What does "rejoice in Lo-debar" reveal about misplaced confidence in Amos 6:13? Setting the Scene in Amos 6 • Amos 6 addresses complacent leaders in Zion and Samaria who feel untouchable. • Verse 13 pinpoints two boasts: “You who rejoice in Lo-debar and say, ‘Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?’”. • The people celebrate military exploits and material success, imagining these are proof of divine favor. Understanding Lo-debar • The name “Lo-debar” literally means “nothing” or “no pasture.” • By rejoicing in a place that symbolizes “nothing,” Israel is effectively exalting emptiness. • Their triumph was real in their history (cf. 2 Kings 10:32–33), yet God calls it “nothing” to expose its ultimate worthlessness. The Problem of Misplaced Confidence 1. False Security • They assume territorial gains guarantee long-term safety. • Psalm 20:7 reminds, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God”. 2. Self-Reliance • “Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?” highlights pride in human ability. • Proverbs 21:31: “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.” 3. Diminished View of God • By boasting in “nothing,” they belittle the One who gave them every victory. • Jeremiah 9:23–24 warns against glorying in wisdom, strength, or riches instead of knowing the LORD. What “Rejoice in Lo-debar” Reveals • Celebration of the shallow: They value trophies God labels empty. • Blindness to impending judgment: Confidence in “nothing” dulls urgency to repent (Amos 6:1, 7). • Replacement of covenant trust with national pride: The heart turns from God’s promises to self-made achievements. Signs of Modern “Lo-debar” Thinking • Measuring God’s favor solely by material prosperity or success. • Celebrating personal accomplishments without acknowledging the Lord’s hand. • Treating fleeting cultural victories as ultimate, while neglecting holiness and mercy (Micah 6:8). Gospel Corrective: Where True Rejoicing Belongs • Philippians 3:3—“We boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” • Luke 10:20—“Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” • 1 Corinthians 1:31—“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” Rejoicing in “nothing” exposes a heart rooted in self, but rejoicing in the Lord anchors confidence in the unshakable One who alone gives victory, purpose, and lasting joy. |
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