Amo 5:18 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Amos 5:18-6:14: 5:18–6:14 The pronouncements of sorrow in this section develop two themes: (1) Israel’s apostasy would make the “day of the Lord ” a day of judgment, not salvation; and (2) Judah’s spiritual complacency would also bring judgment. 5:18 Amos again confronts the Israelites’ distorted view of their chosen status (see 3:2 ). • The phrase What sorrow awaits you denotes despair brought on by a great tragedy. • The day of the Lord in the Old Testament (see Isa 13:6 , 9 ) was a time when God would intervene in the world to set right those things that had gone wrong. God’s intervention would mean vindication for the righteous, but judgment for the wicked. Israel thought that on that day (see also Amos 8:3 , 9 , 13 ; 9:11 ) God would save them. However, because the Israelites had been wicked, the day of the Lord would bring darkness, not light . Assyria conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC (2 Kgs 17:7-23 ), fulfilling this prophecy.

a5:18–6:14►

b5:18►

c3:2►

dIsa 13:6►

e9►

fAmos 8:3►

g9►

h13►

i9:11►

j2 Kgs 17:7-23►

‏ Amos 5:18

Summary for Amos 5:18-6:14: 5:18–6:14 ^a The pronouncements of sorrow in this section develop two themes: (1) Israel’s apostasy would make the “day of the Lord” a day of judgment, not salvation; and (2) Judah’s spiritual complacency would also bring judgment. 5:18 ^b Amos again confronts the Israelites’ distorted view of their chosen status (see 3:2 ^c).

• The phrase What sorrow awaits you denotes despair brought on by a great tragedy.

• The day of the Lord in the Old Testament (see Isa 13:6 ^d, 9 ^e) was a time when God would intervene in the world to set right those things that had gone wrong. God’s intervention would mean vindication for the righteous, but judgment for the wicked. Israel thought that on that day (see also Amos 8:3 ^f, 9 ^g, 13 ^h; 9:11 ⁱ) God would save them. However, because the Israelites had been wicked, the day of the Lord would bring darkness, not light. Assyria conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC (2 Kgs 17:7-23 ^j), fulfilling this prophecy.