Those Who Are at Ease in Zion, and Those Who Are Carefree on Mount Samaria

Those Who Are at Ease in Zion, and Those Who Are Carefree on Mount Samaria

“Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and are without a care on Mount Samaria . . . Woe to you who put far off the day of doom . . . who lie on beds of ivory and lounge on their couches, eat lambs from the flock and eat calves from the midst of the stall; who sing nonsense to the sound of the harps, and have invented for themselves stringed instruments like David, who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the best ointments, who are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, and there will be an end of the shouting of those who lounge around.” Amos 6:1-7.

This does not refer to those who are at ease and carefree in the world, in Egypt, but to Israel. This concerns God’s children.

A Carefree Joy

is very desirable. People are glad because they are God’s children; they are comfortable; they get the sun and the rain, food and drink; they have a home and clothing and go to assemblies wherever they want. They want to be free and happy.

However, this joy is often a carefree joy.

A testimony at the meeting can open our eyes to the sinners’ terrible state. We feel somewhat spoken to in that moment and pray for revival; but the prayer for revival is often not so much for the sake of the sinners but rather for ourselves, because it is so delightful during times of revival. Therefore it is often the case that people do not have the sinners on their heart, but rather themselves, and immediately after they have prayed, they no longer grieve over the sinner. Then they proceed in their carefree joy week after week, no longer grieving over the sinners unless they see one of them hurtling down to perdition. Then they awaken and lament over how little love they have. Then they forget the incident and again continue to live in that carefree joy! They are at ease and carefree where they are.

There is little need over sinners. Who is willing to make this need his own need, call out to the Lord for salvation, and put on love’s great sorrow for those who are on the way to hell? Not only putting it on like a sack on your head at a meeting to show grief, or strew a few humble ashes on your head to get others to believe in the love that you neither have nor practice. A grief is needed that gives rise to cries and prayers to Him who can save. Or are you among the carefree in Zion?

Or you see a sick brother or sister? A pleasant thought (a token of love) is possibly all it amounts to. A little prayer at the meeting, and then you forget the whole thing and continue to live in your carefree joy. Or do you have sufficient love to put on the matchless care of compassion, cast yourself down before God on behalf of the sick person—fight through to victory if necessary. Love endures all things and is longsuffering.

Listen to what Amos says about the affliction of Joseph; this refers to the affliction of the church—if you are without care for the members of the body of Christ, whether it goes well with them or not. You see that Satan is tearing God’s children from each other; you see that they are fighting against each other; you see that many are dull, slack, and lethargic, and many are puffed up. Perhaps you complain and fret over them, but you have no care—no helping hand, no concern, and no care that lays its life down, no crying out in need to the Lord, no sufferings, no battles.

You belong to those who are at ease and carefree. The Lord calls out His “Woe!” over such people. You like it best when you lounge on your bed and sing songs to the Lord’s praise just like David; but you do not want to suffer, fight, and struggle for Israel as David did, as Jesus did, and as Paul and many others did. You do not grieve for the affliction of Joseph. You like it best when in carefree joy you sing nonsense to the sound of harps. You put far off the day of doom; you want to revel in your joy, and you do not think that you will have to face a day of reckoning for the lives that you witnessed but did not help. Your egotistical joy will not help you. We are obliged to walk as He walked.

When Paul speaks about always rejoicing, he does not speak about a carefree joy, for Paul himself had a continual grief in his heart for his brethren according to the flesh. Rom. 9.

In the midst of his struggle and battles for his brethren, in the midst of bonds and chains, in the midst of dangers and sufferings, the joy of the Lord was his strength because it comforted him so that he could comfort others with the same comfort with which he was comforted by God.

Paul says in Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” You will receive an understanding of what it means to bear burdens if you leave your carefree joy behind and enter into the ministry for the others.

It is written about Epaphras that he always labored in his prayers for the Colossians. He didn’t just pray, but he labored in his prayers for them. Col. 4:12-13.

Recently a sister related a dream: “There was a prayer meeting in the house. During the prayer meeting, a brother came down the steps bearing another brother whose wife was present. This brother who was being carried was heavy to bear, but he managed to do it. When they had come down the stairs and the others saw him, they saw a worn-out man, someone who had fought and struggled, fought and suffered; his clothes were ragged and torn after the struggle, and underneath you could see blood flowing onto the white garment. Yet his eyes were wonderfully, yet mournfully gentle; and when she looked into his eyes it was as if a divine power infused her. Then he reached out his hand on which an ugly fly was impaled on a pin, and he said, ‘How such things can plague you, it is so that blood can flow.’ Then his wife approached him. Her entire appearance was transfigured; the glory of Christ had given her an exhilarating, pure, divine holiness. Her body was like a glorified body. She looked at her husband, fell on her knees, and wept quietly.”

Oh, if only we had the love of Christ! We become rich through His poverty.

He was afflicted so that we could radiate His glory. This is how Paul fought in order to present a pure virgin in Christ, so that she could be presented without spot or wrinkle before Him with joy.

Moreover, God says about those who are carefree and at ease: “There will be an end of the roaring of those who recline at banquets.” Amos 6:7.

Those who do not enter into the intent of the Spirit and the Word—all they will have left is laziness and roaring.