Amos. One may ask, why in the world read in the obscure book of Amos??? But I
love to read the old words, see the way God has worked from times past. No one
can pin Him down as to what He will do next, or presume that because once He
acted in such a way, He always must. For He is God, infinitely greater in
imagination, wisdom, and knowledge. But sometimes I like to see the things He does
over and over, the themes that always seem to return. Through those age old texts,
He still guides and instructs.
Amos was just a normal shepherd. He had no social standing, or
religious authority. He was just a simple guy, doing a simple job, living a
simple life. Until God gave him words to say, elevating normal flesh to the
mouth of God. His prophecies were hard for the nations surrounding Israel, they
had been evil, and judgment was coming. And come it eventually would. But more
interesting, and pertinent to the church today, seem to be his words toward
Israel.
Specifically he addressed neglect of the poor, direct abuse of the
poor, and the pursuit of injustice. The Israel that he addressed was then a
wealthy, place, full of people reclining at ease. Satisfied in their religious
practice, they sought God only partially, and with an impure heart. He was not
their everything, but had become small to them. Amos reminded them of His
greatness “He who made the Pleiades and Orion and changes deep darkness into
morning, who also darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is His name…” The
simpleness and greatness of morning and evening, the steady stars, the seasonal
rains – all made and changed by Him. But they had forgotten. Their lips spoke
of Him, but life showed that their hearts were far from Him. “You impose heavy
rent on the poor and exact a tribute of grain from them…For I know that your
transgressions are many and your sins are great, you who distress the righteous
and accept bribes and turn aside the poor in the gate…”
Their perceived themselves as dressed in robes, but really they
were dressed in rags. They self-righteously envisioned how good they would look
when they would one day stand before the Lord, as if He should be so glad to
have the honor of meeting them. But harsh words awaited them. “Alas, you who
are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord
be to you? It will be darkness and not light; as when a man flees from a lion
and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake
bites him. Will not the day of the Lord be darkness instead of light, even
gloom with no brightness in it?” He goes on to say that he has come to despise
and reject their sacrifices and offerings, for their hearts are wicked when
they offer such things to Him. Instead, He desires that “justice roll down like
waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream”. Real faith wasn’t going
to live turning a blind eye. He didn’t want vain words, or monotonous service,
He wanted hearts devoted, lives changed.
The people were like mahogany veneer, overlying pressed board. External
service looked good, but beneath was cheap, self-centered religion. I wonder
how much of religion today fits that same analogy. Filling the visible roles
necessary to find acceptance within the church, and yet really being all about
our own wants, desires, and pleasures. We cast away thoughts of the poor, walk
a shady line of righteousness that appears acceptable, and turn a blind eye to
injustice. Faith is spoken of, but lives never show the change that real faith
inevitably brings. We say that we care about what God cares about, but our
lives are quite revealing otherwise. What a sad delusion to say to ourselves,
“Oh, we long for the day of the Lord…” only to realize that justice on that day
will surprisingly be unfavorable to many.
The book of Amos goes on to tell that even though justice would
come and would be painful, God was eventually going to purify and draw people
closer to Him. Restoration and redemption would be accomplished, and would be
amazing. It is a common theme through the scriptures. The world is messed up,
it will feel the repercussions of the paths chosen, but there is yet a plan for
something better to come. God will not stop pursuing His children, even through
the brokenness they have created.
Another theme found here, and recurring through so many other
parts of scripture, is how God over and over again directly correlates the
honest and transparency of our relationship with Him to the way that we care
for those in need among us. If our eyes are blind to the orphans, widows, poor,
suffering, etc, it could be that we are really blind to the desires of God.
Just as later when asked, what are the greatest commandments, Christ would
answer “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is
like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments
depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” This even includes the prophet Amos, speaking
so long before Christ about the truths of loving those around us. For Gods
people, to be made right with God would mean also to be made right with others.
To just turn away from the needs of people around us is an indicator that our
hearts have probably not been truly inclined toward God.
It is incredible to me to know more of the story. How often the
themes repeat, the same story and lessons at different times in history. Things
veiled and seen only dimly by the prophets of old, now made much clearer by
Christ. Redemption has been completed. And yet the gracious character of God is
still made known again and again, even as His people fail time after time. As
the church, may we have eyes to look on the accounts of old and have a clearer
view of the God we serve. I hope that we can learn the hard lessons through the
lives of others, have our eyes opened through their stories. Too sad it is to
waste the years, only to look back and realize that our affections were wrongly
placed, our energies thrown into foolish pursuits, our lives poured out for
things that don’t matter. May our hearts be always inclined toward Him. And as
we serve Him, may others see the greatness of His love and compassion, even in
the midst of a broken world.
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