What does Amos 5:18 mean?
"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." - Amos 5:18
Amos 5:18 from the King James Version of the Bible reads, "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." This verse is a part of the prophecy of Amos, who was a shepherd before his call to be a prophet. He prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II in the kingdom of Israel, around 760 BC.
The book of Amos is filled with stern warnings and messages of doom for the people of Israel, particularly those who were living in luxury and ignoring the sufferings of the poor and oppressed. This verse is no exception, as it speaks to those who eagerly anticipate the "day of the Lord" without realizing the gravity of what that day will bring.
The "day of the Lord" mentioned here refers to the eschatological day of judgment, a concept found throughout the Old and New Testaments. It represents a time of reckoning and divine justice, when God will intervene in human history to bring about his purposes and to judge the actions of humanity. In the context of Amos, this day of the Lord is portrayed as a time of darkness and judgment, rather than a day of light and salvation.
The verse begins with a stern "woe" directed at those who desire the day of the Lord. This "woe" serves as a warning and an indictment against the people who were looking forward to this day without understanding its true implications. Instead of being a day of light and salvation, it will be a day of darkness and judgment for those who have not lived in accordance with God's will.
This verse speaks to the theme of the tension between the righteous and the unrighteous, as well as the consequences of their actions. Throughout the book of Amos, the prophet condemns the wealthy and powerful individuals who exploit the poor and pervert justice. He warns them of the impending judgment that will come upon them if they do not repent and change their ways.
The context of this verse is important for understanding its full meaning. The people of Israel were living in a time of relative peace and prosperity, yet they were also guilty of committing various social injustices and idolatry. Amos condemns their complacency and warns them of the impending judgment that will come upon them if they do not repent.
The symbolism of darkness and light in this verse is significant. Darkness is often associated with evil, ignorance, and judgment in the Bible, while light symbolizes goodness, understanding, and salvation. The statement that the day of the Lord will be darkness and not light serves to emphasize the severity of the judgment that will come upon the unrepentant.
In conclusion, Amos 5:18 is a powerful and sobering warning from the prophet Amos to the people of Israel. It serves as a reminder that the day of the Lord is not something to be desired by those who are living in opposition to God's will. Instead, it will be a day of darkness and judgment for those who have not lived in accordance with God's commands. This verse serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.
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Amos 5:18 Artwork
Amos 5:18 - "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."
"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." - Amos 5:18
Amos 5:18-20 - "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. 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 him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?"
"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. 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 him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?" - Amos 5:18-20
Amos 5:21-27
Amos 5:24 - "But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream."
Amos 5:13 - "Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time."
Amos 5:10 - "They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly."
Amos 5:20 - "Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?"
Amos 6:5 - "That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;"
Amos 5:7 - "Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,"
Amos 2:5 - "But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem."
Amos 5:17 - "And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD."
Amos 5:9 - "That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress."
Amos 5:5 - "But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought."
Amos 5:4 - "¶ For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:"
Amos 5:21 - "I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies."
Amos 5:25 - "Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?"
Amos 5:23 - "Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols."
Amos 5:27 - "Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts."
Amos 5:1 - "Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel."
Amos 5:14 - "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken."
Amos 7:5 - "Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small."
Amos 5:15 - "Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph."
Amos 5:2 - "The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up."
Amos 5:26 - "But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves."
Amos 5:19 - "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 him."
Amos 4:5 - "And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD."
"But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." - Amos 5:24
"They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly." - Amos 5:10