“That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;”
My Notes
What Does Amos 6:5 Mean?
"That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David." Amos condemns the wealthy of Israel for their musical excess: they chant (improvise, trill) to stringed instruments and invent new musical instruments — comparing themselves to David. The accusation isn't that music is wrong. It's that musical innovation is happening while justice is collapsing. They're composing songs while the poor are being crushed. They fashion themselves as Davids while behaving as Ahabs.
The comparison to David is the most cutting detail: David was a musician AND a man after God's heart. These people have the musicianship without the heart. They've imitated David's art and ignored David's character.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Where is artistic or creative excellence in your life divorced from moral character?
- 2.How does the 'like David' comparison (musicianship without heart) challenge creative people who lack justice?
- 3.What does your culture's artistic flourishing look like alongside its treatment of the poor?
- 4.When has creativity served as a distraction from justice rather than a companion to it?
Devotional
They invent instruments like David. And they have nothing else in common with David. The musicianship without the character. The art without the heart. The creativity without the justice.
Amos is describing the wealthy elite of Samaria — people living in luxury (v. 4: beds of ivory, choice meats, finest wine) while the nation is rotting from the inside. And among their luxuries: music. Not worship music. Entertainment music. They chant — improvise, create, perform — to the sound of the viol. They invent new instruments. They're musical innovators.
Like David. The comparison is an accusation, not a compliment. David invented instruments too (1 Chronicles 23:5). David was Israel's greatest musician. But David was also Israel's greatest warrior-king, its greatest psalmist, its greatest worshipper. David's music served God. These people's music serves their comfort. David's creativity was worship. Their creativity is entertainment while the nation burns.
You can be musically gifted and spiritually bankrupt. You can be creatively innovative and morally empty. You can chant beautifully and leave justice on the ground. The art doesn't compensate for the absence of character. The instruments don't cover the absence of justice.
Amos doesn't condemn music. He condemns music divorced from righteousness. The same culture that produces artistic innovation can produce human exploitation — and often does. The renaissance that feeds the arts while starving the poor is exactly the society Amos describes: beds of ivory, choice meat, invented instruments, and the poor sold for a pair of shoes (2:6).
The question isn't whether you make beautiful music. It's whether your beautiful music is backed by a beautiful life. David had both. These people had one. And the one without the other is the indictment.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
That chant to the sound of the viol,.... Or psaltery; an instrument of twelve cords, and that gave twelve sounds, as…
That chant to the voice of the lyre - Accompanying “the voice of the lyre” with the human voice; giving vocal expression…
And invent to themselves instruments of music, like David - See the note on Ch1 23:5; and see especially the note on Ch2…
The first words of the chapter are the contents of these verses; but they sound very strangely, and contrary to the…
chant improvise idly. The word (pâraṭ) occurs only here; and its meaning is uncertain: but (if the text be correct) this…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture