Amos 5:18-27

Amos 5:18-27

[18] Woe  unto you that desire  the day  of the LORD!  to what end  is it for you? the day  of the LORD  is darkness,  and not light.  [19] As if a man  did flee  from  a lion,  and a bear  met  him; or went  into the house,  and leaned  his hand  on the wall,  and a serpent  bit  [20] Shall not the day  of the LORD  be darkness,  and not light?  even very dark,  and no brightness  in it? [21] I hate,  I despise  your feast days,  and I will not smell  in your solemn assemblies.  [22] Though ye offer  me burnt offerings  and your meat offerings,  I will not accept  them: neither will I regard  the peace offerings  of your fat beasts.  [23] Take thou away  from me the noise  of thy songs;  for I will not hear  the melody  of thy viols.  [24] But let judgment  run down  as waters,  and righteousness  as a mighty  stream.  [25] Have ye offered  unto me sacrifices  and offerings  in the wilderness  forty  years,  O house  of Israel?  [26] But ye have borne  the tabernacle  and Chiun  your images,  the star  of your god,  which ye made  to yourselves. [27] Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity  beyond  Damascus,  saith  the LORD,  whose name  is The God  of hosts. 

What does Amos 5:18-27 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This lament also has a chiastic structure. It centers on a call for individual repentance.
AA description of inevitable judgment Amos 5:18-20BAn accusation of religious hypocrisy Amos 5:21-22CA call for individual repentance Amos 5:23-24B"An accusation of religious hypocrisy Amos 5:25-26A"A description of inevitable judgment Amos 5:27