Justice and the Prophets
God Requires Justice
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
Called to Accountability
Amos 5:4-5, 14-15 The Message
4-5 God’s Message to the family of Israel:
“Seek me and live.
Don’t fool around at those shrines of Bethel,
Don’t waste time taking trips to Gilgal,
and don’t bother going down to Beer-sheba.
Gilgal is here today and gone tomorrow
and Bethel is all show, no substance.”
14 Seek good and not evil—
and live!
You talk about God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
being your best friend.
Well, live like it,
and maybe it will happen.
15 Hate evil and love good,
then work it out in the public square.
Maybe God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
will notice your remnant and be gracious.
For Reflection
Amos prophesied during a period of great prosperity and high corruption. Remember, there was little difference between spirituality and common governance. Societal and individual sin was inseparable. Amos suggest there is no need to examine other people because systems designed by godless humans are godless systems. Israel has chosen self-interest as a guide for their governance system. They have dichotomized spiritual and cultural components of governance and have lost the spiritual integration that was God's plan for peaceful and harmonious lives.
Amos pleads for those who still are obedient to God's will (the remnants) to cry for more fair and just treatment of all of God's people.
Pray
Pray and grow in grace and wisdom so that you, one of the remnants, live like you are a friend of God. Pray for justice for all people and take up your share of making a more just community.
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