Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for a peace at this time.

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Read

Amos 5:12-24 (NRSV)

For I know how many are your transgressions,
and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
and push aside the needy in the gate.
Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time;
for it is an evil time.

Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you,
just as you have said.
Hate evil and love good,
and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord:
In all the squares there shall be wailing;
and in all the streets they shall say, “Alas! Alas!”
They shall call the farmers to mourning,
and those skilled in lamentation, to wailing;
in all the vineyards there shall be wailing,
for I will pass through the midst of you,
says the LORD.

Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD!
Why do you want the day of the LORD?
It is darkness, not light;
as if someone fled from a lion,
and was met by a bear;
or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,
and was bitten by a snake.
Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light,
and gloom with no brightness in it?

I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

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Reflect

Do you enjoy being around a proverbial “wet blanket”—one who grumbles, complains, is grouchy, is never happy, never looks on the bright side of life, or is always upset? Few people do!

Amos could be described as a “wet blanket.” His contemporaries were impressed by the economic and social recovery going on at the time the prophet was most upset. His description of the people of his time can hardly be viewed as complimentary, but is as harsh as any scripture in the Bible. Why was Amos so upset?

Where others saw success and achievement, Amos saw hypocrisy and greed. Instead of celebrating happy days, the prophet perceived that it was indeed an “evil day.” Talk about a party pooper!

Yet, this passage points us away from the prophet and to the true source of the matter: what the Lord sees when looking down on the people and the land. Through Amos, God declared, “I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins…it is an evil time” (verses 12, 13). It is the Lord who says, “I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies…Take away from me the noise of your songs…”

What does the Lord God see in our homes, communities, and churches? Are we like those Amos described as “at ease in Zion…who feel secure on Mount Samaria…” (6:1)?

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Pray

Lord, help us be truth-tellers, even when dishonesty appears easier. Amen.

Go with God.