NOTES for Amo 1:1-2:16
The day of disaster, which the prophet describes as God's punishment, turns out to be something truly terrible if even the bravest of the brave "run away naked" on that day, like the worst cowards. What among the things Amos names could have frightened the inhabitants of Judah or the kingdom of Israel so much?
Of course, war or epidemic is always frightening to everyone. But in every age there have been people who kept their courage even in a critical situation, however difficult it was. In speaking of brave people turning into cowards before everyone's eyes, the prophet plainly has in mind more than some terrible dangers threatening those brave people. The situation becomes clearer, however, if we remember that courage and cowardice are spiritual matters, that courage itself is a spiritual state, the result of a definite choice made in a concrete situation and of the resolve to follow that choice no matter what.
If we start from the idea that the disasters and catastrophes that fall on a people because they have broken the commandment given by God are punishments sent by God, the situation still remains only partly clear: a courageous person is able to accept punishment steadfastly, especially if he understands that he deserved it. But is that how it is? And does God need to punish a person for sin and apostasy, so to speak, with His own hand? Spiritual life is above all relationship, relationship with God and with one's neighbors. What if a person breaks off relationship with God by violating the commandments He has given?
Then all the consequences of such a break will clearly fall on him. And in exactly the same way they can fall on a people, if the whole people breaks off relationship with God by betraying the covenant once made. This is where courage can truly leave even the boldest: it is possible only in a healthy spiritual life, in full relationship with God. And in a situation where relationship with God has been broken off or reduced to a minimum, there is no courage to speak of. Then even heroes among heroes can indeed, like the worst cowards, run from a danger that in another spiritual state would not have seemed so terrible to them at all.