Amos 5:14
Verse
Context
A Call to Repentance
13Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil. 14Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed. 15Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
Sermons
Derek Prince
Chuck Smith
Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Compilations
Shane Idleman
Bryan AnthonySummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Seek good, and not evil - Is there a greater mystery in the world, than that a mall, instead of seeking good, will seek evil, knowing that it is evil? And so the Lord - As God is the Fountain of good, so they who seek the supreme good seek him: and they who seek shall find him; For the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with him.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah the God of hosts may be with you, as ye say. Amo 5:15. Hate evil, and love good, and set up justice in the gate; perhaps Jehovah the God of hosts will show favour to the remnant of Joseph." The command to seek and love good is practically the same as that to seek the Lord in Amo 5:4, Amo 5:6; and therefore the promise is the same, "that ye may live." But it is only in fellowship with God that man has life. This truth the Israelites laid hold of in a perfectly outward sense, fancying that they stood in fellowship with God by virtue of their outward connection with the covenant nation as sons of Israel or Abraham (cf. Joh 8:39), and that the threatened judgment could not reach them, but that God would deliver them in every time of oppression by the heathen (cf. Mic 3:11; Jer 7:10). Amos meets this delusion with the remark, "that Jehovah may be so with you as ye say." כּן neither means "in case ye do so" (Rashi, Baur), nor "in like manner as, i.e., if ye strive after good" (Hitzig). Neither of these meanings can be established, and here they are untenable, for the simple reason that כּן unmistakeably corresponds with the following כּאשׁר. It means nothing more than "so as ye say." The thought is the following: "Seek good, and not evil: then will Jehovah the God of the heavenly hosts be with you as a helper in distress, so as ye say." This implied that in their present condition, so long as they sought good, they ought not to comfort themselves with the certainty of Jehovah's help. Seeking good is explained in v. 15 as loving good, and this is still further defined as setting up justice in the gate, i.e., maintaining a righteous administration of justice at the place of judgment; and to this the hope, so humiliating to carnal security, is attached: perhaps God will then show favour to the remnant of the people. The emphasis in these words is laid as much upon perhaps as upon the remnant of Joseph. The expression "perhaps He will show favour" indicates that the measure of Israel's sins was full, and no deliverance could be hoped for if God were to proceed to act according to His righteousness. The "remnant of Joseph" does not refer to "the existing condition of the ten tribes" (Ros., Hitzig). For although Hazael and Benhadad had conquered the whole of the land of Gilead in the times of Jehu and Jehoahaz, and had annihilated the Israelitish army with the exception of a very small remnant (Kg2 10:32-33; Kg2 13:3, Kg2 13:7), Joash and Jeroboam II had recovered from the Syrians all the conquered territory, and restored the kingdom to its original bounds (Kg2 13:23., Kg2 14:26-28). Consequently Amos could not possibly describe the state of the kingdom of the ten tribes in the time of Jeroboam II as "the remnant of Joseph." As the Syrians had not attempted any deportation, the nation of the ten tribes during the reign of Jeroboam was still, or was once more, all Israel. If, therefore, Amos merely holds out the possibility of the favouring of the remnant of Joseph, he thereby gives distinctly to understand, that in the approaching judgment Israel will perish with the exception of a remnant, which may possibly be preserved after the great chastisement (cf. Amo 5:3), just as Joel (Joe 3:5) and Isaiah (Isa 6:13; Isa 10:21-23) promise only the salvation of a remnant to the kingdom of Judah.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
and so--on condition of your "seeking good." shall be with you, as ye have spoken--as ye have boasted; namely, that God is with you, and that you are His people (Mic 3:11).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Seek good, and not evil,.... Seek not unto, or after, evil persons and evil things; not the company and conversation of evil men, which is infectious and dangerous; nor anything that is evil, or has the appearance of it, especially the evil of evils, sin; which is hateful to God, contrary to his nature and will; is evil in its own nature, and bad in its consequences, and therefore not to be sought, but shunned and avoided; but seek that which is good, persons and things: seek the "summum bonnum", "the chief good", God, who is essentially, perfectly, immutably, and communicatively good, the fountain of all goodness, and the portion of his people; seek Christ the good Saviour and sacrifice, the good Shepherd, and the good Samaritan, who is good in all his relations, as a father, husband, and friend, and in whom all good things are laid up; seek the good Spirit of God, who works good things in his people, and shows good things to them, and is the Comforter of them; seek to him for assistance in prayer, and to help in the exercise of every grace, and in the discharge of every duty, and as the guide into all truth, and to eternal glory; seek the good ways of God, the way of truth, the path of faith and holiness, and especially the good way to the Father, the way of life and salvation by Christ; seek the good word of God, the Scriptures of truth, the promises contained in them, and the Gospel of them; seek the company of good men, and that good part that shall not be taken away, the true grace of God, the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; seek the glories of another world, the goodness of God laid up, the best things which are reserved to last: that ye may live; comfortably, spiritually, and eternally, which is the consequence of all this; See Gill on Amo 5:4; See Gill on Amo 5:6; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken; as they used to say, and boasted of; though they had not the temple, the ark of the testimony, the symbols of the divine Presence, as Judah had; but this they would have in reality, both his gracious presence here, and his glorious presence hereafter, did they truly and rightly seek those things; than which nothing is more desirable to good men, or can make them more comfortable, or more happy. The Targum is, "seek to do well, and not to do ill, that ye may live; and then the word of the Lord God of hosts shall be your help, as ye have said.''
Tyndale Open Study Notes
5:14 Amos makes his earlier hints (5:4, 6) more explicit: Israel must do what is good and right in order to survive.
Amos 5:14
A Call to Repentance
13Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil. 14Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed. 15Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
War on Earth - Part 2
By Derek Prince2.1K28:34DEU 18:9PSA 139:23AMO 5:14MAT 12:36MRK 9:24JHN 8:44EPH 6:12JAS 3:161PE 3:6
This sermon delves into the topic of demons, distinguishing them from devils and exploring their potential origins as disembodied spirits. It recounts a personal experience of deliverance from various demons, highlighting the desperate craving of demons to occupy human bodies. The sermon also addresses how demons can enter individuals through various means like prenatal exposure, emotional shock, sinful acts, and idle words, emphasizing the importance of repentance and deliverance.
(Through the Bible) Amos 1-5
By Chuck Smith2.1K1:25:07JER 20:9AMO 4:6AMO 5:5AMO 5:12AMO 5:14ACT 4:20In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of preparing to meet God, as everyone will ultimately stand before Him in judgment. The preacher describes a vision of all the dead, both small and great, standing before God's judgment throne. He emphasizes that no one can escape this judgment and that it will be an awe-inspiring experience to stand before the Creator of the universe. The preacher also mentions the role of shepherds and prophets in biblical times and how they were hindered from fulfilling their calling. The sermon concludes with a warning of judgment against the surrounding nations of Israel.
Call for the Wailing Women - Part 2
By Nancy Leigh DeMoss2.0K08:54ISA 58:1JER 8:21HOS 10:12JOL 2:12AMO 5:14
This sermon emphasizes the urgent call to wake up from complacency and recognize the troubles in our society, homes, and churches. It highlights the prevalence of sin, brokenness, and moral decay, urging listeners to acknowledge the severity of the current condition and the impending judgment of God. The message challenges individuals to confront the reality of their situations and the need for repentance and revival.
Holiness to the Lord (Compilation)
By Compilations1.6K03:45CompilationPSA 101:3AMO 5:14In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for Christians to prioritize reading and loving the Bible over watching television. He highlights the danger of allowing sin to become our entertainment through TV shows and movies. The preacher urges believers to seek good and turn off the TV in order to seek God in prayer. He emphasizes the importance of holiness in the life of a Christian, stating that without holiness, no one can see the Lord. The preacher also addresses the issue of sin and the need for conviction, stating that many Christians have become comfortable with sin and need to pursue uncompromising holiness.
Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
By Shane Idleman73739:53PSA 32:3PSA 139:23PRO 12:22ISA 59:2AMO 5:14MAT 18:15JHN 8:32ACT 4:32REV 21:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of honesty and repentance, highlighting the consequences of habitual lying and the need for genuine confession and transformation. It addresses the impact of lying on relationships, spiritual vitality, and eternal consequences, urging individuals to seek God's forgiveness and cleansing in areas of deceit.
The Real Work of Examination
By Bryan Anthony0PSA 139:23PRO 28:26AMO 5:14AMO 5:24JHN 5:391CO 11:282CO 13:5HEB 4:12JAS 1:23Bryan Anthony preaches on the importance of self-examination in the faith, highlighting how earthly comparisons and pursuits hinder true spiritual growth. He emphasizes the need for individuals to examine themselves in the light of the Scriptures, seeking to reflect the character of Christ in truthfulness, boldness, meekness, and kindness. Anthony stresses that God reveals the hidden areas of our character over time, urging believers to allow God to work in them for His purpose and to courageously look inwardly for self-awareness.
The Poor of the Land and the Pride of Jacob
By John Piper0AMO 4:12AMO 5:4AMO 5:8AMO 5:14AMO 5:18AMO 5:21AMO 8:4AMO 9:5John Piper preaches on the message of Amos, a shepherd turned prophet, who delivered a warning of coming judgment upon the northern kingdom of Israel. Despite Amos' faithful proclamation, the people did not repent, teaching us that the effectiveness of God's word is not always visible. The central message of Amos is the impending judgment of God, portrayed vividly through the prophet's descriptions of the Lord's power and might. Amos exposes the roots of Israel's sins - forsaking God, addiction to luxury, indifference to honesty, and hardheartedness against the poor - as the reasons for God's wrath.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Seek good, and not evil - Is there a greater mystery in the world, than that a mall, instead of seeking good, will seek evil, knowing that it is evil? And so the Lord - As God is the Fountain of good, so they who seek the supreme good seek him: and they who seek shall find him; For the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with him.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah the God of hosts may be with you, as ye say. Amo 5:15. Hate evil, and love good, and set up justice in the gate; perhaps Jehovah the God of hosts will show favour to the remnant of Joseph." The command to seek and love good is practically the same as that to seek the Lord in Amo 5:4, Amo 5:6; and therefore the promise is the same, "that ye may live." But it is only in fellowship with God that man has life. This truth the Israelites laid hold of in a perfectly outward sense, fancying that they stood in fellowship with God by virtue of their outward connection with the covenant nation as sons of Israel or Abraham (cf. Joh 8:39), and that the threatened judgment could not reach them, but that God would deliver them in every time of oppression by the heathen (cf. Mic 3:11; Jer 7:10). Amos meets this delusion with the remark, "that Jehovah may be so with you as ye say." כּן neither means "in case ye do so" (Rashi, Baur), nor "in like manner as, i.e., if ye strive after good" (Hitzig). Neither of these meanings can be established, and here they are untenable, for the simple reason that כּן unmistakeably corresponds with the following כּאשׁר. It means nothing more than "so as ye say." The thought is the following: "Seek good, and not evil: then will Jehovah the God of the heavenly hosts be with you as a helper in distress, so as ye say." This implied that in their present condition, so long as they sought good, they ought not to comfort themselves with the certainty of Jehovah's help. Seeking good is explained in v. 15 as loving good, and this is still further defined as setting up justice in the gate, i.e., maintaining a righteous administration of justice at the place of judgment; and to this the hope, so humiliating to carnal security, is attached: perhaps God will then show favour to the remnant of the people. The emphasis in these words is laid as much upon perhaps as upon the remnant of Joseph. The expression "perhaps He will show favour" indicates that the measure of Israel's sins was full, and no deliverance could be hoped for if God were to proceed to act according to His righteousness. The "remnant of Joseph" does not refer to "the existing condition of the ten tribes" (Ros., Hitzig). For although Hazael and Benhadad had conquered the whole of the land of Gilead in the times of Jehu and Jehoahaz, and had annihilated the Israelitish army with the exception of a very small remnant (Kg2 10:32-33; Kg2 13:3, Kg2 13:7), Joash and Jeroboam II had recovered from the Syrians all the conquered territory, and restored the kingdom to its original bounds (Kg2 13:23., Kg2 14:26-28). Consequently Amos could not possibly describe the state of the kingdom of the ten tribes in the time of Jeroboam II as "the remnant of Joseph." As the Syrians had not attempted any deportation, the nation of the ten tribes during the reign of Jeroboam was still, or was once more, all Israel. If, therefore, Amos merely holds out the possibility of the favouring of the remnant of Joseph, he thereby gives distinctly to understand, that in the approaching judgment Israel will perish with the exception of a remnant, which may possibly be preserved after the great chastisement (cf. Amo 5:3), just as Joel (Joe 3:5) and Isaiah (Isa 6:13; Isa 10:21-23) promise only the salvation of a remnant to the kingdom of Judah.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
and so--on condition of your "seeking good." shall be with you, as ye have spoken--as ye have boasted; namely, that God is with you, and that you are His people (Mic 3:11).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Seek good, and not evil,.... Seek not unto, or after, evil persons and evil things; not the company and conversation of evil men, which is infectious and dangerous; nor anything that is evil, or has the appearance of it, especially the evil of evils, sin; which is hateful to God, contrary to his nature and will; is evil in its own nature, and bad in its consequences, and therefore not to be sought, but shunned and avoided; but seek that which is good, persons and things: seek the "summum bonnum", "the chief good", God, who is essentially, perfectly, immutably, and communicatively good, the fountain of all goodness, and the portion of his people; seek Christ the good Saviour and sacrifice, the good Shepherd, and the good Samaritan, who is good in all his relations, as a father, husband, and friend, and in whom all good things are laid up; seek the good Spirit of God, who works good things in his people, and shows good things to them, and is the Comforter of them; seek to him for assistance in prayer, and to help in the exercise of every grace, and in the discharge of every duty, and as the guide into all truth, and to eternal glory; seek the good ways of God, the way of truth, the path of faith and holiness, and especially the good way to the Father, the way of life and salvation by Christ; seek the good word of God, the Scriptures of truth, the promises contained in them, and the Gospel of them; seek the company of good men, and that good part that shall not be taken away, the true grace of God, the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; seek the glories of another world, the goodness of God laid up, the best things which are reserved to last: that ye may live; comfortably, spiritually, and eternally, which is the consequence of all this; See Gill on Amo 5:4; See Gill on Amo 5:6; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken; as they used to say, and boasted of; though they had not the temple, the ark of the testimony, the symbols of the divine Presence, as Judah had; but this they would have in reality, both his gracious presence here, and his glorious presence hereafter, did they truly and rightly seek those things; than which nothing is more desirable to good men, or can make them more comfortable, or more happy. The Targum is, "seek to do well, and not to do ill, that ye may live; and then the word of the Lord God of hosts shall be your help, as ye have said.''
Tyndale Open Study Notes
5:14 Amos makes his earlier hints (5:4, 6) more explicit: Israel must do what is good and right in order to survive.