Obituary of a Nation

Amos 5:1–3 (NKJV)

5:1 Hear this word which I take up against you, a lamentation, O house of Israel:

² The virgin of Israel has fallen;

She will rise no more.

She lies forsaken on her land;

There is no one to raise her up.

³ For thus says the Lord God:

“The city that goes out by a thousand

Shall have a hundred left,

And that which goes out by a hundred

Shall have ten left to the house of Israel.”

This prophetic obituary describes the coming end to Israel as it existed in the days of Amos.  Whether directly from the Lord or from the mouth of Amos, this lament tells of the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  The reference to virgin speaks of unfulfilled promise, like a virgin who was never married or bore children.  Even the God who brought her to prominence and blessing is unavailable to raise her up.  She will see ninety percent of her people die or be captured, with only a small remnant left to possibly rebuild or restore the nation.  This utter destruction is the result of sin and rebellion.  The lesson to be learned is that the call of God is not to be ignored.  God speaks to us with rebuke and a call to repentence in order to save us from ourselves and our lives of sin.  Hear when He calls and repent and live!  Don’t wait to hear your own obituary.