The Dirge

Bible Study

The Dirge

Amos 5:1-5 ESV

Amos sees and proclaims the truth of what he saw. He laments for Israel and warns they have fallen so far they will never rise again.

He knows they must turn to God.

In Amos 5:1-5 he is seems to be pleading, “Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel: “Fallen, no more to rise, is the virgin Israel; forsaken on her land, with none to raise her up.” For thus says the Lord God “The city that went out a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went out a hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel.” For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live; but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.”

In some translations the lamentation is called a dirge which is a song of grief at a funeral.

Amos knows if they do not repent what their future will look like. The example he gives is that they were a thousand strong but now they only have a hundred left. Then a hundred will have ten.

The prophet sees a sharp decline and knows if they do not return to God, to really seek God and no others, they will no longer be what they once “were”.

Is was a defining moment of no return for Israel and Amos knew if they did not do an about face they would never again find their way back to their glory days.

It’s difficult to fathom the heavy load Amos was carrying for his people at this point. It seems like he is weeping and no one is listening.

We can only imagine what it would have been like for Amos to shout publicly to Israel what was to come. I grew up in a metropolitan city and in major centers there were people (mostly men) who would stand on a busy street corner proclaiming a message. Those men were considered to be strange and they did not draw a crowd. We don’t know if Amos drew a crowd but it’s possible no one was listening when Amos gave the message.

Israel did not listen and heed the warning.

In the northern Kingdom of Israel the capital was Samaria. We know from history that Sargon conquered the capital city of Israel, Samaria and the strong men were taken into captivity in 721 B.C. That was not the only time Israel was conquered.

Amos died sometime between 787 and 745 B.C. Biblical history books do not agree on the exact date. According to Jewish Encyclopedia (https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com) Amos was the first Prophet to write his prophecies and therefore keep a record. He wrote the Words God spoke to him because Amaziah, Priest to Jereboam II denounced him and he fell out of favor. Because he was not welcome to proclaim his prophesies publicly, he wrote them down and sent the words God spoke to him to the people.

We do have evidence there were prophecies Amos proclaimed that were fulfilled, but as with all the prophets some can be yet to come.        

Deborah @acrazyjourney.com