CHAPTER 6

1 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, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; 5 That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; 6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

"WOE," or "ALAS" to those who are at "EASE" in Zion! Zion is another name for Jerusalem, as the capitol of Judah. The people of the Southern Kingdom have begun to act like those in the Northern Kingdom. They trusted in their own strength rather than in God.

The capitol of Judah was situated in a beautiful and easily defended place (vs 2). No other nation around it had such a wonderful capitol.

But the people had begun to believe that God's prophets were not telling the truth when they prophesied of a time coming soon when Judah and Jerusalem would be defeated and fall into the hands of the Babylonians (vs 3). They "put far away the evil day," and wouldn't even consider it.

Further, they lay on beds of ease (vs 4) and feasted far too often. They danced for pleasure rather than for praise to God (vs 5). And glasses of wine weren't enough, they began to use larger containers like "bowls."

When nations become prolific and prosperous, they are apt to procrastinate about the important things, and "party" too much! Actions like these lead to DISASTER!!

7 Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. 8 The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.

God will remove the banqueting by removing the people as captives. There is no oath so solemn or true as God's oath "by Himself!" This solemn oath is used also in Amos 4:2 and Jeremiah 51:14. He had sworn it, and it would happen.

9 And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. 10 And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD. 11 For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.

Those who were "at ease in Zion" would be killed in war or by plague.

The grief would be tremendous, but so would the realization that God had done this. When dead people were gathered up so that incense might be "burned" for them, the gatherers would be afraid to mention the "name of the Lord" for fear of His reprisal. Once again, God's NAME would be HOLY!

12 Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock: 13 Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? 14 But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of the wilderness.

Horses do not run upon rocks or they will break their legs. Men do not use oxen to plow in rocks, they first REMOVE the rocks. Men should also not remove "judgment" or "righteousness." It is a breach of spiritual truth, and brings harm.

The people had "rejoice(d) in a thing of nought" when they had ascribed power unto themselves rather than to God.

God would destroy what they counted as theirs by a strong "nation." The affliction of this nation upon Israel would encompass the whole of the land (from North to South -- "Hamath unto the river of the wilderness").

Humanity recycles the thoughts of vanity! When a nation becomes prosperous, men take little thought of God. Their accomplishments are considered to be their own. Yet, when men pervert justice and integrity disaster occurs.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.