Daily Devotions

Amos was one of the earliest of the writing prophets, along with Hosea. 

He preached to the northern kingdom of Israel around 760 BC. He was a shepherd from Judah who went north to preach against the idolatry and injustices in Israel, and to warn of imminent judgment in the form of the Assyrian army. Famous for his rebuke of social injustices, since the wealthy were abusing the poor and powerless. A key verse is Amos 5:24 – “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Our friend, Fed Buchner, has a great definition of Justice. He writes, “Justice also does not preclude mercy. It makes mercy possible. Justice is the pitch of the roof and the structure of the walls. Mercy is the patter of rain on the roof and the life sheltered by the walls. Justice is the grammar of things. Mercy is the poetry of things”

So what is this righteousness of God that flows like an everlasting stream.  There is a Chinese quotation that says, “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.” 

 

Amos here is acting as God's spokesman, and proclaiming that God wanted his people to know that their religious practices were meaningless without compassion, character, and concern. But the righteousness and justice declared here is not of human construct but the endowment of God himself. 

Here is a people who were carrying on religious ritual, observances, and songs, while ignoring injustice and unrighteousness. So God says, Your songs, your instruments are not pleasing, glorifying, honouring to me. Justice brings honour to me. Righteousness honours me, not a bit of justice here, or a bit of righteousness there, but justice flowing like waters.

God of Justice, May we resist the temptation to pursue our own interest, to preserve the status quo, and to participate in the conspiracy of silence which protects the rich and harms the poor. Renew our hearts, focus our vision, and strengthen our commitment to each other and the work we do in your name. Amen.