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A Call for Sobriety - an essay on Amos 4
from JAC Issue Four
by Robert Marshall

As I reflect on the message of Amos chapter 4, three statements made by my
wise grandmother, (Big Mama) ring with truth in my ears. She often said that,
“Fat meat is sho’nuf greasy,” “you can always come home,” and “never git too big
for your britches.”

The message Amos puts forth is this: God is faithful to His covenant and to His
holy law, and Israel is strictly accountable to a practical observance of their
covenant obligations. Whether God is to bless or judge Israel, solely depends on
Israel's obedience or disobedience to the commands, laws, and statutes given by
God.

“Fat meat is sho’nuf greasy.”
When big mama made this statement, we understood her to mean that,
unfortunately, some people will only accept the truth by experiencing its harsh
reality. Moreover, this definition aptly characterises the attitude of the children of
Israel, based on Amos 4. Under King Jeroboam II, God demonstrated His
faithfulness to Israel. He showered them with the blessings He promised in the
covenant. (Lev 26: 3-11)

Moreover, Israel had re-established the northern kingdom and was very
successful in war. Hence, Israel accumulated mounds of wealth.

Notwithstanding, this new wealth created a problem. Israel became comfortable
in its ease. As a result, they also became laxed in their worship and devotion to
God. As driver points out in Vs 5, Israel participated in “The ritual calf worship at
both Bethel and Gilgal.” (315) This was a practice expressly forbidden by the
Levitical covenant with God. (Lev 26:1) Yet, Israel failed to understand that “Fat
meat is sho’nuf greasy.” Like one caught in an addiction, and who are in denial of
that addiction, Israel continued in their ungodly wickedness. Moreover, because
Israel had been intoxicated by the benefits of the covenant, they attempted to
manipulate God by reminding Him that they were His chosen people. (3:1-2)
How could God possibly judge Israel, right? The women in Israel influenced the
men to sin, Vs 1, and they were oppressing and afflicting the poor Vs 1.
However, when Israel was summonsed to court by the prophet of God; (4:1-3) A
chilling judgement was dealt against Israel. God had clearly made a statement to
His people: “ Chosen”, doesn't mean exempt from the consequences for sin.
Thus, God demonstrated his faithfulness to His covenant by enforcing the
statutes of the covenant, which Israel had broken. Israel's sentence was a violent
exile, in which there would be no escape. God swore to this fact by his holiness.
Vs. 2, and so it was, Israel learned that “fat meat is sho’nuf greasy.”

“You can always come home.”
Could God's judgement against Israel have been avoided? One certainly can
learn from Amos 4, that anything short of obedience to God, amounts to no less
than a relapse into one's sinful ways of the past. However, one thing Amos
makes abundantly clear, is that God is willing to give His people the opportunity
to repent. Five times in the chapter, Israel is given the open invitation for
repentance. Vs 6,8,9,10, and 11. Yet, five times the same result is recorded. “Yet
you did not return to me. Big Mama settled in our minds that “you can always
come home.”

A far gone conclusion that she intended for us to know was that, once you realize
your error and come to your senses you will remember just how good you've had
it. I am convinced that's Israel's problem and therefore, lack of repentance is two
fold.

One, Israel failed to realize that their sin was the pride of power. According to W.R.
Harper:
“The effect of degenerating influence upon Hebrew society began to be felt in the
corruption of justice, in wilful and luxurious living of the upper class, and in the
general decay of social unity. The rich manifested no sense of responsibility
toward the poor; and instead of relieving their economic distress, they seemed
bent on depriving them of all of their property.” (147)
This, coupled with a brand of worship which had nothing in common with Israel's
tradition, signalled that Israel was lost in their apostasy. They, in fact had taken
leave of their senses; but the people of Israel didn't realize this to be true. They
thought they were still doing everything required of them in worship to God but in
reality they worshipped (idols). Moreover, in their mind, they were going beyond
what God required of them. After all, they gave sacrifices of thanks and free will
offerings which were not required! Vs. 4-5. “Israel's worship was superficial and
perfunctory” according to (Dillard 382). Unwilling to realize their sins and repent,
Israel could not return home or be obedient to the covenant. As a result, (Lev 26
:15-19) illuminates for us that Israel's apostasy was due in part to their pride of
power.
The historical background reveals a second condition, that made Israel's
repentance problematic: the abuse of alcohol. We first notice that this vice was
with the women. Vs.1. "Who say to their husbands, bring that we may drink!” Not
only did the women have a drinking problem, it was made worse because they
sought the opportunity to get drunk. Additional, they had the means to fulfil their
sensual desires.

Second, the nation suffered from an addiction to alcohol. We know this to be
true, because Israel's worship began to mirror that of the Canaanites. One of the
Canaanite festival observances according to W.R. Harper was drunkenness
(146). The sad footnote attached here by Amos in vs. 5, is that this is what Israel
loved to do.
The continued state of intoxication made it impossible for Israel to properly
respond to God's relentless attempts to help Israel regain their faculties and
return to him. This was made clear through the historical recollection by God of
Israel's past. (Vs. 6,7,8,9,10,11) God was willing to accept Israel back and then
restore them. (Lev. 26: 40-42) This proves that “you can always return home.”
However, you must realize your error and come to your senses.

“Never git too big for your britches.”
Perhaps of all of Big Mama's pearls of wisdom, this one is arguably the most
important. For through this saying, she taught us that “No matter how great you
think your are or how great you become, there is still someone greater than you.”
No doubt, Israel had forgotten this truth, for their God was greater than all other
gods, and He required their strict fidelity. (Lev. 26:1)

Without question, a sober mind is essential to be able to grasp the truth of God's
sovereign authority over all!

When King Jeroboam II skyrocketed to power it was done by God's sovereignty,
this enabled the Northern Kingdom to be re-established, Israel to become a
military power, and ultimately, it secured Israel's wealth. Therefore, Israel
enjoyed the benefits of their covenant with God because God was faithful to keep
His covenant. Indeed, God's sovereignty was apparent both in the land and over
Israel's enemies. Lev. 26:3-13. However, it was at this point of enjoyed blessings
that Israel lost sight of how they got those blessed; and worse, they forgot from
whom the blessing came. The indulgences of Chapter 4, drive this point home.
(1-5) However, it was the fact that they wilfully refused to return to God 6-11, tells
us that their power and greatness in the land, which was bestowed on them
through God's authority, had all gone to their heads—this was more intoxicating
than their love for alcohol.

Israel began to believe that their protection came from their position in the
mountains of Samaria rather than from their position in God. Vs. 1 They trusted
in their power to manipulate the legal, social and religious climate of their day vs.
1-5, rather than trusting and obeying God. Certainly, Israel had become too big
for their britches! Hence the haughty heart and mind set invoked God ire. This ire
is noticed in the chapter's key verse, vs. 12. This verse is also a part of a
covenant lawsuit; and Israel would have understood the phrase “I will do this to
you” to refer back to the original covenant of Lev. 26; and particularly vs. 16,
where God outlines his judgement on Israel.

Israel would be violently taken as prisoners of exile! This was made possible
because God gave Israel over to their enemies. (Lev. 26:21-39)
Perhaps the most intriguing element of Amos 4, is found in vs. 13. There, the
writer punctuates what Big Mama taught us: “There is still someone greater than
you.” He does this through the use of metaphors. He uses the mountains, wind,
thoughts, morning and darkness along with the high places to say that he, in fact,
is sovereign over the earth, the heavens, communication, life and death, and
even other gods! He alone is Lord and sovereign over everything!

Conclusion
The message of Amos Chapter 4 must serve as a warning to those of us who
enjoy the blessing of God's bounty and affluence. It is through our obedience to a
covenant keeping God that He makes possible the blessing in our life. Moreover,
God's blessing carries with it the obligation for us to demonstrate mercy to the
poor and grace to the oppressed. We must remain on guard to all forms of pride
therefore, it is imperative that we all have sober minds in order to benefit from the
covenant. We must strive to remember what that Big Mama always said: “fat
meat is sho’nuf greasy,” “you can always come home,” and “never git too big for
your britches.”


Work Cited
Dillard, Raymond and Tremper Longman III. An Introduction To The Old
Testament. Michigan: Zondervan, 1994.
Haprer, W.R. The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopaedia Of The Bible. 5 vols.
Michigan: Zondervan,1976.
Young, E.J. “An Introduction To Old The Testament.” Introduction To Amos. E.J.
Young. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1950. 257-259.