Friday Faithfuls Two: Amos

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

This week the book to skim is Amos, and the verse that jumped out at me was chapter 5, verse 24:

But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

(I will always hear that verse in Martin Luther King Jr's voice.)

It's a great thought...except it starts with the word 'But'.

Which means it's a contrast to what comes before it.

Previous verses in the chapter had listed offenses Israel had committed against God; starting with verse 7 - You who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. I think that's a pretty direct, intentional contrast.

They:

hate a judicial reproof

despise one who tells the truth

trample on the poor

take sustenance from the poor

oppress the righteous

take bribes

deprive the poor of justice in the court.

The verses 21 - 23 describe the religious activities of the people.:

Religious feasts

Assemblies

Offerings of all kinds

Songs (music with lyrics)

Music played on instruments

All of these things were elements of worship.  And God said:

I hate them

I despise them

I will not accept them

I have no regard for them

I will not listen

Oof.

Religious activity without a righteous heart and mind is pretty much a show.  And it doesn't matter what the sign on the front of the church says...this happens in all traditions and worship styles.  From Pentecostal to Evangelical to Liturgical.  Organs and hymns and praise bands and pastors in robes and pastors in jeans.  We in the western church tend to check off 'church attendance' and then do as we please, for our own pleasure and our own sense of fulfillment the rest of the week. 

It isn't our actions and words that God wants...it's our hearts.

And if he has our hearts, then justice will roll on like a river and righteousness like a never-ending stream.