Amos 5:18-27, Mistaken Idea About the Day of Yahweh

The Day of Yahweh can have an immediate reference and an ultimate reference. “We can see critical elements of the Day of Yahweh include a time of distress for God’s people that comes from Yahweh’s judgment….But even in the midst of this promised judgment there is a positive promise that there will be survivors whose needs will be met by Yahweh.  These are the minor and major keys of the Day of Yahweh.” Amos readers are only thinking about the positive or major-key aspects of the Day of Yahweh and so Amos must warn them that because of their sinfulness, only the minor-key aspects of this Day await them.

5:18 Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh! Why would you want the day of Yahweh? It is a day of darkness, and not light, 19 as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Isn’t the day of Yahweh darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

21 “I hate and despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals I will reject. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; I won’t listen to the melody of your harps. 24 Rather, let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

25 “Was it to me you brought sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 26 No, you worshiped pagan gods, Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—images that you made for yourselves, 27 and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says Yahweh, whose name is the God of hosts.

There are many positive promises for Israel that come with the Day of Yahweh:

• It will be a time in which the arrogance of the wicked is brought low, and Yahweh is exalted (Isaiah 2:11,12,17; 28:5; 60:19,20).
• It will be a time in which the Branch of Yahweh is exalted (Isaiah 4:2; Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 9:9-10), preceded by Elijah (Malachi 4:5). This is the ultimate Seed of the Woman, the Servant of Yahweh so identified in Isaiah 49:8, the Messiah. This is the day on which Yahweh’s feet will touch on the Mount of Olives, the place from which Jesus ascended and the angels said he would also return, and the mountain is split in two (Zechariah 14:4).  This is why the Day of Yahweh is called, in the New Testament, the Day of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8; Philippians 1:6,10; 2:16) or the Day of the Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:14).
• It will be a time in which the nations gathered against Israel (Zechariah 12:1-9) to judge her, a time of destruction for Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:5-25; Jeremiah 7:32; 15:9; 19:6; Lamentations 1:12;2:1,22; Ezekial 7:1-19; 12:23-25; 13:5; Zechariah 14:2) but also a time in which Yahweh will lead the Israelites in battle (Zechariah 9:11-17; 14:14; Malachi 4:3). This seems contradictory until we realize that…
• This will also be a time of Israel’s national repentance (Zechariah 12:10-14) and healing (Isaiah 30:26; Zechariah 3:9; 13:1-2). It will be a time of purging her from idolatry.
• And so it will be a time of abundance in the land (Isaiah 4:2; Joel 3:18; Amos 9:11ff; Zechariah 3:10; 8:9-13,19; 14:1,14), an outpouring of the Spirit (Joel 2:28ff), a time of protection (Isaiah 4:5; Zechariah 8:4-8; 14:3,10-11), and a time of favor and comfort to Israel (Isaiah 61:2; Jeremiah 23:6; Micah 4:1; Zechariah 8:4-8), Israel’s restoration (Jeremiah 5:18; 16:14; 30:3,8; 31:27-28,38; 38-39; Joel 3:1-3; Zechariah 14:2ff; Malachi 4:1f).
• It will be a time in which the remnant of Israel return to the land, trusting Yahweh (Isaiah 10:20; 11:11; 27:12,13; Jeremiah 3:14,18), as well as when her former enemies come to Yahweh in faith and submission to Israel (Isaiah 19:16-21; Jeremiah 48:47; 49:39; Micah 4:1; Zechariah 2:11; 8:20-23; 14:16-19), because the knowledge of Yahweh has filled the earth (Jeremiah 3:15; 31:33; Joel 3:17)
• It will be a time of vengeance against the nations initially (Isaiah 24:21; 34:8; 61:2; 63:1; Jeremiah 46:10; 47:4; 49:2; Joel 2:18-30; 3:1-3; 3:4,14,19-21; Obadiah 1:8,15; Zephaniah 3:8; 9:1-8; 14:12), as for Israel.
• It will be a time of punishment for host of heaven (Isaiah 24:21), Satan and his fallen angels (Revelation 12,19,20), for their own rebellion and their role in leading humans in rebellion (the Serpent and the seed of the Serpent, the crushing of his head (Genesis 3:15).
• It will be the time of Yahweh’s throne established in Jerusalem (Jesus’ throne to be most exact, Jeremiah 3:17; Zechariah 8:1-3; 14:9; Revelation 20), a time in which the new temple is built (Ezekiel 40-44; Zechariah 14:20-21; Malachi 3:4), during the millennium (Revelation 20), to be followed by the new heaven and new earth remaking and the coming of the heavenly Jerusalem to earth, in which there will be no temple, but the Father and the Son are the temple (Jeremiah 3:16; Revelation 21)

But with the state Israel is in Amos must tell them that only the negative aspects of judgment can be expected when Yahweh’s Day comes for them. Their religious observances are hypocritical because they are practicing social injustice and even idolatrous worship. This has not changed since the time of their wilderness wanderings after their deliverance from Egypt. There was no real love for God or love for their neighbors.

And a temporary turn to justice and righteousness would not do. Justice and righteousness must flow like a never-ending river.