Amos 6:3
"You dismiss any thought of the evil day and bring in a reign of violence."
They were doing well for themselves, and it was all superfluous. They knew they were going against the covenant they shared with God, but they appreciated their own success more. They swore by themselves. These are the original prosperity preachers. They invented name it claim it. Vanity of vanities, they were all about pride, security, and sensuality. They were haughty because of the holy mountain, and they claimed all the glory to themselves.
They improvised their songs. They drank new wine. They anointed themselves with finery. They sprawled out on beds and slept while the dangers lurked just beneath the surface. They even took pride in doing nothing. They made their bed and now they're going to have to sleep in it. And sleep they do.
In making modern application, I'm seeing both the RC church and the Protestant reformed churches. No one is exempt from this application. They all hope for salvation from their many doctrinal and traditional hills and mountains they've constructed. And likewise the new age extensions are likewise caught up in their own ideas and personal glory. It's apparently the human condition.
And why? Why is this happening?
The religious people persist in their shallow, lukewarm, and even hypocritically wicked courses on the presumption that they won't be called to an account for them. In their minds they're exempt from scrutiny by virtue of their religious organizations and locations. And it's the same even in this age.
“You put far away the evil day..."
So far away that it leaves no impression upon you. They indulge today because the judgment is far off. As if God isn't right there next to them even today, watching, listening, and trying to talk to them about it. The day of evil is far away; meanwhile they've got business to attend to, pleasures to arrange for, and hearts desires to follow after.
And today this is describing the grandchild of the prosperity gospel. A culture of complacency regarding the great commission. A church that imagines a gospel that isn't meant to be shared by every single believer. This scripture from the prophet Amos describes religious "dabblers" not disciples. Secularists, not evangelists. Consumers, not crusaders. And God is the same today and every day. Today, just like in the times of Amos' prophesy, God HATES their feasts and solemn assemblies.
They were "at ease" then and it's the same today. Ask yourself this (assuming you're a believer), do you share the gospel? I'm not talking about walking up to a stranger even, how about with people you know? Do you share that good news? Is this a priority for you?
They day of Israel's destruction and captivity was prophesied by many of God's servants, and in response the people relaxed. They hoped it wouldn't come in their time. They even purchased prophets who would say the kinds of things they preferred hearing. And they followed after gods that had nothing to say. It's kind of like religious atheism. You get the idolic placebo effect, with none of God's interference.
They were so confident in their own abilities and their own gospels they didn't even fear sitting in authority on judicial benches making wicked rulings subjugating the poor. They didn't believe they'd have to answer for their actions. They even opened up their proceedings with prayers to their wicked gods as if God wouldn't act.
And today they live like they did in that age, saying to themselves...
‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? Ezekiel 12:22
Where is your God? Why should we fear him? What's he done for me lately?
This is the age we live in. Same as before.
Isaiah 56:12 “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.”
No concern for the future, living for today as if the day of the Lord will never come. Even Jesus talked about them...
Matthew 24:48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,...'
And the apostles talked about these people...
2 Peter 3:4-12 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
And do here we are.
What to do?
Preach the gospel, teach the truth and trust in God to get done what needs to be done.
Proverbs 16:4 The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.