• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"For I will pass through you"

Text: Amos 5:17

A VERY SOBERING WORD OF WARNING

Amos held out a word of hope to the people of Israel. If the people were to repent the Lord might still forgive and relent from pouring out His fury on the nation that had turned rogue! But if the nation continued in their sinful ways, they would have to bear the consequences of choosing to remain in idolatry and sin!

“Therefore the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, says this:
‘There shall be wailing in all streets,
And they shall say in all the highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’
They shall call the farmer to mourning,
And skillful lamenters to wailing.
In all vineyards there shall be wailing,
For I will pass through you,’ says the LORD.”
Amos 5:16-17

1. “Therefore the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, says this”

a) God is introduced as the Author of this word.

b) God in all His greatness and majesty is formally presented here.

i) The LORD God of hosts… He is at the Head of the heavenly armies.

ii) He is also called “Lord” to emphasise His sovereignty.

c) This formal statement has an ominous ring about it.

2. Forewarning given

a) Wailing

There shall be wailing in the streets.

b) Lamenting

People will lament and say helplessly in great regret, “Alas! Alas!”

c) Mourning

i) Farmers will be afflicted and they will mourn deeply in sad regret.

ii) Professional mourners would be engaged to express the deepest lament.

d) The vineyards

i) There will be a severe crop-failure.

ii) The failure will be very extensive so that there will be wide-spread sorrowful mourning.

3. “For I will pass through you, says the LORD”

a) These words were uttered by the Lord in Egypt.

These words presaged the event of the slaying of the firstborn.

b) God would PASS THROUGH Egypt and all the firstborn male would die (Exodus 12:23-24).

c) In that historic day God said He would PASS OVER Israel… but not now! Terrifying words indeed!