◄ Amos 6:8 ►
The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself--the LORD, the God of Hosts, has declared: "I abhor Jacob's pride and detest his citadels, so I will deliver up the city and everything in it."
Study Bible
The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself
This phrase emphasizes the seriousness and certainty of the message. In biblical times, swearing by oneself was the highest form of oath, as seen in Genesis 22:16. God, being the ultimate authority, swears by Himself, indicating the unchangeable nature of His decree. This reflects His sovereignty and the gravity of the impending judgment.

the LORD, the God of Hosts, has declared
The title "God of Hosts" underscores God's supreme command over the heavenly armies, highlighting His power and authority. This title is often used in contexts of judgment and warfare, as seen in Isaiah 1:24. It serves as a reminder of God's ability to execute His will against any nation or power.

I abhor Jacob’s pride
"Jacob" refers to the nation of Israel, and "pride" indicates their arrogance and self-reliance, which God finds detestable. This pride is a recurring theme in the prophets, as seen in Isaiah 2:11-12, where human pride is contrasted with God's majesty. The Israelites' pride led them away from dependence on God, resulting in moral and spiritual decay.

and detest his citadels
Citadels symbolize the strength and security of a city. In this context, they represent Israel's misplaced trust in their own defenses and wealth. Archaeological findings in ancient Israelite cities reveal fortified structures, indicating a reliance on physical security. God's detestation of these citadels signifies His disapproval of their false sense of security.

so I will deliver up the city and everything in it
This phrase foretells the coming judgment and destruction. The "city" likely refers to Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Historical records and archaeological evidence confirm the Assyrian conquest of Samaria in 722 BC, fulfilling this prophecy. The totality of the destruction ("everything in it") underscores the completeness of God's judgment, similar to the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah as described in Genesis 19.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Lord GOD
The sovereign and covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is both just and merciful.

2. Jacob
Represents the nation of Israel, often used to denote the collective people of God, descended from Jacob, the patriarch.

3. The God of Hosts
A title emphasizing God's supreme authority over the heavenly armies and all creation.

4. Citadels
Fortified structures symbolizing human pride and false security, often associated with wealth and power.

5. The City
Likely referring to Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, known for its opulence and idolatry.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Justice
God swears by Himself, underscoring His ultimate authority and the certainty of His judgment. Believers should recognize God's sovereignty and live in reverence and obedience.

The Danger of Pride
Pride is detestable to God and leads to downfall. Christians are called to examine their hearts for pride and seek humility before God.

False Security in Earthly Strength
The citadels symbolize reliance on human strength and wealth. Believers should place their trust in God rather than in material or worldly security.

God's Call to Repentance
The pronouncement of judgment is also a call to repentance. Christians should heed God's warnings and turn from sin to seek His mercy.

The Certainty of God's Word
God's declaration is sure and will come to pass. Believers can trust in the reliability and truth of God's Word in all circumstances.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the description of God as "the God of Hosts" influence our understanding of His power and authority in this passage?

2. In what ways can pride manifest in our lives today, and how can we guard against it according to biblical principles?

3. What are some modern-day "citadels" that people might rely on for security, and how can we shift our trust to God instead?

4. How does the theme of God's opposition to pride in Amos 6:8 connect with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's discipline or warning. How did it lead you to repentance and a deeper relationship with Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 2:12-17
This passage speaks of the Lord's day against all that is proud and lofty, emphasizing God's opposition to human pride.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
Highlights the futility of boasting in wisdom, might, or riches, and instead calls for boasting in understanding and knowing the Lord.

Proverbs 16:18
Warns that pride precedes destruction, a principle evident in God's judgment against Israel's pride.

1 Peter 5:5
Encourages humility, reminding believers that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

James 4:6
Reinforces the theme that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, urging believers to submit to God.
Sermons
National DepravityD. Thomas Amos 6:8
People
Amos, David, Hemath, Jacob, Joseph
Places
Ashteroth-karnaim, Brook of the Arabah, Calneh, Gath, Hamath, Lebo-hamath, Lo-debar, Samaria, Zion
Topics
Abhor, Abominating, Abundance, Affirmation, Almighty, Armies, Arrogance, Citadels, Contains, Declared, Declares, Deliver, Delivered, Detest, Disgusting, Excellence, Excellency, Fortresses, Fulness, Hate, Hated, Hosts, Houses, Jacob, Loathe, Oath, Palaces, Places, Pride, Says, Strongholds, Sworn, Therein, Town
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Amos 6:8

     5467   promises, divine
     8805   pride, results

Library
The Carcass and the Eagles
'Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! 2. Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? 3. Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; 4. That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

June the Twenty-Fourth at Ease in Zion
"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion!" --AMOS vi. 1-7. I would be delivered from the folly of confusing ease and rest. There is an infinite difference between comforts and comfort. It is one thing to lie down on a luxurious couch: it is a very different thing to "lie down in green pastures" under the gracious shepherdliness of the Lord. The ease which men covet is so often a fruit of stupefaction, the dull product of sinful drugs, the wretched sluggishness of carnal gratification and excess. …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

A Sermon for the Time Present
I am going to begin with the last verse of the text, and work my way upwards. The first; head is, a trying day for God's people. They are sorrowful because a cloud is upon their solemn assembly, and the reproach thereof is a burden. Secondly, we will note a glorious ground of consolation. We read in the seventeenth verse, "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." And, thirdly, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 33: 1887

Whether it is Proper to Christ to be Head of the Church?
Objection 1: It seems that it is not proper to Christ to be Head of the Church. For it is written (1 Kings 15:17): "When thou wast a little one in thy own eyes, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel?" Now there is but one Church in the New and the Old Testament. Therefore it seems that with equal reason any other man than Christ might be head of the Church. Objection 2: Further, Christ is called Head of the Church from His bestowing grace on the Church's members. But it belongs to others …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Of Christian Liberty.
1. Connection of this chapter with the previous one on Justification. A true knowledge of Christian liberty useful and necessary. 1. It purifies the conscience. 2. It checks licentiousness. 3. It maintains the merits of Christ, the truth of the Gospel, and the peace of the soul. 2. This liberty consists of three parts. First, Believers renouncing the righteousness of the law, look only to Christ. Objection. Answer, distinguishing between Legal and Evangelical righteousness. 3. This first part clearly …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Of Orders.
Of this sacrament the Church of Christ knows nothing; it was invented by the church of the Pope. It not only has no promise of grace, anywhere declared, but not a word is said about it in the whole of the New Testament. Now it is ridiculous to set up as a sacrament of God that which can nowhere be proved to have been instituted by God. Not that I consider that a rite practised for so many ages is to be condemned; but I would not have human inventions established in sacred things, nor should it be …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

The Wrath of God
What does every sin deserve? God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.' Matt 25: 41. Man having sinned, is like a favourite turned out of the king's favour, and deserves the wrath and curse of God. He deserves God's curse. Gal 3: 10. As when Christ cursed the fig-tree, it withered; so, when God curses any, he withers in his soul. Matt 21: 19. God's curse blasts wherever it comes. He deserves also God's wrath, which is …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

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