Amos 6:3
O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse reveals a chilling irony: by trying to push away the day of God's judgment, the people were actually drawing closer to destruction. They were so immersed in their violent oppression and self-indulgence that they were, in effect, setting up a "throne for violence" right in their own midst, inviting the very disaster they hoped to escape.
Amos is calling out the wealthy and powerful elite of Israel for their luxurious, self-indulgent lifestyles and their utter disregard for justice and the impending judgment of God. While they try to push away the thought of divine punishment and the "day of the Lord," they are simultaneously actively engaging in and establishing systems of violence and oppression within their own society. Their refusal to confront their sin means they are speeding towards the very disaster they claim to ignore.
Do you ever try to push unpleasant thoughts or future problems out of your mind? It seems like some people have mastered this, but at what cost?
The people Amos is addressing are masters of denial. They don't just ignore the 'evil day' – God's coming judgment – they actively 'put it far away.' It's like wishing away a storm instead of preparing for it. This isn't just passive avoidance; it's an active choice to believe disaster is distant, allowing them to continue in their destructive ways without immediate fear.
This denial makes them feel secure, even as their actions scream insecurity. They refuse to face the reality of God's impending justice, preferring to live in a self-created bubble of comfort. This ostrich-like approach, however, doesn't change God's plan; it only blinds them to it.
Imagine a courtroom where the judge is supposed to be fair, but instead, injustice reigns. What does that look like in real life?
The second part of the verse is a stark contrast: 'and bring near the seat of violence.' While they push away the day of reckoning, they are actively inviting violence into their present. The 'seat' here refers to the place of judgment, the bench where justice should be dispensed. Instead, for them, it has become a throne for violence.
This means they are perverting justice systems, oppressing the weak, and actively engaging in or enabling acts of cruelty. They are not passively waiting for judgment; they are creating it for themselves and others. Their corruption and disregard for righteousness are not just personal sins but systemic problems that make violence the norm in their society.
Understand the original words
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
A catastrophic event, often referring to divine judgment, war, or the end of a nation’s prosperity. It is the consequence of persistent sin and disobedience to God's law.
chamas · Hebrew Noun
A reference to the exercise of power through injustice, exploitation, or physical force. It is strictly forbidden in the Law, as God is a God of justice and righteousness.
Amos's stinging words in this verse were directed at the wealthy and powerful in Israel who were deliberately ignoring the coming judgment, choosing instead to indulge in violence and oppression while deceiving themselves into thinking they were safe.
c. 760-750 BC— this verse
Amos's Prophetic Ministry
Amos, a shepherd from Judah, is called to prophesy against the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of outward prosperity but inner corruption. His message focuses on social injustice and idolatry.
c. 750 BC
Assyrian Imperial Expansion
The Neo-Assyrian Empire is a growing military power in the region, posing a constant threat to the smaller kingdoms of Israel and Judah, though their full might hadn't yet crushed the North.
c. 740-722 BC
Reign of Pekah and Hoshea in Israel
This period saw increasing political instability and conflict with Assyria within the Northern Kingdom, following Amos's prophetic ministry.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria to Assyria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, its people are exiled, and its distinct identity is largely lost. This event tragically fulfilled Amos's warnings.
This passage speaks to a similar dismissal of prophetic warnings, highlighting the people's disbelief in the imminent judgment and their desire for distant, vague pronouncements.
Isaiah 5:11-12These verses describe a luxurious lifestyle that is oblivious to or actively ignores spiritual concerns and divine judgment, mirroring the self-indulgence described in Amos's context.
Jeremiah 22:13-17This passage condemns those who build their houses by unrighteousness and oppress their workers, showing a parallel to the 'seat of violence' where justice is perverted for personal gain.
Proverbs 28:14This proverb directly contrasts the blessedness of those who truly fear the Lord with the fate of those who, like the people in Amos, harden their hearts and ignore warnings of judgment.
barnesAmos 6:3: "Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;"
Ye that put far away - Probably "with aversion." They bade that day as it were, be gone. The Hebrew idiom expresses, how they would put it off, if they could; as far as in them lay, they "assigned a distance to it, , although they could not remove the day itself. The "evil day" is that same "day of the Lord," which the scoffers or misbelievers professed to long for Amos 5:18 . The thought that the Lord h…
pulpitAmos 6:3: "Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;"
Verse 3. - Ye that put far away the evil day. They assigned a distant date to the time of punishment and calamity; they would not look it in the face or contemplate it as approaching and ready to come upon them. Septuagint, οἱ ἐρχόμενοι εἰς ἡμέραν κάκην, "Ye who are coming unto the evil day." The Alexandrian manuscript has οἱ εὐχόμενοι, "ye who pray for" (Amos 5:18), with which the Syriac seems to agree.…
This verse reveals a chilling irony: by trying to push away the day of God's judgment, the people were actually drawing closer to destruction. They were so immersed in their violent oppression and self-indulgence that they were, in effect, setting up a "throne for violence" right in their own midst, inviting the very disaster they hoped to escape.
Amos is calling out the wealthy and powerful elite of Israel for their luxurious, self-indulgent lifestyles and their utter disregard for justice and the impending judgment of God. While they try to push away the thought of divine punishment and the "day of the Lord," they are simultaneously actively engaging in and establishing systems of violence and oppression within their own society. Their refusal to confront their sin means they are speeding towards the very disaster they claim to ignore.
Amos is calling out the wealthy and powerful elite of Israel for their luxurious, self-indulgent lifestyles and their utter disregard for justice and the impending judgment of God. While they try to push away the thought of divine punishment and the "day of the Lord," they are simultaneously actively engaging in and establishing systems of violence and oppression within their own society. Their refusal to confront their sin means they are speeding towards the very disaster they claim to ignore.
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"O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence?" — This verse reveals a chilling irony: by trying to push away the day of God's judgment, the people were actually drawing closer to destruction. They were so immersed in their violent oppression and se…
