For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live; Amos 5:4
The prophet Amos here again reminds the nation of Israel to repent because the people had consistently ignored the past warnings. He clearly sees that because of the people’s stubbornness Israel will be destroyed. Samaria will be conquered and most of Israel’s army is wiped out.
The prophet uses two imperatives, the man’s duty (to seek God) and his reward (to live). The object of the search is God Himself. “Seek Me,” that is, seek God for Himself, not for anything out of Him. For to seek God is to find Him because God is life and the source of life. Seeking must be diligent seeking. It is not to seek God anyhow, but He should be sought, longed for, prayed for constantly and fervently, who is so great, powerful, and the good God. In seeking the Lord is our only hope, the only hope of eternal life.