–27
16Therefore Yahweh, the God of Armies, the Lord, says: “Wailing will be in all the wide ways. They will say in all the streets, ‘Alas! Alas!’ They will call the farmer to mourning, and those who are skillful in lamentation to wailing.
17In all vineyards there will be wailing, for I will pass through the middle of you,” says Yahweh.
18“Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh! Why do you long for the day of Yahweh? It is darkness, and not light.
19As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him.
20Won’t the day of Yahweh be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?
21I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can’t stand your solemn assemblies.
22Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals.
23Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
25“Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, house of Israel?
26You also carried the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.
27Therefore I will cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus,” says Yahweh, whose name is the God of Armies.